Keeping Your Pet Safe



Dogs are much more likely to eat things that they shouldn't. However, there are many things that cats find interesting too.  The best rule of thumb is to keep things up and away from pets. However, we all know that things happen, and we’re here for any questions you may have.

 

For an emergency, please call us at 952-953-4100. If we are closed, please call Animal Emergency Hospital 952-953-3737.

 

For an excellent website reference pertaining to hazards for pets, please visit:  http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/


Poison Control
As the premier animal poison control center in North America, the APCC is your best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call: (888) 426-4435. Please be aware that a consultation fee will be applied to your credit card for their services.  The ASPCA, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, is a nonprofit organization and the consultation fees are part of the way that they can keep themselves in business.  Veterinarians use this service as well for help with more unusual types of poisonings.

 

 

 

Below are some known hazards for pets including some seasonal

hazards:

Xylitol:  An artificial sweetener used in sugar-free gum and mints

and in some bakery products causes hypoglycemia, disseminated

intravasucular coagulation, and seizures.  A single piece of gum can 

be fatal for a small dog!  The incidence of this problem is rising rapidly. 
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center had 2 cases reported in year

2002.  In 2003 – 23 cases.  In 2004 – 91 cases.  In 2005 – 240 cases.  

In 2006 – 711 cases.  In 2007– 1911 cases. 2008 cases are still being

tabulated.  These are cases of dog ingestion.  Cats are not likely to
eat things with Xylitol in them.  If your pet ingests Xylitol he or she

will need emergency care including inducing vomiting and fluid therapy.

Grapes/Raisins:  Ingestions of raisins and or grapes causes acute

kidney failure in some dogs. Each dog reacts differently to the toxin,

but it has been documented that 1/4 cup of raisins for a small dog can

be fatal.  Oddly, some dogs who have eaten large amounts of raisins

have shown no clinical signs.  The best action is to bring your pet to the

vet to induce vomiting and administer fluid therapy.

 

NSAIDs: (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or

naproxen are the most common cause of pet poisoning in small animals,

and can cause serious problems even in minimal doses. Pets are

extremely sensitive to their effects, and may experience stomach

and intestinal ulcers and—in the case of cats—kidney damage.


Antidepressants: Antidepressants can cause vomiting and lethargy

and certain types can lead to serotonin syndrome—a condition

marked by agitation, elevated body temperature, heart rate and blood

pressure, disorientation, vocalization, tremors and seizures.  Please

call your veterinarian in the case of this type of ingestion.

 

Acetaminophen:  Cats are especially sensitive to acetaminophen,

which can damage red blood cells and interfere with their ability to

transport oxygen. In dogs, it can cause liver damage and, at higher

doses, red blood cell damage.

 

Silica: Desiccant packs (Silica) are included as moisture absorbents.

They are found in shoeboxes, electronics, medications and food.

Occasionally, desiccants might be used as an insecticide, particularly

for slugs. Silica gel, one of the most common desiccants, is a white

powder or a lustrous granule. Silica gel comes in paper packets or plastic

cylinders. Packages of silica gel are attractive to pets because of the rustling

noise, and the packages are easy to bat around. Most ingestion will not

cause clinical signs, although a mild gastrointestinal upset may occur.

If a large amount is ingested, there is potential for osmotic diarrhea

occurring. In most cases, the packet will be ruptured and the contents

ingested. Ingestion of the intact packet may cause a gastrointestinal

obstruction.

Christmas tree preservative: Christmas tree preservatives primarily
contain dextrose and NPK fertilizers. The concentration of metals (copper,

iron, zinc, magnesium) is usually small in commercial products. Most pets

that drink water containing Christmas tree preservative develop no signs.

Occasionally we can see mild GI signs, rarely, bacterial/fungal contamination

of the water may lead to more severe signs.

Christmas trees: Christmas trees may be one of several species.

The most common are: Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Balsam fir

(Abies balsamea), Black spruce (Picea mariana), Blue spruce (Picea pungens),

White spruce (Picea glauca), Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce

(Picea excelsa), Red Pine (Pinus resinosa), and Red spruce (Picea rubens).

The most common clinical signs after ingestion of the needles are vomiting,

anorexia, abdominal pain and depression.

Poinsettias: The toxicity of poinsettias is generally overrated. The plants

do contain diterpene esters, but large quantities must be ingested for signs

to develop. Most cats just experience mild, self-limiting vomiting that resolves

with little to no treatment.

Christmas Cactus: The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncate) is
considered to be non-toxic. Ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal upset.
Most pets will not require care for vomiting.

Mistletoe: Most ingestions involve American mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.).
Mistletoe contains lectins, but ingestion of a few leaves or berries will generally
cause just a mild gastritis. If purchased in a store, the berries frequently
have been removed and replaced with plastic "berries" which can be a foreign
body. Large ingestions may require decontamination and cardiovascular
monitoring.

American Holly: American holly (Ilex opaca) is a member of the Aquifoliaceae

family. All parts of the holly plant are considered to contain potentially toxic

compounds, including methylxanthines, saponins, and ilicin. True toxicoses is not

generally expected in pets. Most ingestions cause gastrointestinal irritation and
depression. Recent ingestions can usually be managed with dilution and
monitoring at home.

Amaryllis: Amaryllis are common ornamental bulb plants, forced to bloom at
Christmas time. The plants contain a variety of alkaloids and galanthamine,
which is a cholinesterase-inhibitor. All parts of the plant are toxic, however the
bulbs contain the highest concentration of alkaloids. The quantity of foliage
ingested or the portion of the bulb ingested can make a tremendous difference
in toxicity. Ingesting foliage generally only results in drooling, vomiting,
and diarrhea. Large ingestions, or ingestion of the bulb (rare in cats) can
cause hypotension, weakness, ataxia, tremors and seizures. In general,
prognosis is good. Large ingestions or cases with severe signs do require
aggressive treatment.

Lily: Members of the Lilium and Hemerocallis genera (Easter lilies,

tiger lilies, day lilies, etc.) cause acute renal failure in cats. The water

soluble toxic principle is unknown. Even minor exposures (bite on a leaf,

ingestion of pollen) may result in toxicosis, so all pet exposures to lilies

should be considered potentially life-threatening. It should be noted that not all
plants with “lily” in the name are members of Liliaceae.

Affected pets often vomit within a few hours after exposure. Within 24 to 72
hours of ingestion, oliguric to anuric renal failure develops, accompanied by
vomiting, depression, anorexia, and dehydration.  Lily poisoning is a
medical emergency.

Ice Melts:  Many brands of sidewalk ice melts are on the market.

The most common ingredients in these ice melts are sodium chloride,

potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium carbonate, and calcium

magnesium acetate. A few ice melts contain urea. Pets may be exposed

by walking on the ice melts themselves or by ingesting granules brought

inside on the shoes of the owner’s.

Ingestion of urea is not a toxicity issue in non-ruminants. Ingestion of
sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium salts can lead to vomiting and
electrolyte abnormalities. Monitor electrolyte levels and treat with
appropriate fluid therapy. It is best to purchase “pet safe” ice melt for use

around your home and/or wash your pet’s paws after walks in areas where

ice melt is used.

Liquid Potpourri: Liquid potpourri is commonly used during the

holiday season. Pets are often exposed to liquid potpourri by direct

ingestion from simmer pots or spills, or by rubbing against leaky

bottles or simmer pots containing the potpourri, or from spilling the

containers upon themselves. Oral exposures result following grooming.

Exposure of pets to some types of liquid potpourris can
result in severe oral, dermal and ocular damage.

Ethanol:  Due to their small size, cats are far more sensitive to

ethanol than humans are. Even ingesting a small amount of a product

containing alcohol can cause significant intoxication. Pets are attracted to

mixed drinks that contain milk, cream or ice cream (e.g. White Russian,

alcoholic eggnog, Brandy Alexander). Ethanol is rapidly absorbed

orally and signs can develop within 30-60 minutes. Alcohol intoxication

commonly causes vomiting, loss of coordination, disorientation and stupor.

In severe cases, coma, seizures and death may occur. Pets who are inebriated

should be monitored by a veterinarian until they recover.

Rodent Poisons: Anticoagulants in use as rodenticides today are

almost all second-generation derivatives of either warfarin or

indane 1,3-dione. They are active in the liver where they inhibit

the activity of vitamin K epoxide reductase, which
converts the vitamin K epoxide to the active reduced form.

This reduced vitamin K is crucial to activation of clotting factors

II, VII, IX, and X.

If ingestion was witnessed or a window of opportunity places it within a
couple hours, your veterinarian will induce vomiting. Early signs of

anticoagulant toxicosis are vague. You may see lethargy, a soft,

non-productive cough, intermittent lameness, mild anemia, or

even sudden collapse. Frequently there is no obvious hemorrhage.

Petechiae and ecchymoses are more often seen later in the
course of illness, after the platelet numbers have been depleted in smaller
bleeds. If there is active bleeding, whole blood transfusions or fresh frozen
plasma should be used to replace clotting factors quickly.

Cats are not big bait eaters (when compared to dogs) but they can

experience secondary (or relay) toxicosis. This occurs when cats

ingest rodents which have ingested anticoagulant baits. Indoor cats

which ingest the occasional mouse are not considered to be at risk,

but animals which consume large amounts of rodents (barn cats)

can develop toxicosis.


Glow-in-the-dark Sticks and Jewelry: Glow-in-the-dark items are

popular novelty items and include glo-sticks and
glow-in-the-dark jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, etc.). The primary
luminescent agent in these types of products is dibutyl phthalate (n-butyl
phthalate), an oily liquid that is also used as a plasticizer and insect
repellent. Dibutyl phthalate is of low toxicity (LD50 >8000 mg/kg in rats)

so serious problems are unlikely.

Even though the extremely unpleasant taste of dibutyl phthalate may limit
exposure, some very dramatic signs may be seen. Signs generally occur within
seconds of the pet biting into the item. Pets may display profuse salivation
and foaming, with occasional retching and/or vomiting. More dramatic are the
behavioral effects in pets from exposure to glow items; signs such as
hyperactivity, aggression, head shaking, hiding, and agitation have been
reported. In all cases, signs are generally self-limiting and should resolve
once the pet gets the taste of the product out of their mouth. The exposure
is managed by diluting the taste of the dibutyl phthalate using milk or
highly palatable food (e.g. canned tuna). Any chemical that has gotten on
skin or fur should be bathed or wiped off to prevent re-exposure when the
animal grooms themselves; taking the pet into a darkened room will aid in
finding the luminescent chemical on the skin or coat.