Common Poisonings in Dogs & Cats: Symptoms & Treatments

Understanding how pets can become poisoned is crucial for their wellbeing. The primary ways pets can be poisoned include ingestion, inhalation, injection, and skin contact. When a dog or cat absorbs a certain amount of toxic or harmful substances, their tissues and organs can become irritated or damaged, leading to a range of systemic reactions. If these substances are not promptly eliminated, it can result in fatal poisoning.

Pets may exhibit a variety of symptoms upon poisoning, including skin swelling, abnormal breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, fever, abnormal excretion, seizures, and paralysis. Complications such as kidney failure, gastrointestinal ulcers, brain edema, and liver dysfunction can also arise.

Let's delve into specific poisoning scenarios and their symptoms:

1. Food Poisoning

Pets can suffer acute poisoning symptoms after consuming toxic food or contaminated food. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. These symptoms can escalate to systemic issues or even lead to the pet's death. Food poisoning can be categorized into bacterial, fungal, toxic plant, and chemical poisoning based on the nature of the toxin. Here are the specific symptoms:

1.1 Bacterial Infection Poisoning

Bacteria like Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Botulism can cause poisoning in pets. These bacteria can contaminate food and lead to poisoning when consumed. Once inside the pet's digestive tract, they multiply rapidly and secrete toxins, causing gastrointestinal food poisoning. For instance, pets infected with Salmonella may experience diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and loss of appetite. In severe cases, rapid bacterial growth can lead to weakness, shock, and paralysis, potentially resulting in death.

1.2 Fungal Infection Poisoning

Pets can suffer from fungal food poisoning if they consume moldy or spoiled food, such as meat, peanuts, or corn. Some stray pets may eat from garbage piles, increasing the risk of fungal poisoning. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bad breath, diarrhea, severe vomiting, and tachycardia, which can also lead to neurological damage.

1.3 Toxic Plant Poisoning

Pets, driven by curiosity, may eat plants containing toxins, leading to plant poisoning. Common toxic plants include aspidistra, pothos, chrysanthemums, jasmines, lilies, hydrangeas, aloe vera, and narcissus. Symptoms include rapid breathing, seizures, burning sensation in the mouth, frothing at the mouth, drooling, and diarrhea. Overdose can be fatal.

1.4 Chemical Poisoning

Chemical food poisoning occurs when pets consume harmful chemicals or food contaminated with them, such as pesticides, rat poison, food additives, or mercury. Insect repellents containing DEET can also cause poisoning. Symptoms include ataxia, tremors, confusion, seizures, severe vomiting, and respiratory distress. Immediate veterinary care is necessary to prevent death.

It's also important to be aware that certain foods commonly consumed by humans can be toxic to pets. For example, onions and scallions contain high levels of disulfides, which dogs and cats cannot metabolize. This can lead to organ hypoxia and hemolytic anemia. Chocolate, rich in caffeine and theobromine, can cause poisoning, leading to vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, tachycardia, thirst, and seizures. Without prompt treatment, pets can develop fever, heart failure, and ultimately die within 24 hours. Macadamia nuts are also highly toxic to dogs and cats, causing symptoms that can lead to death in a short period.

2. Drug Poisoning

Pet drug poisoning often occurs due to improper medication use, such as administering human medications, overuse, or pets accidentally consuming human or veterinary drugs. Common drugs that can cause poisoning include:

2.1 Aspirin

Aspirin is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug used for pain and inflammation. However, it is a human medication. Some pet owners may give aspirin to their pets for pain relief, leading to aspirin poisoning. Symptoms include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, gastrointestinal bleeding, stiffness, and coma.

2.2 Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is used to treat fever and pain in humans. However, it is not safe for pets and can cause vomiting, blood in the stool, and seizures. Pets may become comatose or die due to ibuprofen poisoning.

2.3 Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen is a common ingredient in cold medications and can cause liver damage in pets. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, swelling of the limbs, decreased body temperature, jaundice, and coma.

2.4 Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption but can be toxic to pets if ingested in excessive amounts. Symptoms include vomiting, weakness, increased thirst and urination, bloody stool, and drooling.

2.5 Ivermectin

Ivermectin is an ingredient in many pet dewormers used to kill heartworms and external parasites. Overdose or allergic reactions can cause poisoning. Symptoms include dilated pupils, drooling, tremors, and coma. Pets may also exhibit ataxia due to neurological damage.

These are just a few examples of drugs that can cause pet poisoning. Most cases are due to human medication use or overuse. To prevent pet drug poisoning, pet owners should never administer medication without veterinary advice and keep all medications out of reach of pets.

Pet Poisoning Treatment

If a pet ingests spoiled food or medication and shows signs of poisoning, immediate veterinary care is essential. This may include gastric lavage, induced vomiting, and other measures to remove toxins from the body. For certain poisons, such as rodenticides, veterinary care is crucial, as symptoms may not appear immediately but can be fatal.

Postpoisoning care may involve the use of pet electrolyte solutions for continuous fluid replacement. These solutions contain glucose, DLmethionine, Lalanine, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride, which can help correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalances caused by vomiting and diarrhea.

After vomiting and diarrhea, pets may experience intestinal dysfunction, leading to persistent mild symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. Petspecific probiotics can help regulate the gut, restore beneficial gut bacteria, and maintain a balanced gut flora, enhancing immunity and appetite. These probiotics can be mixed with food or added to water below 40 degrees Celsius and administered once daily.

Poisoning can be a terrifying event for pets, as it can occur suddenly and cause significant harm. It is crucial for pet owners to prevent their pets from ingesting toxic foods and medications and to seek veterinary care immediately if they suspect poisoning. Pet owners should also familiarize themselves with first aid for pet poisoning to prevent such incidents. For any questions about pet poisoning, consulting an online veterinarian or reading related articles on the website can be helpful.