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Pet Poison Awareness

March 20, 2023 Dan Su, MS, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)

To many people, pets are family members. They live in our homes, follow us around, and look for food that we accidentally drop. Unfortunately, many household items are poisonous for pets. To illustrate this, let us look at how many pet toxins we may encounter just from grooming and eating breakfast in the morning.

We first go to the bathroom, where the medicine cabinet is. According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), the top two toxins that they received calls for in 2021 are human OTC and prescription medications.1 Common OTC medications include acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol, Excedrin, DayQuil/Nyquil), ibuprofen (e.g. Advil, Motrin, Midol), and naproxen (e.g. Aleve). They are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that have much narrower margins of safety in dogs and cats than in humans. They can cause anemia, and damage to the gastrointestinal system, kidneys, and liver.2 Common prescription medications include anti-depressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), and sertraline (Zoloft). They are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) that can cause hyperthermia, gastrointestinal, and neurologic signs.3

We then go to the kitchen and dining room for breakfast. These are areas that pet owners need to be vigilant about, since pets may actively look for food here. Plants from the genus Allium, which include onions, and garlic, can cause anemia.Grapes and raisins may cause kidney failure (the exact mechanism of grape-induced toxicity is still unknown).4 Chocolate and coffee contain plant-alkaloids called methylxanthines (e.g. caffeine, theobromine), which can cause arrhythmia and neurologic signs like ataxia and seizures.4 While most of the above toxins described are well known, there is a hidden toxin that pet owners should be aware of. Xylitol is a popular sugar substitute that is used in sugar-free foods, and it can cause severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and liver damage in dogs.4 What makes xylitol especially dangerous is that it is hidden in many foods, like sugar-free gum, baked goods, supplements, nut butters, and other foods that are otherwise non-toxic to pets. Pet medications and supplements are often also stored in this area. Since they are often flavored, dogs and cats are likely to ingest over the intended safe dose if they gain access to them. Foods, chocolate, and veterinary products are among the top 10 toxin exposures that the ASPCA APCC received calls for in 2021, taking third, fourth, and seventh place, respectively.1 

What to do if your pet was exposed to a toxin?

Early decontamination and treatment are key to decreasing the risk of serious toxicity. If pets get into any toxins, it is important to bring them to a veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian may induce vomiting if the toxin ingestion was recent. Activated charcoal may be administered to prevent toxin absorption. Additional supportive care or antidotes may be provided depending on the duration and symptoms of toxicity. It is very helpful to bring along items that can help the veterinarian identify the toxin, such as the medicine or food packaging. Another helpful resource is to call the poison control center and get a case started before heading over to the veterinarian’s office. There are two available animal poison control centers that may be called:

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435

Pet Poison Control Center: (855)764-7661

There will be a consultation fee for calling these lines, however, it is well worth it. The poison control center's experts can advise whether the pet can be monitored at home or should be seen by a veterinarian. The experts can also work with the veterinarian to come up with the best treatment plan for the pet.

 

Resources

  1. The Top 10 Pet Toxins of 2021. ASPCA. Accessed February 15, 2023. https://www.aspca.org/news/top-10-pet-toxins-2021
  2. McLean MK, Khan SA. Toxicology of Frequently Encountered Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Dogs and Cats: An Update. Vet Clin Small Anim Pract. 2018;48(6):969-984. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2018.06.003
  3. Cortinovis C, Pizzo F, Caloni F. Poisoning of dogs and cats by drugs intended for human use. Vet J. 2015;203(1):52-58. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.11.004
  4. Cortinovis C, Caloni F. Household Food Items Toxic to Dogs and Cats. Front Vet Sci. 2016;3. Accessed February 23, 2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2016.00026

About the author: Dan Su, MS, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition) works at BSM Partners as Manager of Nutrition Services. His areas of expertise include nutritional management of dogs and cats and the culinary arts. As a food and animal enthusiast, Dan loves to give his pets food names. He is the proud owner of a cat named Gravy. 

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