Well, spring is here, the weather is warming (except for that cold Colorado weather which shows up unexpectedly) and I am sure if you are anything like my family, you are in the midst of spring cleaning and getting the yard ready for the summer.  Whether it is the house, garage, attic or the yard, it is important to know that this is also the time of the year when I see a lot of accidental poisonings of pets.  Because of this, I felt that this would be a great time to provide a list of some common household items which can cause your pet to get very sick or even die without quick and proper veterinary care.  Remember that this is only a partial list and there are other items in your house that can cause problems for your pet.   

Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is a probably one of the most widely used pain medications for people.  The problem is that this over the counter painkiller is extremely toxic to dogs and cats. As little as one tablet can cause gastric ulceration, liver damage, kidney failure, depression, seizures and death.  Dogs are notorious for picking up anything that falls on the floor.  If your pet eats any ibuprofen, I recommend calling your veterinarian or an after hours emergency clinic immediately.  Remember, never give you pet ibuprofen for any type of pain or discomfort. 

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen is another common pain medication for people.  But like ibuprofen, this medication can cause liver failure, allergic reactions, swelling of the face and paws, problems with oxygenation to the cells of the body, and even decrease in tear production.  Acetaminophen toxicity can be treated with medication and supportive therapy if started early.

Allergy and cold medication

Numerous over the counter cold medications can cause your pet to have reactions, including panting, excitement, and increased heart rate.   Although all allergy and cold medications should be kept away from pets without a doctor prescription, those that contain pseudoephedrine seem to be the worst.  Treatment for animals that ingest these medications may require sedation or even anesthesia in order to calm your pet down and intravenous fluids to flush out the medication.

Bleach

Most people use bleach containing products at home.  Most of these products are pretty dilute.   Commercial products however are much stronger and can cause irritation to your pets’ skin and eyes.  If you pet comes in contact with bleach, I would recommend giving your pet a good bath.  If your pet inhales bleach or a combination of bleach and ammonia, then your pet can develop severe respiratory disease which could be deadly.   If your pet has had exposure to these types of fumes, get them out into fresh air as quickly as possible and call your veterinarian.  Remember, these fumes can be toxic to you too.  Also make sure that you pet does not drink any water that contains bleach.  If your pet does drink any water, call you veterinarian immediately. 

   Fertilizer and Plant Food

Fertilizer and plant food can be very attractive to animals.  With your pets sensitive sense of smell, ingredients such bone meal or manure can be extremely enticing to your pet.  Most of the ingredients in fertilizers such as phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium are not extremely toxic but they can cause severe stomach upset including vomiting and diarrhea.  Some dogs can develop liver or pancreatic signs due to the ingestion of the fertilizer.  I recommend consulting with your veterinarian if you pet ingests any fertilizer.  They can provide fluids to aid hydration and can give medications to help settle and soothe your pets’ stomach and intestines.  Remember after applying a fertilizer, herbicide or insecticide to a lawn or garden, make sure it has dried before allowing your pet to enter the area.

Plants

Be aware of any plants that are either in your yard or house.  Some of the more common plants that are ingested by pets include azalea, oleander, sago palm or yew plant material which can be fatal to your pet.  Some lily species including Easter lily, day lily and tiger lily can cause kidney failure in cats.

Antifreeze

Many car owners change their antifreeze in the spring or may have developed a leak in their radiator which can cause it to spill onto their driveway or sidewalk.  Your pet can be attracted to the sweet taste of antifreeze.  Ingestion of antifreeze causes crystals to form in the kidney leading to kidney failure and death.  If you pet has ingested any antifreeze, you need to go to your veterinarian or after hours emergency clinic immediately.  I recommend considering using animal friendly products that contain propylene glycol rather than those containing ethylene glycol.  

Rodenticides

Most rodenticides contain anticoagulants (warfarin is one such example) which prevent your pets’ blood from clotting and can cause your pet to bleed to death.  They can either eat the rat poison directly or they can eat an animal which was killed by warfarin.  Some pets can also experience paralysis, seizures, and kidney failure. If you think that your pet has ingested some rat poison, go immediately to your veterinarian or after hours emergency clinic where they can induce vomiting if necessary, run bloodwork and prescribe the necessary medications.  If possible, bring the container for the poison into your vet’s office, so they can determine exactly what your dog is up against.

Ant and Roach baits

Ant and roach baits that are used usually contain small amount of toxic substances but are often mixed with something such as peanut butter that makes the bait irresistible to your pet.   If your dog ingests the bait, they are more likely to have problems with the bait container than the bait itself but I still recommend taking your pet to your veterinarian.

Chocolate

There are two substances, theobromine and caffeine, that are contained in chocolate that can be toxic to your pet.  The amount of these substances varies depending upon the type and brand of chocolate.  If your pet ingests chocolate, they can have an increased heart rate, excitability and even seizures.  Seeing your veterinarian as soon as possible to possibility induce vomiting is very important.  The effects of theobromine can take up to three days to wear off which can be extremely dangerous to your pet’s heart.

Hydrocarbons (Paint, fuel, oils, polish)

Hydrocarbons, products contained in paints, polishes, kerosene, acetone and gasoline, can be extremely toxic to your pet.  Hydrocarbons can be irritating if they come in contact with your pet, if your pet ingests them or even if your pet inhales them.  If it comes in contact with your pet, bath them to remove any residue.  If your pet ingests or inhales any of these products, DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING because of the possibility of aspiration.  Ingestion of these products will cause gastrointestinal upset while inhalation can cause severe respiratory symptoms or even kidney or liver damage.   If your pet has had contact with any hydrocarbon, take them to your veterinarian immediately for treatment and supportive care which will include intravenous fluids and appropriate medications. 

Flea treatment

The most common poisoning with flea medication involves applying dog flea medication on a cat.  Most labels explicitly warn against using it in this manner but unfortunately some owners fail to read these directions.  The active ingredient, permethrin, can cause cats to become overly excited and cause seizures or other central nervous system symptoms.  Without immediate care, your cat can die.

Cannabis

This recreational drug is commonly ingested by pets and cause hyperexcitability, drooling and increased sweating.  Some pets act disoriented and can cause an increased appetite.  Although cannabis rarely causes serious side effects, it is important to never let your pet ingest any of it. 

These are only a few of the many household toxins that are present in your home.  It is important to remember that the sooner your pet receives treatment for a suspected poisoning, the better chance of recovery.  Keep your pets safe by keeping all of your items in secure cabinets, non breakable containers or on shelves that are completely out of your pets reach.  Also, do not give any medications to your pet without first asking your veterinarian.   

I hope that this list can not only give you some information about poisons but also cause you to further think about items that can cause possible poisonings in your pets.