General: Whenever an animal is exposed to a possible toxin, time is of the essence. Many of these are treatable if caught in time. There are many possible poisons not listed here. When in doubt, contact your veterinarian or poison control. The National Animal Poison Control can be contacted at 217-333-2053. New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center (human) can be contacted at 505-843-2551. Human poison control centers can be quite helpful in an emergency, but you should consult with a veterinarian as well if at all possible -- there are significant species differences.
Antifreeze: Most antifreeze contains a highly toxic compound called ethylene glycol. As little as one teaspoon can kill a cat. Antifreeze is especially dangerous because it is somewhat salty-sweet and therefore attractive to animals. Pets may have some vomiting. They will often stagger and look drunk. Signs will progress to lethargy, vomiting, and death. Severity of signs depends on quantity ingested, but most exposed animals must be treated within 24 hours or less if they are to have a chance at survival. Death is usually due to kidney failure.
Bread Dough: Rising bread dough can be a real problem in dogs. Dogs love the yeasty taste of bread dough, and will happily ingest a full bowl of rising dough. Not only can the dough cause bloating and discomfort, as might be expected, but the fermenting yeast produces ethanol and dogs can become very ill from ethanol, or alcohol, poisoning. Depending on the size of the dog and the dough consumed, dogs can act mildly lethargic up to semi-comatose. Veterinary care is needed to empty the stomach and treat the ethanol toxicosis.
Chocolate: Chocolate contains stimulants (caffeine, theobromine) that can cause hyperactivity, heart arrhythmias, and sometimes coma and death. A fairly large amount of chocolate must be consumed, but given their nature dogs are happy to over-indulge. Deaths have been reported after ingestion of 115mg/kg of baking chocolate (about 3 ounces for a 15 pound dog). Baking chocolate is the most toxic.
Drugs: Ingestion of any human drug should be avoided in pets without first checking with a veterinarian. If your pet accidentally gets into drugs, whether prescription, over-the-counter, or other, call your veterinarian with quantities and the name of the drug.
Flea and Tick Products: Flea and tick products have a wide range of toxicities depending on ingredients, formulations, and condition of the animal being treated. ALWAYS read warnings before applying products, and keep containers handy in case of adverse reactions so active ingredients can be determined. Products containing organophosphates are most toxic. Most flea and tick products used today are much safer than even 10 years ago, but we still see reactions in exposed animals. Many of these are animals exposed to products used to treat grass, yards, etc.
Grapes and Raisins: It has been found that grapes and raisins can be toxic to dogs. I know many people who give their dogs grapes as treats with no ill effects, but in larger quantities both grapes and even more commonly raisins can lead to kidney disease and kidney failure. It is still unknown what it is in grapes that causes these problems. It can be seen with any variety of grape, and is seen with home-grown grapes as well as store-bought grapes. If your pet gets into a bunch of grapes or raisins, try to get them to vomit and call your veterinarian!
Lead: Pets can absorb lead from the same sources as humans (old paint, lead shot, glazes, etc) and because dogs like to chew on things, they are especially susceptible. Signs may include vomiting, diarrhea, and neurological signs such as stupor and apparent blindness. Blood tests are needed to diagnose lead poisoning. Pets can exhibit signs of lead poisoning before humans, and may alert humans to the presence of lead in the environment.
NSAIDs: NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, should be used with caution in all animals. This includes products such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol©), ibuprofen, and others. (acetaminophen is not strictly an NSAID, but has many of the same properties). Cats are particularly sensitive to these products. Their metabolism of these products is different and much slower than in humans. Acetaminophen in particular is very poorly metabolized by cats, and one Tylenol© can kill a cat.
Onions: An excess of onions, as well as garlic, can be toxic in dogs and cats. These products belong to a group of plants that contain n-propyl disulfide, which affects red blood cells in dogs and cats. Ingestion of onions or garlic can cause life-threatening anemia. Cats are particularly susceptible because of their hemoglobin is slightly different, and even products containing onion powder or onion salt can be dangerous. This may me seen most commonly in kittens or sick cats that are fed baby food containing onion powder. Baby food can be good for cats reluctant to eat, but always make sure there is no onion powder in the ingredients.
"Paintball" Ammunition: Competitive paintball games are becoming popular. Boxes of "paintballs" provide ammunition, and since dogs will be dogs, they will chew on these balls and can become quite ill. Between 1998 and 2003, 44 dogs were reported to the Animal Poison Control Center after developing toxicity from ingesting paintballs. Manufacturers and ingredients vary, and toxic doses are not known, but paintball ingestion should be considered dangerous and reported to your veterinarian.
Rat Poison: There are several types of rat poison on the market, but the one we see most commonly contains a compound that prevents blood from clotting. Rat baits are meant to be palatable, so animals readily eat them. Signs include lethargy, anorexia, and bleeding (from mouth, nose, rectum). Signs can appear several days after ingestion.
Strychnine: Strychnine is a rodenticide that has also been used to maliciously poison animals. As with other baits, strychnine is fairly palatable and readily eaten. Signs occur within a couple of hours and include anxiety, stiffness, and seizures.
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