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Common Toxins and Foods

29 14:15:38

Food items that dogs may get exposed to by pilfering in the
garbage or compost pile or rutting around in the yard can pose a
problem. Ingestion of certain items can be especially
troublesome for pets. Sprouted potato peels, moldy cheese and
nuts (containing aflatoxins), peach, cherry or apricot pits
(containing cyanide) or onions (resulting in red blood cell
destruction), and grapes and raisins (resulting in kidney
failure) can all result in toxicity.

Chocolate, especially abundant and potentially accessible to
your pet during Halloween, Christmas and Easter, is also toxic.
According to the type of chocolate, it contains varying amounts
of theobromine and caffeine. The darker, unsweetened type (as is
often used for baking) has seven more times theobromine than
milk chocolate. That is why dogs can eat the occasional piece of
milk chocolate without any apparent ill effects. But serious
illness can occur with the ingestion of as little as 0.25 oz of
baking chocolate by a ten pound dog. Signs of chocolate toxicity
are: vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst and urination,
lethargy, increased heart rate and heart arrhythmias, and
occasionally, seizures and death. Ribbons, wrapping ribbons and
tinsel, are tempting for cats, especially, kittens, and when
ingested, they cause intestinal obstruction and result in
vomiting and decreased appetite.

Coins, when ingested, especially those containing high levels of
zinc such as US pennies minted after 1982, will result in an
inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis) and anemia. Ingestion of such
foreign bodies is especially a concern with puppies.

Liquid potpourris, popular during the holidays, can be toxic to
pets by causing burns in the mouth or skin or eyes. They can be
exposed by ingestion from simmering pots or spills, by rubbing
against containers and when cleaning themselves.

Ethylene glycol, found in anti-freeze and in smaller amounts in
motor oil, will result in acute kidney failure. Animals are
attracted by its sweet taste and even a teaspoon will kill a cat
and less than four teaspoons will kill a 10 lb dog. Prestone’s
Low Tox TM antifreeze coolant contains propylene glycol, a safer
ingredient that is relatively less toxic for pets.

Metaldehyde is found in snail and slug bait, and it results in
seizures and tremors in dogs that are attracted to the granules
or powder, even when scattered in the garden. Iron phosphate
products such as Escar-Go! or Sluggo are safer products for
pets.

Rat, mouse and gopher baits contain a variety of toxins. The
most common are anti-coagulants such as bromadiolone,
brodifacoum, diphacinone and chlorophacinone that result in
internal and external bleeding, usually manifesting a few days
after ingestion. Animals literally bleed to death. There is also
cholecalciferol which elevates the calcium levels to the toxic
threshold to cause death. And there is bromethalin that causes
swelling of the nerve tissue to result in paralysis, convulsions
and death. Strychnine is sometimes used and results in increased
rigidity of the muscles; paralysis of the respiratory muscles
causes death. Zinc phosphide is also used and causes weakness,
vomiting and death.

Topical insecticides that are inadvertently applied to the wrong
species can result in twitching, seizures and death. This most
commonly occurs with over-the-counter flea products- shampoos,
dips or spot-on applications (such as those containing
permethrins, organophosphates, carbamates) that are labeled for
use in dogs only but are mistakenly applied to cats. Similarly,
Raid ant and roach sprays or other sprays meant for
environmental application can kill cats and is toxic to dogs
when misused.

Herbal remedies, despite being “natural”, can be toxic.
Sometimes, pets accidentally ingest herbal remedies; sometimes,
they are applied to pets by well-meaning owners. But they can be
toxic when remedies contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids which can be
toxic to the liver or inorganic contaminants such as arsenic.

Just a few of the herbal remedies that can be problematic…Aloe
applied topically is rarely a problem but when ingested by
grooming pets after dermal application, it can cause diarrhea.
Camphor can cause neurological signs (tremors, seizures).
Eucalyptus oil can cause a variety of signs such as difficulty
breathing, vomiting and seizures. When given long term, garlic
and onion, either raw, cooked or in the powder form can cause
anemia in dogs and cats. Oil of wintergreen contains an element
similar to aspirin and can cause vomiting and stomach ulceration
in both dogs and cats. Pennyroyal oil has a long history of use
as a flea repellent. A component of this oil is metabolized to
an element that is toxic to the liver, and there has been at
least one death that has been reported in a dog when pennyroyal
oil was applied topically. Sassafras oil is used as an
insecticide and especially in cats, can cause sedation,
vomiting, and heart failure.

Recommendations for treatment with the ingestion of any toxin
usually include the induction of vomiting if oral ingestion has
occurred within a short period of time, usually within 1-2
hours. Induction of vomiting can be efficiently done by your
veterinarian by giving certain drugs that stimulate the vomiting
center of the brain. Gastric lavage (“stomach pumping”) is
occasionally done.

In cases when vomiting is recommended but when there is delay in
getting the pet to a veterinarian for immediate treatment, it
may be recommended that the owner give hydrogen peroxide orally;
sometimes, but not always, this can stimulate vomiting. The
dosage is fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide- 1 teaspoon per 5 pounds of
body weight. It is ok to repeat one time if no vomiting occurs
within 20 minutes. If no vomiting occurs, there is no benefit of
continuing to give hydrogen peroxide. The total amount given
should not exceed 3 tablespoons. Note that syrup of Ipecac is
not recommended since it is usually not effective and can cause
heart problems and protracted vomiting.

However, not in all cases is the induction of vomiting
recommended. If the animal is too sedated from the toxin, it may
get vomit material into its lungs and suffocate and/or get
aspiration pneumonia. When a caustic (i.e. bleach, some oils
such as pine oil, turpentine and phenols used in such household
disinfectants such as Lysol) or abrasive (ground glass, metallic
materials) substance is ingested, damage to the esophagus can
occur when the material is passed back up. In these cases,
vomiting is contraindicated.

If more than 1-2 hours has elapsed since ingestion, the drug has
already been absorbed via the intestinal tract and causing
vomiting may not prevent further uptake. The administration of
activated charcoal may be recommended by your veterinarian to
help “bind” the toxins already in the intestinal tract. An
important part of the treatment includes supportive care such as
the administration of intravenous fluids and medications to
control seizures and heart arrhythmias. Unfortunately, specific
antidotes for toxins are rare.

In the case of a topically applied product (i.e. insecticide),
immediate bathing is recommended, usually with a detergent such
as Dawn liquid detergent as well as efforts to prevent grooming
and oral ingestion, especially in the case of cats.

In the case of ingestion of a foreign body such as string or
plastic toy, surgery is usually necessary. Sometimes the string
can make it through the intestinal tract to exit via the rectum.
Resist the temptation to pull on the string hanging from the
rectum since this will cut through the intestines higher up
where it is anchored. Please contact your veterinarian, instead.
Coins or other metallic foreign bodies can be readily identified
on an x-ray and can be retrieved by surgery and sometimes, by
endoscopy ( a fiber optic cable that is passed down the mouth
and esophagus into the stomach and duodenum of an anesthetized
animal).

In addition to your veterinarian, another valuable source of
information and help is the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
in Urbana, Illinois. Their web site is www.aspca.org. They have
a 24 hours emergency hotline (888) 4-ANI-HELP. For a small fee,
they will immediately put you in contact with a veterinary
toxicologist who can advise you on what to do, what to watch for
and what to expect. They will also be able to advise you of the
need to consult with your veterinarian if hospitalization is
recommended.

In any case when a known or suspected toxin may have been
ingested by your pet, contact your veterinarian or the Animal
Poison Control Center immediately. DO NOT TAKE A WAIT AND SEE
APPROACH. If you have any questions regarding food and household
toxins, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian.

The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin
any course of treatment without consulting your regular
veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every
12 months.