Tag Archives: pet poisons

Winter Hazards for pets

As the colder weather starts to approach unfortunately so do some potential hazards for our pets. Here are some common things to look out for and try to keep our pets as happy and healthy as possible over the winter.

Antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol)

Both cats and dogs are attracted to the sweet smell and taste of antifreeze, and will often sample some if left out in a container or leaking from cars. Antifreeze is highly toxic – it is rapidly absorbed (initial signs appear approximately one hour post-ingestion), and there is a high mortality rate.

Acute cases (within 12 hours of ingestion) often present as if the animal was intoxicated with alcohol: stumbling, vomiting and depression are common signs. The kidneys are most severely affected, and even if the animal seems to improve initially with treatment, they may succumb shortly after to kidney failure. The kidneys shut down, and the animal is unable to produce urine. This type of kidney failure usually happens 12-24 hours after ingestion in cats, and 36-72 hours post ingestion in dogs. If you suspect that your animal has come into contact with antifreeze, contact your vet immediately.

Arthritis and Winter

Cold, damp weather aggravates arthritis in older cats and dogs. Some younger pets who have had a bone/joint injury may also suffer. Overweight animals also are more prone to arthritis.

If your pet is having trouble getting up or laying down, navigating the stairs, or has started to snap or cry when picked up, we would recommend a visit to your vet. There are many new arthritis treatments available, which can greatly improve your pet’s quality of life.

Please NEVER medicate your dog or cat with human prescriptions or over-the-counter medications! and remember paracetamol is extremely toxic to cats!

Outdoor Pets
If your pet lives mainly outside, make sure that a good shelter is provided — to shield from wind, rain, snow and cold. Take extra care to ensure that your pet is comfortable and can get into and out of their shelter easily.

If the weather is very cold make sure that your pets waterbowls do not freeze over and that there is always a supply of fresh water available.

Exercise

As always, exercise is important! If there is snow on the ground, check your pet’s paws for ice balls or injuries. Rinse feet off if your pet has walked where de-icers have been used. Some de-icers are toxic when ingested (when pet licks paws). If your pet is having difficulty exercising due to depth of snow, slick icy surfaces, or appears to be winded, shorten the usual exercise times and monitor for any unusual signs.

Indoor hazards

Plants – certain plants which we tend to have around Christmas time can be dangerous for pets. Poinsettias irritate the stomach and eyes. Berries of the Jerusalem cherry are toxic, and cause pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Holly and mistletoe, amaryllis, chrysanthemum, rhododendron and winter broom as well as Christmas berry, cherry, pepper and rose can all cause problems to pets that ingest them. Note: Liquid potpourri can cause terrible burns in an animal’s mouth should it be ingested.
Fires/candles – Ensure pets are protected from any open flames; many cats especially like to get too close to open fires, burnt or singed whiskers may alert you to this. Candles can easily be knocked over by pets and cause serious harm to people and animals.
Trees/decorations/presents – Christmas trees (real or artificial) can cause problems if ingested as can tree ornaments, tinsel etc. Avoid using chemicals/preservatives in your water stand if you have pets in the house.
Food – Alcohol and chocolate are toxic. Keep drinks and sweets out of a pet’s reach. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, and even a tiny amount of pure chocolate can be lethal to a small dog. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolate are the most dangerous. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity and seizures. Turkey bones left in an accessible place are almost irresistible to pets, but they can lodge in an animal’s throat or block the intestinal tract. Remove leftovers from the table and don’t leave rubbish where animals can get to it. Christmas cakes and puddings are also a big ‘no-no’ for dogs as grapes, raisins and sultanas are toxic to dogs.

If you are concerned your pet has eaten something potentially dangerous please contact your veterinary clinic as soon as possible for advice.

Hoping everyone has a warm, safe, happy and healthy Winter!

Seizures. My pet has had a seizure, what should I do?

Seizures are extremely common in dogs, less so in cats. I would say we will see or treat a dog for seizures every week in our veterinary clinic. A seizure is not a disease in itself – it is a symptom of a disease. Many different conditions can cause seizures but one of the most common is a condition called idiopathic epilepsy.

Other causes include

1. hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)

2. toxins/ poisoning – slug pellets are a common household poison which can cause your pet to seizures

3. trauma

4. Inflammation of the central nervous system

5. Lungworm – a parasite called Angiostrongylus Vasorum, usually contracted by eating slugs and snails.

6. Brain tumours

7. Liver problems (hepatic encephalopathy

What you should do if your pet has a seizure…

If your pet has a seizure don’t panic – they usually don’t last very long. In most cases pets have stopped having seizures by the time they reach our clinics. What you should do if your pet has a seizure is make sure they are in a safe place. Do not try to put anything in their mouths – you may get bitten…

Make a note of when the seizure starts and how long it lasts. If possible video the event as more often than not the episode will be over by the time you reach the nearest vet clinic. Contact your nearest clinic for an appointment as soon as possible. If you suspect your vet has ingested some poison please bring the packaging with you.

Our veterinary clinic details are Lodge Vet Hospital, Lodge Road, Westport, Co. Mayo 353 (0) 98 26006

What we will do when you get to us….

If your pet is still having a seizure or an episode we may have to admit him or her and administer medication to get the situation under control.

More commonly the pet will have recovered when we see them.

In this case your vet will take a detailed history and do a physical exam to check for any abnormalities. We may also want to run some routine blood tests to check for any less obvious causes of the seizure. There is no specific test for idiopathic epilipsy (which is the most common cause of seizures in dogs). Usually the diagnosis is made by clinical signs, history and a process of elimination.

We will then decide on what treatment, if any, is needed.

Dogs diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy typically go on to require long term treatment, however it would be unusual to put a dog on long term medication based on a single seizure.

In most cases the condition can be well managed and these patients usually lead a normal happy life.

Pets and poisons

Q. Which of the following items can be highly toxic to your pet?

Chocolate

antifreeze

raisins

rat poison

slug pellets

plant bulbs

lillies

paracetamol

A. all of the above

Every year in our clinic we see many cases where we suspect poisoning. While it may seem obvious that you don’t allow your pet near rat poison or slug pellets, all too frequently we will see a few animals who ingest these substances (typically dogs as they can be quite indiscriminate about what they eat).

As dangerous as rat poison can be to pets, at least if someone suspects their dog of eating some they will know to get down to the vet quickly.What is more worrying is many people aren’t aware of the fact that raisins can be highly toxic to dogs. As few as seven raisins have been known to cause fatal kidney failure in dogs. Raisins are palatable to dogs and I am aware of cases where a dogs have died as a result of raiding the shopping or the larder and eating a bag of raisins.

At Christmas time, it is common to be presented with a dog who has stolen and eaten an entire box of chocolates which can make them quite sick. There is a substance in chocolate called theobromine which is toxic for dogs. It is present in higher quantities in dark chocolate and cooking chocolate so be warned – and please don’t give your dog any!

Antifreeze, contains ethylene glycol a substance which causes kidney failure. Unfortunately to dogs and cats it tastes sweet and a very small amount can be fatal. A car leaking a small amount of antifreeze could have tragic consequences for your pet.

We do not usually see as many cats with poisoning as they are fussier eaters, however there are a couple of things cat owners should be aware of. Lillies are toxic to cats and cat owners should avoid them. Occasionally I have seen cats who have been given paracetamol by their owners, obviously out of care that they are in pain. Tragically cats cannot cope with this medicine, it causes liver failure. It is always heart braking when this occurs. The best advice I can give is never to give human medicine to your pet, unless prescribed by a vet. Also please don’t give one pets medicine to another without consulting a vet. Even animal remedies especially pain killers can be very dangerous if an incorrect dose is given.

There are many other items which can be toxic to pets – this article is just a summary of the some of the most common and dangerous ones. I hope it is helpful. Will try to get back to this and add some more details in time!

What you should do if you are concerned your pet has been poisoned?

For most of these poisons their is no antidote available. Therefore time is absolutely crucial – get to a vet clinic or vet hospital as soon as possible. If a pet has recently ingested poisoning we will induce vomiting – hopefully the poison will not have left the stomach and we can clear it from the system before it has a chance to affect your pet. We can also give medicine to try and prevent the poison being absorbed into the system. Blood tests may be needed to check your pets vital organs or screen for toxins.

Do not try to make your pet sick – consult a vet.

Some useful links for dog and cat owners.:

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/_resources/resources/factsheets09/factsheetpoisonoussubstances09.pdf

http://www.fabcats.org/catfriendlypractice/leaflets/poison.pdf