Protecting our Pets from Products that we use every day

We, as humans, sometimes forget that some foods that we eat are actually hazardous to our four-legged friends. While we would NEVER think about eating our pet’s food, our pets don’t know the distinction between their food and ours. It is our responsibility, as their owners, to protect them from these situations.
In that vein, I would like to spotlight some of these items throughout the next few months. As with all medical issues, prevention is always better, and cheaper, than treatment!!

Foods are listed in order of severity of reaction

Moderate to Severe reactions

Caffeine: Caffeine affects dogs and cats much more aggressively than people. It is easy for a pet to overdose on caffeine due to its toxicity and the pet’s smaller body size. Examples of common forms of caffeine that our pets enjoy are:

Baker’s chocolate, cocoa mulch, diet pills,
no-sleep aids, coffee, energy drinks and cocoa powder.

Play Dough – Homemade: This child’s craft toy, when homemade, usually contains high amounts of food coloring and salt. Ingestion of this tasty toy can result in salt poisoning (see next category).

Salt: **PLEASE NOTE: the old method of using table salt to induce vomiting in our pets is NO LONGER recommended**. Salt poisoning is very dangerous to our pets, and, since it is used to make things taste better, is very attractive to our cats and dogs. Common forms of salt ingested are: Table salt, de-icers (rock salt), paint balls, sea water, and enemas containing sodium phosphate.

Mild to Severe reactions

(greatly depends on amount ingested in relation to size of pet)

Alcohol: Alcohol poisoning is a very real threat to our pets, especially due to their size. Common forms of alcohol ingested are rumsoaked fruitcake, unbaked bread dough, and alcohol in all forms, such as beer and hard liquor. Please don’t share happy hour with your pets!

Bread Dough: unbaked bread dough and unbaked pizza dough are extremely dangerous for our pet to ingest. Always keep them away from prying noses when rising or preparing for the oven. Both of these products contain yeast, which, if ingested in sufficient quantities, will result in alcohol poisoning and other life-threatening problems.

Chocolate: see Caffeine

Currants: Even in small doses, currants, grapes, raisins and grapeseed extract can cause renal failure in both cats and dogs.

Mushrooms: Luckily, there are only 3 species of mushrooms that are toxic to cats and dogs: Amanita, Galerina, and Lepiota.

Star Fruit: Plants that contain soluble calcium oxylate, such as the Star Fruit, Rhubarb and Shamrock Plant, can be harmful to our pets.

Xylitol: This is a natural, sugar-free sweetener found in many sugar-free foods. It is, unfortunately, harmful to our pets if ingested. Common foods that contain Xylitol are sugar-free chewing gums, mints, oral rinses, toothpaste, chewable vitamins, and sugar-free desserts, such as puddings and gelatin snacks.

Mild to Moderate Reactions

Apricots: the seeds, leaves and stems of the apricot tree contain cyanide, a dangerous substance for our pets.

Cherry: Cherry trees and shrubs – all parts other than the ripe pulp around the seeds – also contain cyanide.

Garlic: Onions, garlic, chives and leeks are all dangerous to our pets if ingested in high enough doses. Please note that garlic is five times more toxic than onions.

Onions: see Garlic

Macadamia Nuts: toxic to our pets if eaten in a big enough dose.

Moldy foods: Since dogs and cats are typically “trash hounds,” moldy foods found in the garbage or compost piles put our pets at risk for toxicity due to mycotoxins, found in the mold. Always keep your garbage in a container that is pet-proof and your compost bin properly protected from wandering mouths.

Protecting our Pets from Products that we use every day

We, as humans, sometimes forget that medications that our doctors have prescribed for us are actually hazardous to our four-legged friends.  While we would NEVER think about taking our pet’s medications, our pets don’t know the distinction between their medications and ours.  It is our responsibility, as their owners, to protect them from these situations.

 In that vein, I would like to spotlight some of these items throughout the next few months.  As with all medical issues, prevention is always better, and cheaper, than treatment!!

**Please, always consult a veterinarian before administering ANY medication to your pet**

Medications are listed in order of severity of reaction to drug

Severe Reaction

Calcipotriene: these drugs are a source of Vitamin D, commonly found in human medications for psoriasis.  Ingestion of these medications can be deadly to dogs and cats due to the life-threateningly high calcium levels that they cause.  Common name brands include Taclonex and Dovonex.

Imidazoline: found in nasal sprays and eye drops.  This medication is extremely poisonous when ingested orally, such as when a dog or cat chews the bottle.

Isoniazid: this is the main ingredients in a common Tuberculosis medication.  It is extremely toxic to pets.

Opiods & Opiates: these are found in drugs designed to provide pain relief in both humans and pets. The illegal form of this drug called Heroin. The most common incident of overdose of these drugs is when a pet ingests an oral tablet or chews up a patch of this medication.  Common name brands include Lortab, Demerol, Oxycontin, Percocet and Percodan.

Moderate to Severe Reactions

NSAIDS:  There are several variations of NSAIDs on the market. They are safe for pet use in very CONTROLLED doses.  Common names include Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Carprofen (Rimadyl), Deroxicob (Deramaxx), Etogesic (Etodolac), Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Firocoxib (Previcox), Meloxicam (Metacam), and Naproxen (Alever, Midol). Overdoses of these drugs should be taken very seriously and immediate veterinary care should be considered.

Amphetamines: these are typically found in medications used for ADD & ADHD, as well as ecstasy and crystal meth.  They are very dangerous to our pets.

Antidepressants: One of the top accidental poisonings reported to the Pet Poison Hotline.  Veterinary doses are available for some of these medications, but they should NEVER be used without consulting a veterinarian.  Common name brands include Prozac, Cymbalta, Paxil and Zoloft.

Aspirin: this can cause severe poisoning if not used in strictly controlled doses.  Most common poisonings occur involving aspirin in accidental ingestion of BenGay, HEET, Icy Hot, Pepto Bismal, or oil of wintergreen.

Asthma Inhalers: the poisonous exposure to this drug involves chewing the medication canister and the exposure to massive amounts of the drug when the canister is punctured.  Always keep this medication, and all medication, stored away from curious pets.

Baclofen: used as a muscle relaxant; can be deadly to our pets when overdosed. Common brand names include Kemstro, Lioresal and Gablofen.

Beta Blockers: these are common heart medications used in both human and veterinary medicine for the treatment of heart disease and/or the regulation of blood pressure.   There is a very NARROW margin of safety for these drugs in veterinary medicine. 

Calcium Channel Blockers: another common heart medication used in both human and veterinary medicine for the treatment of heart disease and/or the regulation of blood pressure. Accidental overdosing can result in severe, life-threatening poisoning of our pets due to their narrow margin of safety. 

Decongestants: these medications can be deadly if ingested in toxic amounts by our pets.  Cold medicines and Cough medicines and Diet Pills are the most common forms found in the pharmacy.

Nicotine: the ingestion of nicotine in all of its forms can cause moderate to severe reactions in our pets.  These forms include cigarettes, cigars, nicotine patches, nicotine gum, and cigarette butts found on the ground!!  Be diligent when walking your dog to make sure s/he does not eat these discarded remnants.

Mild to Severe

(based on amount ingested in relation to size of pet)

Antihistamines: commonly used in veterinary medicine.  The only harm is in overdosing.  Common form is Benadryl (diphenhydramine).

Benzodiazepines: contained in medications used for sedatives and anti-anxiety.   They can be lethal in high doses, but are very safe in prescribed dosing.  Common brand names include Xanax, Valium, Ativan and Versed.

Flea and Tick Medications/Treatments: these products and the drugs they contain are most commonly toxic to cats that have been exposed/ingested medications prescribed for dogs.   Dog toxicity may occur, but it is uncommon if the package directions are followed correctly.

Ivermectin: while a safe drug for dogs in prescribed doses, dogs that eat feces of a horse that has just been dewormed with Ivermectin or eat the horse dose of Ivermectin are at a high risk of toxicity.

Mild to Moderate

Ace Inhibitors: these are common cardiac medications used in both human and veterinary medicine.  In proper doses, these drugs are very safe.  When ingested in poisonous amounts, negative, but treatable, medical conditions may occur.

Diuretics: excessive use of these medications can cause dehydration or high blood pressure.  IV fluid therapy can usually reverse these conditions.

Sleep Aids: human sleep aids typically cause the exact opposite effect in our pets. Common name brands include Ambien and Lunestra.

**Please, always consult a veterinarian before administering ANY medication to your pet**

Protecting our Pets from Products that we use every day

We, as humans, sometimes forget that things or substances we see everyday are actually hazardous to our four-legged friends. It is our responsibility, as their owners, to protect them from these situations.

In that vein, I would like to spotlight some of these items throughout the next few months. As with all medical issues, prevention is always better, and cheaper, than treatment!!

Envenomations

(Creepy, crawly things)

Black Widow Spider: This type of spider is poisonous to both cats and dogs.

Brown Recluse Spider: This type of spider is typically found in the southern Midwest region of the US, including Kansas and Missouri.

Coral Snake: Extremely poisonous to cats, dogs and people! “Red next to black is a friend of Jack, red next to yellow, a dangerous fellow.”

Hornets: including wasps, bees and honeybees.

Rattlesnake: snakes in this same family are cottonmouths, water moccasins and copperheads.  All are extremely poisonous to our furry friends.

Scorpions:  The only type of scorpion that is considered venomous is the Arizona Black Scorpion, with is not usually found in the Midwest.

Toads: The only two toads that are considered poisonous to our pets are not typically found in the Midwest.  The Colorado River Toad and Marine Toad are usually found either in Southwest US or tropical areas, such as Florida and Hawaii.

Toxic Gases

Carbon Monoxide: All species, including dogs and cats are affected by the toxic effects of Carbon Monoxide. Common sources of this gas are fires, car exhaust systems, and generators.

Smoke Inhalation: House fires are the most common source of smoke inhalation for our pets.  Be sure to have prominent postings on your windows and doors to alert firefighters about the existence of pets in your home!!!

Illicit Drugs

Marijuana: Dogs and cats can be poisoned by marijuana from second hand smoke exposure, or from direct ingestion of marijuana or baked foods (e.g., pot brownies, pot butter, etc.) laced with THC.

Cocaine: Cocaine is well absorbed across the oral or nasal mucosa, but not typically orally. Dogs can be accidentally (hopefully not maliciously) exposed when they sniff a table or towel that has cocaine on it.