Grapes, raisins, and currants
What they’re in: Uncooked
grapes, raisins, and currants are likely more toxic than cooked
fruit. Don’t forget about raisins in cereals, trail mixes, baked
goods, and snack boxes.
Threat to pets: These
fruits can cause acute kidney failure in dogs and may cause kidney
failure in cats and ferrets as well. While not all dogs and cats
will develop kidney failure, it’s impossible to know which pets will
be sensitive to these fruits. Therefore, all pets—especially
dogs—that ingest grapes, raisins, or currants should be monitored
closely and treated appropriately. If a small dog or cat eats just a
small number of grapes or raisins, this is considered an emergency.
Signs: Vomiting
within a few hours of ingestion is typical. Within one to four days
of ingestion, pets may experience increased urination, increased
thirst, lethargy, and a reduced appetite.
Treatment: Induce
vomiting and then administer activated charcoal to decontaminate
(adsorb and remove toxins). Follow up by administering anti-vomiting
medication and aggressive intravenous fluids to protect the kidneys.
Frequent monitoring of kidney laboratory values and in-hospital care
are also recommended.
Prognosis: Excellent
if animals are treated before signs begin. Once they have begun to
go into kidney failure, the prognosis becomes much worse.
Caffeine
What it's in: Caffeine
is most commonly found in coffee, coffee grounds, tea, tea bags,
soda, energy drinks, and diet pills. Theobromine—a cousin chemical
to caffeine—is also found in chocolate
Threat to pets: Pets
are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than people. While a
couple laps of coffee, tea, or soda won’t poison most pets, the
ingestion of moderate amounts of coffee grounds, tea bags, or one to
two diet pills can easily be fatal in small animals.
Signs: Within two
hours of exposure, pets may experience mild to severe hyperactivity,
restlessness, vomiting, tachycardia (elevated heart rate),
hypertension (elevated blood pressure), abnormal heart rhythms,
tremors, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), seizures, and
could collapse.
Treatment: Induce
vomiting and then administer multiple doses of activated charcoal to
decontaminate (adsorb and remove toxins). Administer aggressive
intravenous fluids to help with excretion, sedatives to calm the
pet, specific heart medications to reduce heart rate and blood
pressure, anti-convulsants for seizures, and antacids for stomach
discomfort and diarrhea. Because caffeine may be reabsorbed across
the bladder wall, a urinary catheter or frequent walks are needed to
keep the bladder empty.
Prognosis: Excellent
in pets with mild signs, such as slight restlessness or a minimally
elevated heart rate. Poor in those with severe signs, such as
collapsing and seizures.
Chocolate
What it's in: When
it comes to chocolate, dark equals dangerous. That’s because the
darker the chocolate, the larger the amount of theobromine—a cousin
chemical to caffeine—it contains. Thus, baker’s chocolate,
semi-sweet chocolate, cocoa powder, and gourmet dark chocolates are
more toxic than milk chocolate. White chocolate has very little
theobromine and will not cause poisoning in pets.
Threat to pets: The
dose ingested determines the danger. Pets that ingest a few M&Ms or
a bite of a chocolate chip cookie are unlikely to develop chocolate
poisoning.
For milk chocolate, any ingestion of more than 0.5 ounces per pound
of body weight may put dogs and cats at risk. Ingestions of more
than 0.13 ounces per pound of body weight of dark or semi-sweet
chocolate may cause poisoning. Almost all ingestions of baker’s
chocolate can result in poisoning and are considered emergencies.
Very young pets, geriatric pets, and animals with underlying disease
are at a higher risk for poisoning than healthy, adult dogs and
cats. Due to the large amount of fat in chocolate, some pets may
develop pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) after eating
chocolate or baked goods containing chocolate (see
fatty foods).
Signs: Small
amounts of chocolate may cause mild vomiting and diarrhea. Larger
amounts can cause severe agitation, tachycardia (elevated heart
rate), abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, seizures, and collapse.
Treatment: Induce
vomiting and then administer multiple doses of activated charcoal to
decontaminate (adsorb and remove toxins). Administer aggressive
intravenous fluids to help with excretion, sedatives to calm the
pet, specific heart medications to reduce heart rate and blood
pressure, anti- convulsants for seizures, and antacids for stomach
discomfort and diarrhea. Theobromine may be reabsorbed across the
bladder wall so a urinary catheter or frequent walks are needed to
keep the bladder empty.
Prognosis: Excellent
in pets with mild signs, such as mild stomach upset or slight
restlessness. Poor in those with severe signs, such as collapsing
and seizures.
Xylitol
What it's in: Xylitol
is a common sugar-substitute used in sugar-free chewing gum, breath
mints, candies, and baked goods. It’s also found in some
smoking-cessation products like nicotine gum. Xylitol can be
purchased in bulk for cooking at home, and because of its dental
plaque fighting properties, nontoxic amounts can be found in some
pet oral-care products.
Threat to pets: Xylitol
may cause a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and can cause liver
damage to dogs. Cats and people do not experience this problem. The
typical dose needed to cause poisoning is at least 0.05 grams per
pound of body weight.
The average piece of chewing gum or breath mint contains between
0.22 to 1.0 gram of xylitol. Thus, a 10-pound dog would only have to
eat one piece of gum to achieve a potentially toxic dose.
The amount of xylitol typically found in most pet oral-care products
is very small and, when used properly, these products aren’t
expected to cause poisoning unless a dog ingests a very large
amount.
Signs: Within 10
to 15 minutes of ingestion, dogs may develop hypoglycemia (low blood
sugar), lose coordination, and start vomiting. Collapse and seizures
may quickly follow. In rare cases, these signs won’t appear until
hours after ingestion.
Treatment: Promptly
induce vomiting or perform a gastric lavage. Administer intravenous
dextrose (sugar) and fluids and frequently monitor blood sugar
levels and liver values.
Prognosis: Excellent
when the ingestion is caught early and blood sugars are monitored
frequently. Guarded if the pet has already begun to develop liver
failure
Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks
What they’re in: The
small amount of garlic sometimes found in dog treats is unlikely to
be harmful to dogs. However, if cats or dogs ingest a tasty pan of
sautéed onions, garlic, or leeks, poisoning may result. The
ingestion of large amounts of garlic pills or powder may also cause
poisoning. Garlic was once thought of as a “home remedy” for flea
infestations; however, it has been shown to be ineffective and is
not recommended by Pet Poison Helpline.
Threat to pets: These
vegetables can cause red blood cell destruction (specifically, Heinz
body formation) and result in anemia. Ingestion of onions or garlic
greater than 0.5 percent of a dog’s body weight is potentially
toxic. For example, this equates to a 30-pound dog ingesting about
2.5 ounces of onion or garlic. Cats and Japanese breeds of dogs
(Akita, Shiba Inu) are even more sensitive to the effects of these
plants.
Signs: Onion or
garlic smell on breath, lethargy, pale mucus membranes due to
anemia, tachypnea (elevated respiratory rate), tachycardia (elevated
heart rate), vomiting, and a reduced appetite. Hypoglycemia (low
blood sugar) is rare but possible.
Treatment: Induce
vomiting and then administer multiple doses of activated charcoal to
decontaminate (adsorb and remove toxins). Check packed cell volume
or blood smears daily to evaluate anemia. If anemia is severe,
initiate blood transfusions. You can also administer intravenous
dextrose (sugar) if needed.
Prognosis: Excellent
with early intervention and appropriate care.
Yeast-bread dough
What it's in: Uncooked
homemade and store-bought bread dough that contains yeast.
Threat to pets: The
dark, warm environment of a pet’s stomach acts as an oven and
encourages the dough to continue rising. This can result in a bowel
obstruction or a bloated or distended stomach. The stomach may then
twist, leading to a gastric dilitation and volvulus (GDV). This is a
life-threatening situation that requires emergency abdominal surgery
and treatment for shock. As the yeast ferments in the stomach, it
releases alcohol, which may lead to alcohol poisoning (see alcohol).
Signs: Bloat and
GDV: Unproductive vomiting and retching, lethargy, weakness,
tachycardia (elevated heart rate), collapse, and shock. Alcohol
poisoning: Alcohol smell on the breath, neurological depression,
hypothermia (low body temperature), hypotension (low blood
pressure), seizures, and respiratory failure.
Treatment: Induce
vomiting if the dough was recently ingested. To stop the rising of
the dough, a cold-water gastric lavage may be performed. Aggressive
intravenous fluids and dextrose (sugar), abdominal surgery, warming
measures, and in-hospital monitoring may be needed.
Prognosis: Excellent
if decontaminated soon after ingestion and the appropriate care is
received. Poorer in cases of severe alcohol poisoning and bloat or
GDV.
Alcohol
What it's in: Alcoholic
drinks aside, alcohol can be found in some surprising places.
Rum-soaked cakes or candies and dressings containing alcohol may be
poisonous to pets. Alcohol is also a major byproduct of ingested
yeast-bread dough
Threat to pets: Even
small amounts of alcohol, especially when ingested by small pets,
can cause life-threatening toxicity.
Signs: Alcohol
smell on the breath, neurological depression, hypothermia (low body
temperature), hypotension (low blood pressure), seizures, and
respiratory failure.
Treatment: Administer
intravenous dextrose (sugar) and fluids. Warming measures and
in-hospital monitoring are also recommended.
Prognosis: Excellent
provided the appropriate care is received.
Fatty foods
What they’re in: Butter,
oils, meat drippings, grease, chocolate, and meat scraps.
Threat to pets: Fatty
foods may cause pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) when
ingested, especially by dogs. Certain breeds, miniature Schnauzers
in particular, are more likely to develop pancreatitis than other
breeds.
Signs: Delayed
onset vomiting one to four days after fatty meal ingestion,
abdominal pain, diarrhea (with or without blood), reduced appetite,
and lethargy.
Treatment: Administering
anti-nausea and anti-vomiting medications, withholding food or
giving only easily digestible diets, administering intravenous
fluids, monitoring blood chemistry panels, and receiving in-hospital
care. In certain cases other drugs, such as antibiotics, may be
necessary.
Prognosis: Good
when treated early and appropriately.
