As a Registered Animal Health Technologist working at the emergency hospital, a common question I get asked is “what types of problems do people bring their pets in for?”. While we work at a steady pace seeing all kinds of cases ranging from simple laceration repairs to life-threatening illnesses and trauma, the things pets ingest accidentally have earned a spot in the top-ranking emergencies. If you are a pet owner, think back to how many times your pet has eaten something he or she was not supposed to and I’m sure you will be able to come up with a pretty substantial list! At work, I routinely treat all kinds of toxicity cases due to ingestion of a substance and assist in surgical procedures to remove objects from the gastrointestinal tract of pets. This leads to my next most commonly asked question “what kinds of things do pets eat?”. Well, everything! Surgically, I’ve seen many things removed from the GI tract of pets including; rocks, earplugs, toys, a package of 6 rubber duckies, sewing needles, corn cobs, bones, socks, an entire beach towel and the list goes on and on. Most of the time, the pet’s owner is unaware that anything had been ingested and has brought their pet in for the common signs of GI irritation or obstruction which include; vomiting, diarrhea and inappetance.
Aside from foreign objects in the GI tract causing problems, pets will routinely ingest a toxic substance that can sometimes be fatal if not medically addressed within a timely manner. The following are substances ingested by pets in which cause toxicites, that we commonly treat for at the emergency hospital:
1. Antifreeze: There are 3 stages to antifreeze toxicity. If you notice any of the described signs or symptoms, seek veterinary assistance immediately.
Stage 1; occurs 30 minutes to 12 hours after ingestion and includes:
- nausea
- sudden vomiting
- depression
- ataxia (stumbling around)
- seizures
Stage 2: occurs 12 to 24 hours after ingestion and includes all the signs of Stage 1 as well as the following:
- fast heart rate
- fast breathing rate
Stage 3: occurs 24 to 72 hours after ingestion in dogs, and 12 to 24 hours after ingestion in cats. Included are the signs of Stage 1 and 2 as well as the following:
- severe depression
- severe vomiting
- diarrhea
- seizures
- coma
- death
Even in small amounts antifreeze is extremely toxic. Ultimately it causes kidney failure and if left untreated, death. Pets are attracted to it as it has a sweet taste. If the pet has been witnessed ingesting antifreeze, immediate treatment is required before absorption of the antifreeze begins. For dogs, INDUCE VOMITING and seek veterinary assistance for follow-up care. For cats, seek veterinary assistance immediately.
2. Mouse/Rat Bait: One of the most dangerous substances commonly ingested by pets is mouse or rat bait. The bait is highly palatable and the scent can be detected by pets even if the bait is hidden. The toxic component in the bait varies with each brand. It is extremely helpful to the veterinary staff to know which type has been ingested. If available, locate the package and bring it to the veterinary hospital.
Baits containing warfarin, coumarin, brodifacoum, bromadiolone, diphacinone, chlorphacinone or pindone are Vitamin K rodenticides which cause internal bleeding. Signs of Vitamin K rodenticide toxicity include:
- lethargy
- trouble breathing
- anorexia
- blood in stool and/or urine
- bleeding from gums and/or nose
- bruising (look on areas with little hair growth such as inside ears, armpits and in between the back legs)
These signs can take up to 3 days to present, therefore if your pet has ingested the bait but seems fine, you must take action immediately or even with treatment, toxicity can be fatal. For dogs, It is highly recommended to INDUCE VOMITING as soon as the ingestion is noticed. You must then take your dog to the veterinarian to recieve the antidote. For cats, seek veterinary assistance immediately. It only takes a small amount of the bait to affect the pet and, it is recommended to recieve the antidote from your veterinarian to be on the safe side even if ingestion is only suspected.
Baits containing cholecalciferol are Vitamin D rodenticides which cause high calcium in the blood, leading to kidney and heart failure. Signs of Vitamin D rodenticide toxicity include:
- lethargy
- anorexia
- vomiting
- constipation
- increased thirst
- increased urination
- muscle twitching
- seizures
- bloody diarrhea
These signs can take up to 3 days to present, therefore if your pet has ingested the bait but seems fine, you must take action immediately or even with treatment, toxicity can be fatal. For dogs, It is highly recommended to INDUCE VOMITING as soon as the ingestion is noticed. You must then take your dog to the veterinarian to discuss medications and a low calcium diet to aid in the recovery or prevention of symptoms. For cats, seek veterinary assistance immediately. It only takes a small amount of the bait to affect the pet and, it is recommended to recieve treatment from your veterinarian to be on the safe side even if ingestion is only suspected.
3. Ant Bait: In most instances the pet has not ingested the plastic trap but chewed it up enough to get to the bait inside.
Signs of ant or bug bait toxicity include:
- excessive salivation
- excessive tear production
- excessive urination/defecation
- ataxia (stumbling around)
- muscle weakness or paralysis
- seizures
- respiratory distress
The chemicals in these baits that are harmful are organophosphates, organocarbamates or chlorpyrifos. Avoid the use of any bait containing these chemicals if possible. It is important to note that cats that have been poisoned with chlorpyrifos may only exhibit lethargy or weakness. For dogs, INDUCE VOMITING and seek veterinary assistance for follow-up care. For cats, seek veterinary attention immediately.
4. Marijuana: Less commonly seen in cats, dogs are attracted to the smell of the drug.
Signs of marijuana toxicity include:
- hyperactivity or depression
- ataxia (stumbling around)
- tremors
- excessive salivation
- urine dribbling
If your pet has ingested marijuana, it is vital that you inform the veterinary staff. This is sometimes hard for owners to admit however proper treatment for your pet cannot be performed unless the toxic substance is identified. For dogs, INDUCE VOMITING and seek veterinary assistance for follow-up care. For cats, seek veterinary assistance immediately. Treatment of marijuana toxicity usually requires IV fluids and hospitalization until the symptoms subside.
5. Grapes/Raisins: Signs of grape/raisins toxicity occur in different stages.
The following signs occur in the first 6 to 12 hours after ingestion:
- vomiting
- lethargy
- anorexia
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
The following signs occur 24 to 72 hours after ingestion:
- trouble urinating
- no urine production
- weakness
- tremors
The result of grape and raisin toxicity leads to kidney failure. A very small amount of grapes or raisins, even one or two, may be enough to cause significant symptoms. Fatalities may occur with or without treatment. For dogs, INDUCE VOMITING and seek veterinary assistance for follow-up care. Grape/raisin toxicity has not been reported in cats.
6. Garbage/Mold: There are 2 components to garbage that can be a toxicity threat to your pet. Leftover food can be contaminated by bacteria such as E. coli or Salmonella as well as mold. Both can cause your pet to go into shock as the toxins by either the bacteria or mold invade the bloodstream. This can be a life-threatening situation if left untreated, and signs may take anywhere between 0-48 hours to develop.
Signs of garbage/mold toxicity include:
- vomiting within 3 hours of ingestion
- diarrhea +/- blood within 2-48 hours of ingestion
- depression
- collapse
- low temperature
- weakness
- abdominal pain
- muscle tremors
- agitation
- seizures
If you are certain there were no sharp objects such as bones or large objects in the garbage that may cause an airway blockage for dogs, you may INDUCE VOMITING and seek veterinary assistance for follow-up care. For cats, seek veterinary assistance immediately.
7. Mushrooms: This toxicity is most commonly seen during the growing season especially during exceptionally wet weather.
Signs of mushroom toxicity include:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- excessive salivation, tear production and urination
- depression
- fever
- ataxia (stumbling around)
- suspect hallucinations
- seizures
- coma
Mushroom toxicity is usually caused by ingestion of wild mushrooms. If you are unsure whether the mushrooms ingested are poisonous or not, assume they are. Wild mushrooms cause a variety of severe medical problems including kidney, liver and heart damage, central nervous system effects and even death. For dogs, you may INDUCE VOMITING and seek veterinary assistance for follow-up care. For cats, seek veterinary assistance immediately.
8. Xylitol: Xylitol is an artificial sweetener commonly found in sugarless chewing gums.
Signs of xylitol toxicity include:
- vomiting
- weakness
- ataxia (stumbling around)
- depression
- seizures
- coma
Xylitol cause the rapid release of insulin in pets causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Signs of xylitol toxicity can present 30 minutes to 12 hours after ingestion. For dogs, INDUCE VOMITING and seek veterinary assistance for follow-up care. For cats, seek veterinary assistance immediately.
9. Chocolate: Chocolate toxicity in cats is very rare as they are generally not attracted to the smell or taste of it. If you suspect your cat has ingested chocolate see your veterinarian immediately. More commonly seen in dogs, the effects it will have depend on the type of chocolate ingested and the amount.
Signs of chocolate toxicity include:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- tremors
- hyperactivity
- extreme lethargy
- increased heart rate
- seizures
The following is a chart of toxic doses for each type of chocolate according to the weight of the dog.
| Weight (lbs) | milk | semi-sweet/dark | baking/unsweetened | cocoa |
| 0-5 lbs | 90-150g | 30-60g | 10g | 30-90g |
|
5-10 lbs |
285-390g | 75-135g | 30g | 24-93g |
| 10-20 lbs | 570-780g | 150-270g | 60g | 48-186g |
| 20-30 lbs | 690-900g | 225-390g | 90g | 69-276g |
| 30-40 lbs | 900-1200g | 300-540g | 120g | 96-372g |
| 40-50 lbs | 1140-1890g | 372-528g | 150g | 114-459g |
| 50+ lbs | 1380-1830g | 450-630g | 180g | 138-552g |
If you are unsure how much your pet ate, look for the grams on the package and estimate the amount ingested. INDUCING VOMITING for dogs is recommended, however if your dog is already vomiting, contact a veterinarian immediately for assistance.
White chocolate is not toxic to pets.
For a more indepth list of toxic substances and what to do if ingestion of these or an object has occured, please visit our Toxicities page.
