The most common poisonous things our pets eat

Common Emergency

Toxicities are one of the most common emergencies that vets deal with.

The list of potentially poisonous (toxic) things that our pets can eat is longand varied.

Many items will just cause an upset tummy for a day or two, but some things can cause serious illness and even death if not treated quickly.

A lot of toxins are well-known by most pet owners: chocolate, antifreeze, rat poison.

But did you know that lilies can be deadly to cats? Or that a common artificial sweetener can cause life-threatening low blood sugar?

Some of the lesser known toxins are commonly found in our homes and can make our pets seriously ill.

How many are you aware of?

DID THEY ACTUALLY EAT IT?

If you suspect your pet may have eaten something they shouldn’t, always check first that it hasn’t just rolled under the sofa, fallen out of the packaging, or been eaten by someone else!

RING YOUR VET

If you can’t prove that they HAVEN’T eaten it, then assume they HAVE eaten it. Ring a vet for advice.

They can tell you whether the item and amount may make your pet sick and what treatment is needed.

CHECK THE PACKAGING

If you have it, always show your vet the item’s packaging so that they can check the ingredients.

This is important to help vets decide whether the item and amount are poisonous and what treatment is needed.

Chocolate… and other things

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are toxic to pets.

Caffeine is also found in lots of other foods and household items such as coffee and energy supplements.

Dogs’ and cats’ bodies process theobromine and caffeine more slowly than people, allowing it to build up in their system and have toxic effects such as a racing heart, vomiting and diarrhoea, dehydration, weakness, tremors and collapse.

The darker the chocolate the more toxic it will be.

Symptoms can start within a few hours or take a day or two to develop, depending on how much your pet has had.

Contact your vet if you know or suspect that your pet has eaten chocolate or caffeine.

Tell them what your pet has eaten, how much, and show them the packaging if you have it.

Your vet can work out whether the amount your pet has eaten is dangerous, and what treatment is required.

Raisins, sultanas, currants and grapes

Even a few can be dangerous.

While vets can calculate whether the amount of chocolate your pet has eaten is likely to be toxic, grapes, raisins and some other dried fruit are more unpredictable.

Even a very small amount of raisins or grapes can cause permanent kidney failure.

If you think your pet has eaten raisins, grapes or other dried fruit then contact your vet ASAP.

Your vet may advise making your pet sick depending on how long ago the fruit was eaten. Many pets also require IV fluids and blood tests.

Lilies and other plants

These beautiful flowers are really common in bouquets and gardens, but they are extremely toxic to cats.

All parts of the lily are dangerous for cats: pollen, petals, leaves, stems and even the water they are kept in.

Even if your cat does not eat the actual plant, brushing past it and licking the pollen off of his coat can cause fatal kidney damage.

Depending on how much and when your cat was exposed to lilies your vet may recommend emptying the stomach (often requires anaesthetic in cats) and hospitalisation with IV fluids for several days.

Unfortunately, owners often do not realise their cat has been exposed to lilies until the kidneys are already damaged.

The safest thing is to never have lilies in your house or garden. Lots of household and garden plants can be toxic to our pets so always check before bring a new plant home and be careful where you place bouquets and vases.

Antifreeze

The sweet taste of this highly toxic liquid makes it appealing to pets.

Ethylene glycol in antifreeze is toxic to all pets, but poisoning is most common in cats.

They are usually poisoned by drinking from outdoor water features that have been treated to stop them freezing in winter, or antifreeze accidentally left out or spilled in the garage, garden, or street.

Antifreeze in a clear, odourless, liquid with a sweet taste, so pets are inclined to drink it.

Antifreeze poisoning damages the nervous system and kidneys, rapidly leading to irreversible fatal kidney damage.

Symptoms include vomiting, inappetance, weakness or wobbliness, thirst, no urine production, collapse and death.

Rapid treatment and diagnosis is essential, but sadly most cases die.

NEVER leave antifreeze containers anywhere pets can access them, and always clean up any spills or leaks immediately.

DO not use antifreeze in outdoor water features, and make sure others in your neighbourhood do the same.

Rat bait

Curious dogs, or cats who hunt are most likely to eat rat poison.

Rat poison works by stopping the blood from clotting leading to fatal bleeding.

Older forms of rat bait are most likely to be poisonous, while some of the more modern products have a wider safety margin.

If you think there is a chance that your pet may have eaten rat bait, no matter how small the amount, always speak to your vet for advice immediately.

IF you have the packaging or know the product name let your vet know so they can work out how dangerous it is.

If your pet has been exposed to dangerous rat bait then your vet may advise making your pet sick (if they have eaten it recently) followed by feeding activated charcoal for a few days to absorb any poison left behind.

Depending on the timing and type of poison your pet may need to be given vitamin K to help their blood to clot and have repeated blood tests until your vet knows the danger has passed.

Xylitol

A common artificial sweetener found in chewing gum, toothpaste, and lots of sugar-free foods.

Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs, even in small amounts. It causes dangerously low blood sugar leading to vomiting, weakness, collapse, seizures and death if untreated.

Xylitol can make your dog poorly really quickly (less than an hour) or it may take several hours for signs to develop.

If you think your dog has eaten something containing xylitol seek veterinary advice immediately, and take the packaging if you have it.

Your vet may be able to give your dog an injection to make him sick, monitor his blood sugar levels, and give him glucose in a drip if necessary.

Onions, Garlic and Leeks

These plants all belong to the Alium family and are toxic to dogs and cats.

Symptoms usually take a day or two to develop and include vomiting, diarrhoea, reduced appetite and anaemia.

If you know your pet has eaten onions or garlic then your vet may be able to give them an injection to make them sick. If they are very poorly or dehydrated they may need IV fluids and blood tests to check for anaemia.

Human Medications and Illegal Drugs

Vets are seeing increasing numbers of pets who are seriously ill after being exposed to illegal human drugs.

Some medications that people take are directly toxic to our pets and others may be used in animals, but at very different doses.

If your pet is exposed to any human medication, either prescription or over the counter, always contact your vet immediately with the name of the medication and how much your pet has eaten.

Sadly, vets are also seeing more and more pets affected by illegal drugs as well.

Cannabis and more serious drugs make pets seriously ill, cause permanent health damage, and even kill them. 

Permethrins

Some over the counter flea treatments for dogs can be extremely toxic if given to cats.

Concentrated permethrin found in some over the counter spot-on flea treatments for dogs will cause weakness, tremors or twitching, seizures and death if applied to a cat. This is one of the most common toxicities seen in cats worldwide.

Cats are usually exposed to permethrin when a dog-specific product is applied to a cat, or if they come into contact with a dog who has recently has a spot-on applied. Even very small quantities can make cats ill.

If you think your cat has been exposed to permethrin then contact your vet immediately and bath your cat to remove any residue.

Most cats exposed to permethrin require hospitalisation and medication to reduce the tremors.

Always read and follow instructions for animal medications, and use prescription medication provided by a veterinary surgeon wherever possible.

Household Cleaning Products

Unsurprisingly, many cleaning products used in the home and garden can be toxic to our pets. They are often corrosive and highly dangerous if ingested.

One of the most common ways that our pets are exposed to toxic cleaning products is through their skin, if they walk on a recently cleaned surface.

Sadly cats will usually attempt to groom any product off that gets on their fur or feet, sometimes causing damage to they tongue, mouth, and oesophagus.

Always store products securely and clean up any spills promptly. When cleaning surfaces ensure that they are completely dry before your pets have access to the area.

If you think your pet has been exposed to any cleaning products contact your vet immediately.

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING: MEDICATION OVERDOSE

Having too much medication is a potential toxicity that many pet owners don’t consider.

However it’s a really common thing for vets to see: Either the wrong dose is given by mistake, or sometimes a pet gets hold of the medication and eats the whole course in one go!

Prescription veterinary medications are tested to determine what dose is safe before they are approved. Some medications may be safe at many times the recommended dose, but others have a very narrow safety margin.

As soon as you discover that your pet has had too much medication- whether it is a routine flea treatment, short term medication because he is poorly, or a long term medication- contact your vet.

They can advise you whether your pet needs any treatment.

If your pet is prescribed medication make sure that you understand the instructions on the label before you administer the medication. If you miss a dose, don’t just double the next dose- speak to your vet.

What will my vet do?

Monitor and supportive treatment

Fortunately most things that our pets scavenge will give them an upset tummy for a day or two, and then pass: food taken from the worktop, a dropped sandwich in the park, or something found on the beach (jellyfish!) will fall into this category.

In this case a bland diet, anti sickness or probiotic medication and rest will usually help your pet feel better.

Make your Pet sick

If your dog has eaten something toxic and you realise within a fewhours, then your vet may be able to give an
injection to make him vomit. Unfortunately this is less reliable in cats.

Hospitalisation

Pets that have eaten something poisonous more than a few hours ago, or been exposed to a more fast-acting toxin may require hospitalisation, blood tests, IV fluids, and medication. In some cases treatment may be required for days or weeks.

KEY POINTS

• It is important to be aware of potential toxins your pet may be exposed to.
  
• Some of the most common toxicities that vets see include common foods such as chocolate, raisins and garlic as well as regular household items such as toothpaste and flowers.
  
• Lilies and antifreeze both cause potentially fatal kidney failure.
  
• Always keep medications (your pet’s and your own) and household cleaning products secure and out of reach.
  
• Aways give medication as directed and never share medication between pets.
  
• If you suspect that your pet may have come into contact with something potentially poisonous then contact your vet immediately for advice. If possible have the packaging or know the product name.
  
• Getting treatment as soon as possible give your pet the best chance of making a full recovery.