|
If you think your pet has ingested a poisonous substance, Call your veterinarian!
They are the best source of help and advice for you!
This is Not a complete list!
For further help - National Poison Control Center - 1-800-222-1222
If your veterinarian wants to see your pet, the following instructions may be helpful.
- Transport the pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
- If you must delay going to the veterinarian, keep the pet warm and avoid any other stress.
- Use clean containers to bring the uncontaminated vomitus and toxic substance to the hospital with the pet.
|
|
Poison
|
Symptoms
|
Treatment
|
Ethylene Glycol–
Anti-Freeze
Immediate treatment is necessary - do not wait until tomorrow - treatment needs to start within 5 hours of ingestion.
Ethylene glycol is extreme toxic - even a tiny bit is too much.
|
Early Symptoms
- nausea and vomiting
- mild to severe depression
- staggering
- seizures
- excessive urination without drinking much
- seizures
Ethylene Glycol Poisoning is extremely destructive to the kidneys and can cause complete renal failure.
Anti-Freeze has a somewhat pleasant taste to animals and has the highest fatality rate of all poisons. The fatality rate is higher for cats than dogs.
|
- Call your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Whitney Veterinary Hospital
309-685-4707
Bring evidence - if possible.
- After hours, call the emergency clinic -- 309-672-1565 - 1800 N. Sterling, Peoria, Il 61604
- If you think your pet has ingested anti-freeze in the last 60 minutes induce vomiting by using hydrogen peroxide and go to your veterinarian immediately.
- Anti-Freeze poisoning is always acute.
|
|
Treatment For Ethyl Glycol Poisoning
Treatment for anti-freeze requires intravenous support with iv fluids and drug therapy to dissolve the crystals formed in the kidneys. Hospitalization will be for at least 3 days and perhaps longer.
|
|
Poison
|
Symptoms
|
Treatment
|
Rat/Mouse
Poison
Fatalities from rat poison are more common than you might think.
Your pet may have found rat poison somewhere besides on your own property.
About 14% of all poisonings result in death.
|
- Depression, weakness, lethargy
- Paleness, bruises
- Coughing, labored breathing
- Nosebleeds
- Bloody urine, stool, or vomit
- seizures, kidney damage
- Excessive bleeding from small wounds
Rat poison is an anticoagulant that inhibits the body's ability to form clots. The animal bleeds to death. There is a latent period between the time that the pet eats the poison and the symptoms appear. It is imperative that you seek veterinary attention immediately.
|
- Call your veterinarian as soon as possible. (309-685-4707)
Knowing the type of poison will help - bring evidence if possible.
- After hours, call the emergency clinic - 309-672-1565 - 1800 N. Sterling, Peoria, Il 61604
- If you think your pet has eaten the poison in the last 2 hours and you are unable to go to the veterinarian, induce vomiting by using hydrogen peroxide. Go to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
- Handle your pet with extreme care to prevent any bleeding or bruising.
|
|
Treatment For Some Rat Poisons, but Not all
If the poisoning has been detected early enough, Vitamin K injections can be given until the body is sufficiently recovered to activate Vitamin K on its own.
If the poisoning hasn't been found in the early stages, blood transfusions and oxygen therapy may be the only way to keep the animal alive.
|
Cicadas
Cicadas are not a toxic risk to pets. They do not bite or sting, and are not poisonous if eaten. If too many are ingested, the hard exoskeleton might cause irritation of the stomach, leading to vomiting or obstruction.
|
Cocoa Bean Mulch
All mulches are bad for animals to eat, and the results are usually serious. Cocoa bean shells are a by-product of chocolate production. They contain theobromine and caffeine, and have an attractive odor and smell. Some dogs will eat this mulch, and develop vomiting, seizures, Bradycardia, tachycardia, hyperactivity, diarrhea and muscle tremors.
|
Poisonous House Plants
If you think that your pet has ingested poisonous plant material, call your Veterinarian!
|
Plant Name
Click name for photo
|
Symptoms
|
Aloe Vera or
Burn plant
|
A rash can occur in sensitive pets. The yellow juice is the primary irritant. Ingestion of the latex, (the poisonous part), can cause vomiting by irritating the large intestine.
|
Amaryllis
|
The poisonous part is the bulb. The irritant is present in small amounts, so large quantities must be eaten to cause the symptoms, which are diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
|
Angel's Trumpet
Datura innoxia
|
All parts of the plant are toxic. This plant contains the same toxins that cause poisoning and death as Jimsonweed (loco weed). Symptoms include agitation, spasms, drowsiness, and coma.
|
Anthurium
Angels' Wings
|
All parts of the plant contain a poison called calcium oxalate. Pets usually do not ingest this plant, because chewing quickly causes painful irritation of the mouth and throat. However, if it does, it can cause severe irritation to the mouth and throat. Symptoms of poisoning are blistering, dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), and hoarseness.
|
|
Castor Bean
|
The seeds of the castor bean are the most dangerous, but all parts of the plant are poisonous.
Symptoms may appear in is little as a few hours or a few days. There is nausea and evidence of abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and dehydration. Additional signs may be excessive thirst, weakness, convulsions, and coma. Death may result from paralysis of the respiratory center. Artifical respiration may not preserve life for long because of rapid onset of concurrent vasomotor paralysis.
|
Clivia miniata
Kaffir Lily
|
The roots of the Clivia are poisonous. Large quantities must be ingested to cause symptoms of toxicity. General symptoms are salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, collapse, or paralysis.
|
|
Croton
|
The bark, roots, and latex (sap) are the poisonous parts. Chewing the bark or roots will cause burning of the mouth. |
Crown-of-thorns/
Euphorbia/
Desert rose
|
This plant contains a white, milky sap which may cause severe blistering and intense pain and blistering to mouths, open cuts, and around eyes. The sap is not destroyed by drying.
Symptoms of ingestion are excessive salivation, abdominal pain, blistering/irritation of the mouth/throat and vomiting.
Cats and dogs are equally affected by and may also experience irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea and hemorrhage.
|
|
Cyclamen
|
The cyclamen has a poisonous bulb and rhizomes. The tuberous rhizomes are bitter and found underground, so pets are unlikely to be exposed to the toxins.
|
Delphinium
Larkspur
|
This is a member of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup family). Young rapidly growing larkspur plants are the most toxic. The highest concentration of alkaloids appears to be in the leaves. The plants contain diterpenoid alkaloids, which may vary in quantity depending on the variety. Plants growing in the sun appear to have a stronger concentration of the alkaloids than plants growing in the shade. Alkaloids act principally at the neuromuscular junction, causing a muscle weakness and paralysis. The effect is similar to that of nicotine.
|
Dieffenbacia
DumbCane
Leopard Lily
|
All parts of these plants are toxic. They contain calcium oxalate. Chewing on dieffenbachia will cause painful and immediate swelling of the mouth and throat.
|
|
Flamingo lily
|
See Anthurium or Angels' Wings
|
Hydrangea
Press for Photo
|
The leaves and buds of this plant are poisonous. Symptoms of poisoning from eating the flower buds include vomiting, abdominal pains, diarrhea, labored breathing, lethargy and coma.
|
Kalanchoe
Mother-of-Thousands
|
Caution should be exercised with all Kalanchoe species as they contain a cardiac glycoside that has caused toxicity and death in animals.
Clinical signs generally occur beginning a few hours after plant ingestion and include excessive drooling and gastrointestinal upset. Usually the course of the toxicity is rapid (12 to 24 hours), with possible death from cardiac arrest.
The young plantlets grow along the leaf edges and are easily dislodged to become new plants. Family pets have easy access to these plantlets.
If you suspect that your pet has ingested Kalanchoe, Call your veterinarian now!
|
|
Lupine - Blue Bonnet
|
Lupines are perennial plants that occur in most of the country. The palmate shaped leaves and showy, pea-shaped flowers that come in a wide range of colors make them quite attractive. Most species are not toxic, but some contain quinolizidine and piperidine alkaloids in all parts of the plant. Ingestion is associated with congenital defects and reproductive failure.
|
|
The Hazards that Lilies pose for Cats! |
Easter Lily
Tiger lily
Some species of
Day Lily
|
Members of the Lily family can cause kidney failure in cats.
All parts of the lily are toxic to cats and consuming even a small amount can be fatal.
Within a few hours of ingestion, the cat may vomit, become lethargic and lose it's appetite. The symptoms continue and worsen as the kidney damage progresses.
If your cat that has ingested material from a lily plant, please call your veterinarian promptly to arrange treatment. Your cat may develop kidney failure within 36 hours!
If you own a cat, please consider removing any lilies from your cat's access and consider decorating with Easter orchids or another safer plant.
|
Monstera deliciosa,
Heart leaf
philodendron,
Lace tree
philodendron,
Split-leaf philodendron
|
The leaves contain a toxin called calcium oxalate, and can cause problems if chewed by family pets.
General symptoms of poisoning are reddening and inflammation of the skin and itchiness. Symptoms of poisoning are immediate and painful with aphonia blistering, hoarseness, irritation of the mouth and urticaria
|
Mushrooms
|
Some species of mushrooms are relatively non-toxic, while other species are extremely poisonous.
Some mushrooms of the toxic species can cause liver or kidney damage. Some other toxic species may produce severe gastrointestinal or neurological effects.
Toxic and non-toxic mushrooms can often be found growing alongside each other. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to identify each type of mushroom existing on your property. It is better to keep all wild mushrooms out of the reach of pets.
If your pet ingests wild mushrooms, treat it seriously and call your veterinarian. Bring some samples to your veterinarian for analysis.
|
|
Poinsettia
|
The toxic potential of poinsettia has become highly exaggerated.
Poinsettias are no longer classified as extremely toxic.
Therefore, while keeping this plant out of the reach of your pet is still a good idea, pet owners don't need to banish the poinsettia from their homes for fear of a fatal exposure.
|
Rhododendron,
Azalea
Click for Photo
|
Treat all Rhododendrons/azaleas as poisonous. All parts of the azalea contain toxins. Although a low toxicity plant it is best to pets away.
Animals that have ingested material from these plants may experience depression, repeated attempts to swallow, excessive salivation, acute digestive upset, projectile vomiting, nasal discharge, and frequent defecation.
There also may be weakness, staggering, paralysis of the limbs, stupor, and depression.
Animals may remain sick for more than 2 days and gradually recover, or lapse into Coma - followed by death.
|
|
Sago Palm
|
The Sago Palm and other cycad palms can be potentially deadly to pets. All parts of these popular ornamental plants contain poisonous compounds, but the seeds or "nuts" appear to contain the largest amount of toxins. Just one or two seeds can produce serious problems.
Ingestion can potentially produce vomiting and diarrhea, depression, seizures and even liver failure. It is important to keep pets from accessing these plants.
|
|
Caution
|
When dealing with plants that your are unsure of, it is better to err on the side of caution. Keep them out of the reach of your pets.
If they do accidently gain access and ingest some -- have your pet examined by your veterinarian.
|
|
If you have questions regarding First Aid for your pet, Please do not hesitate to contact us at 309-685-4707 We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have. We want to ensure that your pet has the best of health.
|
|
References
- "Toxicology Brief", a column written by APCC veterinarians for Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medicine Publishing Group, 15333 W. 95th St., Lenexa, KS 66219-9915
- Tilley & Smith, The Five Minute Veterinary Consult, 3rd Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Top | Home Page | Our Services Copyright© 2004 Whitney Veterinary Hospital |
