Common Poisons

Ibuprofen - Advil, Nurofen. This over the counter (OTC) for human use painkiller is extremely toxic to dog (and cats). As little as one tablet can cause gastric ulceration, liver damage, kidney failure and death. It is the most common cause of poisoning in the pet.

Paracetamol/Acetaminophen - Tylenol, Panadol. Another human use painkiller. This drug produces toxic by-products as it is used by the body. Dogs and cats cannot break these toxins down and so they quickly become poisoned by them. As little as half a 500mg tablet can be enough to kill an adult cat!! Tragically, both of the above drugs are often given by owners seeking to relieve a pet's discomfort without realizing the potential consequences - there is absolutely n oindication for the use of theses drugs in pets.

Metaldehyde - (Slug bait) Dogs seem to find these small blue coloured slug pellets tasty. If they ingest enough of this poison they become overexcited, begin to have fits and eventually fall into a coma and die. Whenever you treat your garden with slug bait, ensure that you fence off the treated areas to prevent the pet accessing the poison.

Warfarin - (rat poison) Pets either eat the poison directly or they find and eat a rodent, which was killed by warfarin. Ingestion of this poison will prevent an animal's blood from clotting and they can bleed to death.

Cannabis - (marijuana) This recreational drug is quite commonly ingested by pets. Although the relative quantities ingested can be quite high (no pun intended), the drug rarely causes serious side effects. Overexcitement, drooling and increased sweating. Occasionally an affected pet will seem unaware of its surroundings and it has been reported that these pets often have an increased appetite.

Chocolate - Typically seen at Halloween and Christmas when a pet raids the treats. The active ingredient is theobromine and can cause death if eaten in enough quantity.

Permethrin Flea Treatment - This drug is available over the counter (OTC) from pet shops and supermarkets. The most common form of poisoning occurs when the dog form of the treatment is applied to a cat, although the packaging explicitly warns against using the dog preparation on cats. Unfortunately some owners fail to read this and treat the cat regardless. Affected cats become over-excited, have fits and fall into a coma. Without supportive care, these animals will usually die, but can recover if treatment is begun quickly enough.

Easter Lily - This seasonal bloom is attractive to cats, who often ingest the foliage. Unfortunately, even a little of this plant is extremely toxic to the kidneys. There is no cure for the poison and affected animals almost always die.

Anti Freeze - If ingested anti-freeze form crystals in the kidney rapidly causing kidney failure and death. Pets seem to find the taste of antifreeze appealing so it is vital to keep it stored appropriately. Thankfully, as motor vehicles become less serviceable by the layman, incidences of anti-freeze toxicity are becoming less frequent.

Conclusions

Most poisonings are preventable.

Pet owners need to learn more about the potential pet poisons in their homes and take steps to restrict access to them.

Always consult your veterinarian before treating your pet with a drug that has not been prescribed for it.

The sooner a pet suspected of being poisoned receives treatment, the higher its chances of recovery. If you think that your pet has been poisoned then contact your veterinarian immediately, your pets life may well depend on it.