My last article covered substances commonly found in the home that can cause illness or death to cats. This article focuses on several ingested toxic materials that we commonly see in dogs at the Long Beach Animal Hospital which can cause serious disease and even death. The best treatment for any of them is prevention, so awareness is the key.
Symptoms of all of these poisons are highly variable and depend on how much your pet has ingested over a certain period of time. Symptoms can include:
- Vomiting with or without blood
- Diarrhea that is normal in color or very dark
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Poor appetite
- Seizures
- Drooling or excess salivation
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty walking
- Pale gums
- Hyperactivity
- Deep and prolonged depression
- Lack of coordination
- Dilated pupils
- Coma
Dogs may die suddenly after any or all of these symptoms. It’s important that you bring the body to the vet to check whether he or she has been poisoned.
Your dog’s stomach may be pumped to flush out ingested toxic substances. Photo courtesy of LBAH.
Common Toxic Household Substances
1. Human analgesics and anti-inflammatories, e.g., ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve)
These drugs, known as NSAIDs, are routinely used by people; hence, there is potential for your dog to ingest them. These medications can result in severe stomach ulcers and kidney failure.
2. Rat Poison
Common substances used to kill rodents contain warfarin or other compounds that can cause internal bleeding and death. Their odors can appeal to your pet, and he or she may eat them. Your dog might also eat a rat that has ingested warfarin and become secondarily toxic.
3. Chocolate
The toxic component in chocolate is called theobromine. We have enzymes in our liver to metabolize this compound that dogs do not have. Dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate are worse than milk chocolate; in other words, the more actual chocolate a confection may contain, the more poisonous it will be to dogs.
4. Marijuana
With the advent of legal medical marijuana, we are seeing more cases of marijuana toxicity, mostly in dogs. As with cats, death is rare, but other symptoms such as depression, vomiting and lack of coordination are associated with marijuana poisoning. Be selfish with your stash, please.
5. Insecticides
Lawn and garden products as well as any insecticide that contains pyrethrins are potentially toxic. Dogs can get exposed by licking their paws after walking through areas that have been treated with these insecticides.
6. Household cleaners
Kitchen-surface cleaners, carpet cleaners, toilet-bowl cleaners and laundry detergents have the potential to be toxic. Always thoroughly rinse off any area with water before allowing your dog back into an area you just cleaned.
7. Foods
Grapes, raisins and sugarless gum (containing xylitol) are all toxic to dogs.
8. Antidepressant drugs
Please keep Prozac, Pail, Celexa and Effexor out of reach of your dog.
9. Antifreeze (Ethylene glycol)
Antifreeze is very sweet tasting to dogs and will destroy the kidneys. Exposure can occur from licking the garage floor where a radiator is leaking or after changing radiator fluid, licking in gutters and in toilet bowels that are being winterized. Look for antifreeze that contains propylene glycol, which is not as toxic to the kidneys.
10. Household plants
A surprising number of household plants can be toxic to dogs if ingested in high-enough quantities. Most symptoms are mild to moderate, but there is always the potential for death.
If you suspect that your pet has been exposed to any poison, see our website for phone numbers and advice.