By Dr. Teri Sue Wright and Gabbie Bird
March is Poison Prevention Month, a crucial time to raise awareness about common toxins that can harm our pets. From everyday foods to household items, many substances can be dangerous—even fatal—to dogs and cats. Let’s take a closer look at why these items pose a risk and what pet owners should know to keep their furry companions safe.
Chocolate:
Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine (an actual drug we use to open up airways). Dosage (amount) and strength of the substance are what will determine how poisonous the substance will be to your pet. At high concentrations, these chemicals are toxic to dogs and cats. Milk chocolate hardly has an effect, while semi-sweet a little more, especially in smaller pets. Very dark chocolate, bitter sweet, and bakers chocolate are toxic even in small quantities.
Minimum lethal dosage of caffeine and theobromine in dogs ranges from 50-100mg per pound of body weight. There is 60 mg of these chemicals in one ounce of milk chocolate, 260 mg in one ounce of semi-sweet chocolate, and 450 mg in an ounce of baking chocolate. A 50 lb dog would need to eat 45 oz (5.5 cups!) of milk chocolate to reach this dose.
Onions:
Toxicity of onions is also dose dependent - we love to add small amounts to our broth as a sulfur donor to support your pet’s immune system. We have been doing this for years, with no consequences to the health of our pets. However, cream of onion soup fed for a meal or two, or onions eaten out of the compost bin, will cause toxicity, and result in anemia.
Grapes and raisins:
Both grapes and raisins have been shown to cause kidney disease, however we know anecdotal evidence of dogs eating grapes off the vine. The cause of grape and raisin toxicity is not known, and while some pets may have no reaction, others can have kidney failure after ingesting even half a grape.
Plants:
Many houseplants can also be toxic to pets. Mostly they are gastric irritants; if ingested, they can cause GI upset and vomiting. All lilies are especially toxic to cats - even the pollen from these flowers can cause kidney failure. If you are unsure whether or not your house plant is toxic to your pets, check out the ASPCA lists of poisonous plants.
Keep cat grass around for your pets to consume, so they do not feel inclined to eat houseplants. Outdoor time is ideal for a pet’s natural inclination to eat plants, and be the little herbalist they intuitively are. Also recognize most pets have mild gastric upset eating processed foods, and are looking for a way to support their own digestion. The grass doesn’t make them vomit, instead they eat it because of GI upset.
It’s important to get medical support if your pet ingests houseplants or lilies to prevent kidney insult. Do not induce vomiting if your pet has consumed a houseplant of lily - this can cause further harm to the gastrointestinal tract.
Medications and supplements:
Medicines should be kept away from pets, and always consult with your veterinarian prior to giving medications to your pets. For instance, cats lack the metabolic pathway to metabolize tylenol (acetominophen), and any amount could be fatal. Aspirin, in high doses, can also cause GI ulcers. Vitamin D supplements, when not taken with vitamins A, E, and K, can cause the body to bleed out. Coumadin derivatives like brodifacoum, bromadiolone, etc. are similar, and are used in over the counter rodents baits - these cause pale mucous membranes, bleeding out, and shortness of breath. Immediate veterinary care is required if ingested. Small amounts over time is worse than one large dose. Vitamin K1 is the antidote and works best when fed with fats.
Outdoor Hazards:
Outside, its important to prevent pets access to fertilizers, antifreeze, and pest control substances such as rat poison, slug bait, and ant bait. Antifreeze destroys the kidneys in cats. Slug bait is a neurotoxin, and causes excess salivation, tremors, and seizures.
Signs and symptoms of toxicity:
Symptoms of poisoning vary depending on the toxin but may include tremors, nervous system excitement, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures. Other symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and muscle rigidity.
The earlier we can start treatment after our pets ingest toxins, the better outcome we have. If you see your pet ingest something toxic, do not induce vomiting before contacting an emergency veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. In some instances, inducing vomiting can cause further harm, so it is essential to consult prior to taking any steps at home.
March is Poison Prevention Month, a crucial time to raise awareness about common toxins that can harm our pets. From everyday foods to household items, many substances can be dangerous—even fatal—to dogs and cats. Let’s take a closer look at why these items pose a risk and what pet owners should know to keep their furry companions safe.
Chocolate:
Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine (an actual drug we use to open up airways). Dosage (amount) and strength of the substance are what will determine how poisonous the substance will be to your pet. At high concentrations, these chemicals are toxic to dogs and cats. Milk chocolate hardly has an effect, while semi-sweet a little more, especially in smaller pets. Very dark chocolate, bitter sweet, and bakers chocolate are toxic even in small quantities.
Minimum lethal dosage of caffeine and theobromine in dogs ranges from 50-100mg per pound of body weight. There is 60 mg of these chemicals in one ounce of milk chocolate, 260 mg in one ounce of semi-sweet chocolate, and 450 mg in an ounce of baking chocolate. A 50 lb dog would need to eat 45 oz (5.5 cups!) of milk chocolate to reach this dose.
Onions:
Toxicity of onions is also dose dependent - we love to add small amounts to our broth as a sulfur donor to support your pet’s immune system. We have been doing this for years, with no consequences to the health of our pets. However, cream of onion soup fed for a meal or two, or onions eaten out of the compost bin, will cause toxicity, and result in anemia.
Grapes and raisins:
Both grapes and raisins have been shown to cause kidney disease, however we know anecdotal evidence of dogs eating grapes off the vine. The cause of grape and raisin toxicity is not known, and while some pets may have no reaction, others can have kidney failure after ingesting even half a grape.
Plants:
Many houseplants can also be toxic to pets. Mostly they are gastric irritants; if ingested, they can cause GI upset and vomiting. All lilies are especially toxic to cats - even the pollen from these flowers can cause kidney failure. If you are unsure whether or not your house plant is toxic to your pets, check out the ASPCA lists of poisonous plants.
Keep cat grass around for your pets to consume, so they do not feel inclined to eat houseplants. Outdoor time is ideal for a pet’s natural inclination to eat plants, and be the little herbalist they intuitively are. Also recognize most pets have mild gastric upset eating processed foods, and are looking for a way to support their own digestion. The grass doesn’t make them vomit, instead they eat it because of GI upset.
It’s important to get medical support if your pet ingests houseplants or lilies to prevent kidney insult. Do not induce vomiting if your pet has consumed a houseplant of lily - this can cause further harm to the gastrointestinal tract.
Medications and supplements:
Medicines should be kept away from pets, and always consult with your veterinarian prior to giving medications to your pets. For instance, cats lack the metabolic pathway to metabolize tylenol (acetominophen), and any amount could be fatal. Aspirin, in high doses, can also cause GI ulcers. Vitamin D supplements, when not taken with vitamins A, E, and K, can cause the body to bleed out. Coumadin derivatives like brodifacoum, bromadiolone, etc. are similar, and are used in over the counter rodents baits - these cause pale mucous membranes, bleeding out, and shortness of breath. Immediate veterinary care is required if ingested. Small amounts over time is worse than one large dose. Vitamin K1 is the antidote and works best when fed with fats.
Outdoor Hazards:
Outside, its important to prevent pets access to fertilizers, antifreeze, and pest control substances such as rat poison, slug bait, and ant bait. Antifreeze destroys the kidneys in cats. Slug bait is a neurotoxin, and causes excess salivation, tremors, and seizures.
Signs and symptoms of toxicity:
Symptoms of poisoning vary depending on the toxin but may include tremors, nervous system excitement, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures. Other symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and muscle rigidity.
The earlier we can start treatment after our pets ingest toxins, the better outcome we have. If you see your pet ingest something toxic, do not induce vomiting before contacting an emergency veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. In some instances, inducing vomiting can cause further harm, so it is essential to consult prior to taking any steps at home.