Signs of poisoning vary according to the type of poison, but often include vomiting, depression, and convulsions. When in doubt call your veterinarian or an animal poison control hotline. The ASPCA offers a 24-hour poison control hotline at (888)426-4435. Poisons act in different ways, so it’s important to have the label of any suspected poisons available.
Drugs, especially those prescribed for humans, are one of the most common sources of poisoning in house dogs. Dogs tend to eat entire bottles of pills or tubes of ointment, and some human drugs can be toxic to dogs even in small doses, and some human drugs. One of the most commonly seen toxic effects in dog is ibuprofen toxicity. Owners often give it to their dogs with good intentions, but dogs have a very small margin of safety with ibuprofen. It initially causes bleeding stomach ulcers, and at higher doses causes kidney failure and even death. Never give your dog ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen, and give aspirin only sparingly and for a short period.
Other common sources of poisoning include:
Antifreeze: Ethylene glycol-based antifreeze causes kidney failure; the prognosis is poor once symptoms appear. Veterinary treatment must be obtained within 2 to 4 hours of ingestion of even tiny amounts if the dog’s life is to be saved. Even tiny amounts cause irreversible kidney damage, and the prognosis is poor once symptoms appear. Get emergency help if you suspect your dog drank antifreeze.
Petroleum-based products: Gasoline, motor oil, kerosene, propane and diesel can cause toxicity through absorption through the skin or stomach lining, and even inflammation of the throat if inhaled. Thinner products are more easily absorbed than thicker ones, and are thus more dangerous. The most common signs are discomfort caused by burning of the mouth, throat and stomach, and resulting vomiting. Vomiting may cause some of the petroleum product to be aspirated into the lungs, causing worse problems, so is not suggested for home treatment. If vomiting does occur, you can add water to the vomit to see if the lighter petroleum floats to the top, thus confirming that the dog ingested petroleum. Ingestion may cause breathing problems, seizures, coma and death.
Rodent poisons: Rodent poisons are of two main types: warfarin-based and cholecalciferol-based. Warfarin-based rodent poisons contain anticoagulants that cause uncontrolled internal bleeding; the prognosis ranges from good (if caught soon after ingestion) to poor (if several days have elapsed). Cholecalciferol-based rodent poisons deposit calcium in the blood vessels causing kidney failure and other problems; the prognosis is poor even from eating small amounts. Note that poisoned animals from your neighbors’ homes may die in your yard and be eaten by your dog.
Squirrel and bird poisons: Strychnine-based squirrel and bird poisons (usually administered as bird seed with a blue coating of strychnine) can cause seizures, hyper-reactivity to noise, and rigid muscles. The prognosis is poor. CAUTION: poisoned animals from your neighbors’ yards may die in your yard and be eaten by your dog.
Snail and slug poisons: Metaldehyde-based snail and slug poisons cause anxiety, unsteadiness, tremors, coma, and death; the prognosis is fair.
Insect poisons, weed killers and wood preservatives: Arsenic-based insect poisons, weed killers, and wood preservatives cause vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness, progressing to kidney failure, coma, and death; the prognosis is poor if symptoms have already started.
Flea and tick poisons and dewormers: Organophosphate-based flea and tick poisons and de-wormers, in overdose quantities, can cause vomiting, muscle tremors, pupil constriction, diarrhea, excitability, difficulty breathing, and death. The prognosis varies but can be poor.
Fertilizers: Iron-based rose fertilizers can cause kidney and liver failure; the toxic dose is 1 teaspoon of 5% concentration per 20 lb dog. The prognosis is variable depending upon dosage and treatment delay.
Paint, golf ball coatings, and other items containing lead: Lead (found in paint, golf ball coatings, linoleum, and even newsprint) causes abnormal behavior, unsteadiness, seizures, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and blindness. The prognosis is usually good once the source is removed, however.
Pennies, some creams and shampoos, and some fertilizers containing zinc: Zinc (found in pennies, zinc oxide skin cream, calamine lotion, fertilizers, and shampoos) causes breakdown of red blood cells. Symptoms include decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, pale gums, and brown urine. The prognosis is variable.
The source of toxic chemicals may not be obvious. Dogs that lick decks treated with arsenic may get arsenic poisoning. Dogs that play in yards treated with lawn chemicals may lick those chemicals off their fur. They may even eat cocoa mulch, a source of theobromine, which is toxic to dogs.
Many plants are toxic to dogs. A good idea is to do a computer search for any household or yard plant you have to see if it is toxic. Some toxic plants include: Autumn Crocus, Azalea, Cyclamen, Daffodil bulbs, Kalanchoe, Hyacinth bulbs, Oleander, Sago Palm, and Tulip bulbs.
Some human foods are also associated with toxicity in dogs.
- Chocolate contains the stimulant theobromine, which can cause shaking, seizures, increased heart rate and death in dogs. Milk chocolate has about 44 mg of theobromine per ounce, semisweet chocolate about 150 mg per ounce, and baker’s chocolate about 390 mg per ounce. About 50 to 100 mg per pound is considered a lethal dose for dogs.
- Coffee in high amounts, and especially coffee beans or grounds, can cause caffeine toxicity in dogs.
- Sugar-free candy and gum containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can cause a potentially fatal drop in blood sugar and can cause liver failure.
- Onions cause a condition in which the red blood cells are destroyed, in extreme cases leading to anemia and even death. Garlic contains the same ingredient, but in lesser quantity.
- Macadamia nuts cause some dogs to get very ill; the cause isn’t understood.
- Raisins and grapes can cause kidney failure and extreme sudden toxicity in some dogs. As little as 0.3 ounces of grapes per pound and 0.05 ounces of raisins per pound have caused kidney failure in some dogs.
- Yeast bread dough can rise in the gastrointestinal tract, causing obstruction. It also produces alcohol as it rises.
- Alcohol can make dogs drunk just as it does people. It can also kill dogs if they drink too much.
- Raw eggs prevent the absorption of biotin, an important B vitamin. They can also contain salmonella.
- Apple, apricot, cherry, peach and plum pits and stems contain a cyanide type compound. Signs of toxicity include dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, fast breathing and shock.
- Nutmeg in large amounts can cause toxicity in dogs. Signs include tremors, seizures and even death.
- Spoiled food is no safer for dogs than it is for you. It can cause food poisoning, with signs including vomiting, diarrhea and even death. Moldy food can cause nervous system signs such as tremors.