Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Stuff that poisons our cats and dogs are commonly found around the home.

CHOCOLATE

Chocolate is readily available in most homes and found in candies, baked goods, and many other treats.  The chemical of concern is theobromine.

Unsweetened, baker’s chocolate, and 100% cacao products have the highest content, followed by semisweet and dark chocolate. Milk chocolate contains lower amounts of theobromine, while content in white chocolate is minimal.

Signs of chocolate toxicity (poisoning) range from mild vomiting and diarrhea, restless behavior to more severe signs of tremors, seizures, high heart rate, and other heart signs.

Signs may be seen within 1 to 2 hours after eating chocolate, may worsen in the next 6 to 8 hours, and may continue for 24 to 48 hours.

Treatment depends on the amount and specific chocolate ingested. Patients eating a small amount can normally be monitored at home.

For those ingesting a larger amount of chocolate, making the dog vomit can significantly reduce the risk of signs developing. Because chocolate can stay in the stomach for some time, vomiting can be useful even up to 6 hours post eating.   Hospital treatment may be required.

The less chocolate absorbed, the better the prognosis (expected outcome).

There are multiple sites on line to check if the amount of chocolate your dog ate could be toxic – this is one: https://dog-chocolate-calculator.vets-now.com/

GRAPES AND RAISINS

Grapes and raisins are a known concern for causing kidney damage in dogs, with rare reports in cats. There is no established toxic dose for grapes and raisins meaning no one knows how many any dog may eat to become sick. Although standard grapes and raisins are obvious, granola bars and other food products may contain less recognizable raisin paste. Wine and grape jams/ jellies have not been shown to be a concern for poisoning.

The most common sign of grape and raisin toxicosis is vomiting, often occurring within a few hours after eating them. This may be followed over the next 12 to 24 hours with loss of appetite, lethargy, and continued vomiting. Excess drinking and urinating (passing pee) may develop within 24 to 96 hours after consuming grapes and/or raisins. It is fatal if they stop urinating altogether.

Treatment starts with making the dog vomit – useful even up to 6 hours after eating. When the dog has eaten a very large amount of grapes/raisins vomiting even after 12 hours can be useful.

Hospital treatment includes intravenous fluids (IV fluids).

IBUPROFEN

Ibuprofen is a popular over the counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), also available by prescription in higher concentrations. Ibuprofen may be the only ingredient in a medication or be part of a combination product including opioids, antihistamines, decongestants, and acetaminophen.

Lower doses can affect the kidneys, high doses may also result in seizures and coma. Cats are far more sensitive to ibuprofen poisoning than dogs.

Signs often occur a few hours after swallowing the medication and progress over several days. First signs may include vomiting, diarrhea, with or without blood, loss of appetite, and lethargy. If the amount taken affects the kidneys these signs will be seen – increased drinking and urinating, continued loss of appetite and vomiting, and other signs of kidney failure.

When did your cat or dog eat this medication, and how much did it eat? The answers should be provided to your veterinarian for planning treatment and providing a prognosis (expected outcome). This same information holds for all possible poisoning.

CARPROFEN

Although the Pet Poison Helpline top 10 toxin list historically has included plants, human medications, and products used in and around the home, carprofen is the first and only veterinary-approved medication to make the list.

At therapeutic doses (as prescribed), Carprofen provides anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Overdose situations can lead to stomach and intestine ulceration and kidney injury. In severe cases, liver injury, seizures and coma have been reported.

Signs of carprofen poisoning include vomiting and diarrhea, both might contain blood, as well as lethargy and decreased appetite. More severe signs may show depending on the amount taken.

Treatment for carprofen toxicosis is as with that for ibuprofen toxicosis.

XYLITOL

Xylitol is a sugar substitute used by people.  It is poisonous to dogs.

Dogs exposed to products containing xylitol face further risks as poisoning may result from the active ingredient of the product in addition to xylitol. This can cause serious and unanticipated signs, which can complicate treatment and prognosis. Xylitol has been shown to be toxic to dogs, rabbits, and cattle, with dogs being the most sensitive species.

Cats do not appear to be affected.  

Signs of xylitol toxicosis in dogs may be seen as early as 20 to 30 minutes after eating, with vomiting being a common first sign. Low blood sugar starts 2 hours after eating, and can persist for 12 to 48 hours. In addition, lethargy, dizziness, tremors, and seizures may be seen.

Treatment includes making the dog vomit as soon as possible. Further treatment is with the veterinary office.

ONIONS & GARLIC

Onions and garlic are foods from Allium spp which includes onions, garlic, shallots, chives, scallions, and leeks. Garlic is expected to be 3 to 5 times as toxic as onion.

Very little makes a dog sick, but cats are much more sensitive.

Signs of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, pale gums, high heart rate, breathing problems, and yellow gums or skin. Signs may develop within 1 to 2 days with a large sudden ingestion, or up to several days with smaller amounts eaten.

Treatment is as with xylitol.

ANTICOAGULANT RODENTICIDES

Anticoagulant Rodenticides are so named because they interfere with blood clotting and are used to kill rodent pests such as rats (rat bait). The amount eaten that is poisonous to dogs depends on the active ingredient of the product used.  Cats are much less affected than dogs and seem to rarely suffer poisoning with these rodenticides.

The most common clinical signs of anticoagulant poisoning noted by pet owners include lethargy, weakness, decreased appetite, pale gums, bloody urine, nosebleed, localized swellings, and difficulty breathing or wheezing. These signs typically begin 3 to 5 days following exposure. Massive blood loss internally is common and is frequently the cause of death.

Treatment includes decontamination — as soon as you know your dog has ingested this, or you are suspicious of it, make them vomit. The antidote is vitamin K. 

BROMETHALIN

Bromethalin is another rodenticide (Rat Bait) which affects the nervous system.

Cats have been shown to be more sensitive to bromethalin than dogs.

Signs of bromethalin poisoning include dizziness, stumbling, tremors, seizures, fever and coma. Many pet owners will initially report lethargy or weakness. In general, signs of poisoning are seen within 2 to 24 hours of eating the poison.

There is no antidote available for bromethalin. This means it is very important to know the dog or cat has eaten this because making them vomit before too much time passes is critical – this is useful even up to 6 hours later. Without early identification animals poisoned with this and having advanced signs are commonly euthanized for humane reasons.

VITAMIN D3 /CHOLECALCIFEROL

Vitamin D3 and cholecalciferol are the same thing. When looking at supplement and food products, vitamin D 3  is listed as an ingredient, whereas cholecalciferol is listed as the active ingredient in certain rodenticides. Most exposures in animals occur because of ingestion of human supplements but can be due to cholecalciferol rodenticides.

Signs of vitamin D 3 toxicosis include vomiting, decreased appetite, and lethargy.  Within 2 to 3 days of ingestion, increased drinking and urinating, lethargy, weakness, and continued vomiting are seen. Commonly the kidneys are the major organ affected.

Of note here is that a consistent way to start treatment of most suspected or worrisome ingestions is to make your dog vomit.

Keep a syringe and Hydrogen Peroxide in your pet first aid kit. Know how to use this properly to get your dog to vomit. With many of these poisons, getting them out of the stomach quickly means little can be absorbed to cause sickness. Even a few hours later can be useful to make the dog vomit.

Once the stomach has been emptied follow with some activated charcoal which often will absorb what might have been missed. This will further decrease what can be absorbed.

Put your medications and chemicals securely in cabinets.

Protect kids and pets!

SOURCED FROM PET POISON HELPLINE

Every year, Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison control center, compiles a list of toxins from calls received regarding potential animal exposures. Listed is an edited version of Pet Poison Helpline summary of the top toxins for 2023.

Pet Poison Helpline provides toxicology and pet health advice. It is an independent, nationally recognized animal poison control center triple licensed by the Boards of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Pharmacy. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.