Protecting Your Pet From Poisons
We all know that we must keep our pets away from rat poison and antifreeze; however there are many items in our homes that can be also harmful to our pets. On this page you will find many common items around your home that are toxic to your animals, what symptoms to look for if you think a toxin been ingested, and what steps you should take after the poison is in your pet's system.
Human medications are number one on the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) list for top 10 poisons. Both over the counter and prescription medicines need to be kept out of the reach of your pets. Common side effects for the consumption of human medications include fatigue, nervousness, stumbling, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, facial swelling, trouble breathing, muscle tremors, and seizures.
Most houseplants have some level of toxicity and should be kept out of your pet's nibble range. Some of the more common toxic house plants include (but not limited too): Philodendron, Peace Lilies, Schefflera, Shamrock Plant, Ivy, Jade Plant, Lilies, Hyacinth, Amaryllis, Aloe, Azalea/Rhododendron, Babies Breath, Begonia, Cyclamen, and Bamboo. Poinsettia, commonly considered a highly toxic plant, is actually quite overrated - consumption of an entire plant will cause only transient vomiting. If you would like a more complete list of poisonous plants visit the ASPCA List of Poisonous Plants.
Below is a list of the other most common poisons found in and around your home. There are many other toxins not found on the list, so if your pet has gotten into something you think might be poisonous and is not found on the list, please call us immediately!
| Toxin | Side Effects |
|---|---|
| Acetaminophen, Tylenol, Ibuprofen | Blue gums, shortness of breath, facial swelling, depression, lowering body temperature |
| Ant/Roach Baits | Panting, shortness of breath, stumbling, blue gums, facial muscle twitching, trembling, seizures |
| Antifreeze | Nausea, vomiting, depression, wobbling, stumbling, seizures, irregular heartbeat, irregular breathing |
| Apple Seeds, peach pits, Apricot Pits, Cherry pits | Breathing problems, signs of shock, red gums and nose, staggering, seizures, confusion |
| Batteries | Salivation, burns in the mouth, vomiting, pain, abdominal tenderness, breathing fast, increased heart rate |
| Birth Control Pills | Vomiting and diarrhea |
| Bone Meal or Blood Meal | Stomach upset and can cause blockage in the digestive system |
| Bread Dough | Abdominal pain, bloat, vomiting, stumbling, depression |
| Chocolate | High blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, nervousness, tremors, seizures, panting |
| Cigarettes, Tobacco Products and Tabaco Quitting Aids | Excited, hyperactive, fast heartbeat, salivation, diarrhea, urination, muscle twitching, seizures, shallow respiration |
| Cleaning products | Irritation of mouth, drooling, difficulty swallowing, pain, lesions in mouth, vocalization, panting, airway swelling, abdominal pain, bloody vomit |
| Coffee, tea, pop, coffee Grounds | Irregular heartbeat, low body temperature, tremors, seizures, easily excitable |
| Compost or molding foods | Excessive salivation, restlessness, muscle tremors, seizures |
| Fertilizers | Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, gum and nose irritation, fever, tremors, weakness, seizures |
| Garlic | Pale gums, irregular heartbeat, lethargic, weak vomiting, diarrhea |
| Glow in the Dark items | Severe drooling, aggression, hiding, hyperactivity |
| Gorilla Glue | Painful abdomen, hunched posture, gaging, lethargy |
| Grapes, Raisins | Kidney failure: vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, diarrhea, irregular urine production |
| Herbicides | Irritated nose, gums, eyes, seizures, easily excited, incoordination, vomiting, diarrhea, problems breathing |
| Hops | Panting, irregular heartbeat, rapidly temperature raising, seizures |
| Ice melting products | Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, tremors, seizures (Can also cause sore paws!) |
| Insecticide | Lack of control of facial muscles, salivation, blindness, deafness, shortness of breath, shedding tears, constricting pupils |
| Liquid Fuels | Inflammation of the eye, nausea, vomiting, depression, blue gums, weak pulse, convulsions, diarrhea - possibly bloody, wobbling, fixed pupils |
| Macadamia Nuts | Weakness pronounced in the rear limbs, depression, vomiting, stiffness, shaking, toe tapping hind leg, abdominal pain, high temperature |
| Mothballs | Nausea, vomiting, seizures |
| Mushrooms | Seizures, hallucinations, depression, stumbling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, salivation |
| Nuts: Walnuts, peanuts, almonds | Excessive salivation, restlessness, muscle tremors, seizures |
| Onions | Pale gums, irregular heartbeat, lethargic, weak vomiting, diarrhea |
| Pennies | Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, weakness |
| Plants | Species dependant (See below!) - Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hyper salivation, tremors |
| Potpourri | Irritation of the gums, mouth, tongue, esophagus, vomiting, salivation, intense pain, low body temperature |
| Rodenticides | Coughing, depression, weakness, bleeding from gums and nose, bloody stool, bloody vomit, bloody urine |
| Silica Gel Packets | Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite |
| Xylitol (Sugarless candies, gums) | Weakness, lethargy, vomiting |
Gfeller, Roger W., and Shawn P. Messonnier.Handbook of Small Animal Toxicologyand Poisonings. St. Louis: Mosby, 2004. Print.
Lee, Justine A. DVM, DACVECC. Veterinary Information Network, INC. Top Ten Small Animal Toxins: Recognition, Diagnosis, Treatment. ACVIM, 2010.Web. 15 Dec. 2010.
Richardson, Jill DV. "Medical FAQ’s: Common Household Hazards." Veterinary Information Network, INC. Web. 15 Dec. 2010.
"Top Ten Pet Poisons of 2009." http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/top-10-pet-poisons-of-the-year.aspx. n.p.Web. 15 Dec. 2010.
"Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants."http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/. n.p.Web. 15 Dec. 2010.
Waddel, Lori S. DVM, DACVECC. Veterinary Information Network, INC. Household Hazards and Toxins (V306).University of Pennsylvania, 2009.Web. 15 Dec. 2010.