TOXIN EXPOSURES IN PETS- DON’T TAKE A HOLIDAY

With the holidays rapidly approaching, it is a time of year to be especially careful about the possibility of toxin exposures occurring with your pet. Some common toxicities seen this time of year include chocolate and sugarless gum (xylitol) ingestion, ingestion of prescription or cold medication, inadvertent ingestion of large amounts of high fat foods or bones (especially poultry or rib bones), alcohol ingestion, ingestion of poisonous plants, exposure to rat or mouse bait, and ingestion of holiday decorations.

In order to most effectively treat a toxin exposure in your pet, it is best to be prepared BEFORE a potentially dangerous or life-threatening situation occurs. You can do this by having the following ready in advance:

• Your veterinarian’s phone number and office hours, and the phone number of an after-hours facility for emergencies

• The phone number of a pet poisoning helpline

• The breed, weight and age of your pet

If you are concerned that your pet has ingested a toxin, first, remove the pet to prevent any additional ingestion – i.e. take the pet from the room and clean up any vomit (save it in paper towels). NEVER try to induce vomiting at home. This can be exactly the wrong thing to do if the toxin is caustic, and can cause aspiration of the vomitus into the lungs in certain breeds. In addition, administration of substances such as hydrogen peroxide, salt or ipecac can lead to dangerous side effects of their own, including changes in the pH of the blood, salt toxicity, and hemorrhagic enteritis (bloody diarrhea) and ulcers.

When calling your veterinarian for advice, listen closely to what the staff member tells you and write it down. Remember, you may be in a highly stressed, emotional state of mind, but your pets’ well-being depends upon you being able to react in a calm manner. Be prepared to tell your veterinarian the following:

• What exactly did your pet eat?

• Confirm the active ingredient on the packaging if possible and SPELL IT, including any letters after the name (for example, Claritin is not toxic in small amounts, but Claritin D, which contains pseudoephedrine, is highly toxic to pets)

• If your pet ate a plant, try to identify it by the common and/or scientific names

• How long ago did your pet eat the toxin?

• Is your pet showing any abnormal signs – vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, etc.?

• What breed is your animal and how much does it animal weigh – even approximately?

• How old is your animal?

• Have any home remedies been given?

• Try to quantify the amount ingested – even minimum/maximum amounts and estimates will help

• If your pet has ingested a human prescription medication and you are unsure as to the number of tablets, you will need to call your pharmacy and ask:

-when the medication was last refilled
-the number of pills in the refill
-the dose that is taken daily
-you, or your veterinarian, can then calculate how many pills your pet possibly
ingested

• Bring the package/pill/plant and even the vomitus with you to your appointment at the veterinarian’s office. If possible, have another person drive so that you can monitor your pet on the way to the hospital.

Make every effort to prevent to prevent toxin exposures form occurring in your pets – especially during the winter, when risks are higher. Being prepared for a toxin exposure in your pet can make a world of difference in its prognosis.


-Dr. Debra Singleton
West Ridge Animal Hospital