24/7 Emergency
When you realize your pet may have eaten something toxic, it’s easy to get flustered. Does he need a trip to the emergency room? What can you do at home to help him? What will a doctor who sees him want to know? Some of the answers are simple, some complicated. Knowing what to do before the crisis occurs is key when it comes to toxic substances and pets.
Categories of Substances Toxic to Pets
The list of things pets shouldn’t consume is enormous: human prescription and over-the-counter medications, certain kinds of food and drink, natural sources from outside the house such as plants or flowers, chemicals found in paints, cleaners and detergents, miscellaneous items from glow toys to pennies made after 1982. (The high zinc content harms cats and dogs.)
The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine provides a helpful though not exhaustive list of small animal toxins. So does the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Any vet will want you to call a pet poison control hotline the moment you suspect a problem. CARE recommends the ASPCA helpline at 888-426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. Each charges an incident fee.
You’ll be asked to be as specific as possible. The person on the phone will want to know the rough size of your animal, the time it ingested the toxic substance and how much it consumed. Most toxins are dose-dependent, so “my dog ate a three-ounce Hershey’s dark chocolate bar 15 minutes ago” is much better than “my dog ate some chocolate tonight.”
Toxic Substances and Pets: Symptoms to Watch For
IIf you did not see your pet eat the toxic substance but suspect it, it can be helpful to describe symptoms. Trouble in the gastrointestinal tract may produce vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia or loss of appetite.
Neurologic damage may lead to tremors or seizures. You might see evidence of bleeding from any orifice, perhaps even the yellow skin associated with jaundice when the liver suffers. These can show up quickly or be delayed for 12 to 24 hours or even longer in a healthy animal. Also remember that animals can often conceal their illnesses.
Protocols for Home Treatment
There aren’t many, really. Before vets had better medications, it was often suggested to get pets to vomit up toxic substances by giving hydrogen peroxide, but that can scald the esophagus. On some occasions, if the quantity ingested is insignificant or likely to be benign, a hotline may suggest watchful waiting and a visit to your primary care vet as soon as possible. If you take the animal to the emergency room at CARE, they may treat him and either recommend hospitalization or send him home and potentially suggest follow-up blood work from your regular vet.
What to Tell the ER on Arrival
If you do go straight to CARE, take along the exact packaging of the toxic substance, if possible. Estimate how much the pet ate. Tell the doctor about pre-existing health conditions and any medications the animal is taking; responses depend on the type and degree of toxin and how long it has been in the body.
A technician will ask what symptoms the pet has shown at home and how long you have observed those. If you did try any treatments at home, be sure to disclose those to the technician. Take pictures and, if you see strange behavior, shoot a video on your phone. You may not recognize a seizure, but the ER vet will.
ER Protocols for a Poisoned Pet
The veterinary staff will obtain weight, heart and respiratory rates and gum color, then a vet will do a full physical exam. A vet may induce vomiting and run blood work and/or a urine screening to see if organs have been compromised. When dealing with toxic substances and pets, surgery isn’t often recommended. One instance is when the material ingested has caused some kind of internal blockage.
If the owner can’t identify the source of the toxin, the vet may treat the pet symptomatically. She may recommend hospitalization with IV fluids and targeted medications, so she can monitor changes in conditions. She may repeat lab work the next day or, in the best case, send the pet away with you, so you can monitor it amid the comforts of home.
When dealing with toxic substances and pets, knowledge is power. Knowing what items are toxic, how to recognize a possible poisoning and having a plan in an emergency could save your pet’s life.
Consider CARE the pet equivalent of a human medical center open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Charlotte Animal Referral and Emergency provides all types of treatment, from emergency attention to board-certified specialty care, once you’ve obtained a referral from your primary care veterinarian. You can take a virtual tour of the practice at carecharlotte.com/tour.
