‘Tis The Season… To Avoid Poisons(!)
The days are getting shorter and lots of us are getting excited for all the winter festivities, but curious pets can often get hold of things they shouldn’t, especially when the everyone is busy enjoying themselves.
Chocolate and sweets
Most people are aware that chocolate is toxic, but did you know that it’s actually the cocoa content that affects how dangerous it is? The cocoa content determines how much of the toxin, theobromine, is in the chocolate. Dark chocolate is the most toxic as well as powdered chocolates such as cocoa powder. The amount that a dog can ingest without signs of illness is related to their size.
A handy calculator is available on the ‘Vets Now’ website which gives you an idea of how serious the amount of chocolate eaten per size of dog is. The link to this site can be found here: https://dog-chocolate-calculator.vets-now.com/
It must be highlighted that this calculator does not replace the need to seek advice from your vet practice, as the calculator cannot assess the specific risks to your individual pet or consider other ingredients that could also be in the chocolate i.e. fruit and nuts. Sweets represent danger due to the possible inclusion of artificial sweeteners – particularly xylitol, which is sometimes listed as ‘birch sugar’. Even a very small amount of xylitol is dangerous to any size dog, and wrappers or sticks can cause obstructions or injuries to their guts.
Antifreeze (ethylene glycol)
Frosty mornings and frozen windscreens increase the risk of exposure to this chemical. Cats are particularly likely to gain access to this if it’s spilt onto the floor whilst topping up your cars. Unfortunately, it has a sweet taste which appeals to all animals so any spills should be cleaned up and animals kept away until the area is dry. Antifreeze poisoning causes kidney failure which is most often fatal without rapid treatment. Signs that your pet may have antifreeze poisoning include lethargy, vomiting and seeming uncoordinated - as if they are drunk. If you notice these symptoms in a pet, please call your vets as soon as possible.
Acorns, conkers and plant bulbs
Acorns and conkers can seem like something fun to play with but if ingested they can potentially cause blockages or severe vomiting and diarrhoea, so it’s best to keep dogs on leads around oak or horse chestnut trees if you think curiosity might get the better of them! Equally, digging up bulbs or planting new ones might well encourage your pet to help out with your Winter gardening tasks, but many plant bulbs are very toxic to dogs and cats, particularly members of the Allium family, so they should be kept away from areas where these are buried.
Mushrooms & Fungi
Only a few of the 4000 or so species of UK mushrooms and toadstools are poisonous. Generally, the more quickly they cause symptoms, the lower the likelihood of serious long-term effects.
An upset tummy is the most frequent symptom, but neurological effects (unsteadiness, muscle cramps, convulsions) and cardiovascular effects (slow heart rate, low blood pressure) are possible. Delayed-onset liver failure from mushroom ingestion is rare in the UK but can be fatal. Identifying mushrooms is something that requires expertise but a few characteristics that can indicate toxicity are;
- White or pale gills, or rusty brown or deep pink gills
- Presence of a volva, or “cup”, at the base of the fungus
- Presence of a stipe ring, or “frill”, on the stalk.
As with acorns/conkers, if the area you’re walking in has a lot of mushrooms, it is best to keep your dog on lead, as prevention is always better than cure. If you do see them eating some, take a clear photo of the type of fungus they have eaten, and contact your vet immediately.
Christmas dinner – and all the trimmings!
Table scraps might be tempting to give to your pets after a roast dinner, especially if they’re looking at them longingly, but human food can contain a high concentration of fat. High fat foods can lead to a serious conditional called pancreatitis. Pancreatitis affects both dogs and cats and, whilst not caused by a toxin, can be just as debilitating. It is very painful and often requires hospital treatment for several days - as well as life-long diet management. Signs of pancreatitis are vomiting and diarrhoea, lethargy and abdominal pain. Dogs may show the ‘prayer’ position which looks similar to a play bow but is a way that a dog tries to reduce their discomfort. Bones from a roast represent another danger as these can cause blockages in the throat or intestines.
Returning to the subject of poisons, many gravies or other additions to a roast dinner will contain onion and garlic, and these are especially toxic to cats. Depending on the amount eaten, onion and garlic ingestion can result in upset stomachs and dehydration, but in the worst cases there can be severe anaemia as the toxin damages red blood cells. This will be seen as lethargy, pale gums, a rapid heart rate and a breathing pattern that is faster and shallower than normal.
Grapes and raisins
Grapes and raisins represent a danger to our pets all year round but incidence of accidental ingestion tends to increase around the Christmas period (and Easter) due to their inclusion in a number of festive treats such as mince pies, Christmas puddings and stollen. It is still not fully understood how they poison pets but unfortunately some individuals are more sensitive than others, and can have life-threatening kidney failure after just a single grape. By the time symptoms of kidney problems surface (increased thirst and urination, loss of appetite), it can be difficult to correct the damage, so the sooner they make it to the vets after eating them, the better the prognosis is. Usually your vet will recommend making them sick if they make it to the vets within a few hours after ingestion, followed by fluid therapy (either at home or via a drip) and ‘activated charcoal’ which helps to bind toxins in the gut to stop them from being absorbed.
Many more poisons are around than are covered in this blog, so to summarise, if you think your dog or cat (or rabbit) has eaten poison, S.P.E.E.D. is of the essence!
S - Stop the pet from eating any more suspected poison
P - Phone the vets
E - Emergency appointment
E - Evidence - bring labels/samples/vomit (in a safe manner)
D - Don’t delay!
There is also a brilliant service provided by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) called the Animal Poison Line, who will be able to advise you as to whether a trip to the vets is needed, based on what your pet has eaten and what symptoms they are showing. For more uncommon poisons, your vets may need to call them for advice too. These calls are charged at £35-45, at time of writing. More information is available on their website: https://www.animalpoisonline.co.uk/.
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