e.g. from cleansers, batteries etc if ingested give dog water or milk, on the skin wash with water for 30 minutes, in the eye flush with water or sterile saline for 30 minutes. Phone for veterinary advice as you decontaminate the dog. Wear rubber gloves so you aren’t also affected. Signs - If ingested, ulcers in the mouth, larynx, and esophagus, drooling, lack of appetite, vomiting, laryngeal oedema with difficulty breathing, pain, panting, and shock may be seen. If contact was with the eyes, the pet will be in intense pain and hold the eyes closed.
e.g. from potassium permanganate, ammonium hydroxide in toilet cleaner, detergents and button batteries. Alkalis continue to burn until neutralised. Stomach acid will usually neutralise in cases of ingestion. If on the skin or eyes, treat as for acid and contact the vet as soon as possible. Signs - If ingested, drooling, irritated oral mucous membranes, ulcers in the mouth, esophagus, and stomach, pain, seizures, and rapid death may occur. In case of ocular exposure, the pet will be in intense pain and hold the eyes closed.
one of the following active ingredients is in antifreeze. (1) Ethylene glycol – lethal dose 2-3ml/lb, it tastes sweet so is attractive to animals. If you suspect ingestion (first signs are the dog acting drunk) then induce vomiting and get to the vets. A test kit will work from 30 minutes up to 12 hours after ingestion, outside this time a false negative will be given. Only a third as lethal is (2) Propylene glycol, this has an unpleasant taste. Finally (3) Methanol which is also found in windscreen wash is toxic to dogs at 3.6gm/lb. This is much more toxic to humans!!
found in insecticides, herbicides, wood preservatives. They damage the G.I. tract, kidneys, lungs and skin. Lethal dose is 0.5-11 mg/lb. Signs of ingestion are vomiting, restlessness, drooling, nausea, severe abdominal pain often with bloody diarrhoea with mucous in it, muscle weakness, trembling, staggering, severe dehydration, shock, paralysis, coma, and death. Induce vomiting and call the vet.
found in ant baits, flea products, herbicides, fertilizers, denture cleaners, contact lens solutions, antiseptics, disinfectants, cleaning compounds, and mouthwash! Signs - drooling, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, depression, ataxia, hyperesthesia, muscle weakness, tremors, seizures, blood in the urine, decreased urine production, coma, and death. Induce vomiting and call the vet. If skin exposure, wash with warm, soapy water and dry thoroughly, don’t allow pet to become chilled.
from household bleach and pool supplies. Animals rarely consume enough to cause toxicity but ingestion will cause vomiting, drooling and sore throat, the hair around the mouth maybe bleached or smell of chlorine. Do NOT induce vomiting, give the dog water or milk and call the vet Hypochlorite bleaches are alkaline (see above).
Ingestion will erode the G.I. tract, especially where the battery lies within 12 hours of ingestion. Signs - lack of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain, and drooling. The battery maybe removed by endoscope.
found in insecticidal sprays, dips, shampoos, insect repellents, food additives, and fragrances. D-Limonene and linalool are metabolised in the liver resulting in liver damage or failure. Fatal at 308gm/lb body weight of dog. Signs - strong citrus smell to the skin, drooling, depression, weakness, hypothermia, trembling, ataxia, falling, low blood pressure, and dermatitis especially severe in the scrotal and perineal areas. Death may occur. Wash pet in washing up liquid until all citrus small has gone. Do not allow pet to become chilled. If ingested, call the vet.
these are divided into several categories.
Soaps |
Bar soaps, laundry soaps, and homemade soaps. |
Anionic detergents |
Laundry detergents, shampoos, dish soaps, and electric dishwashing detergents. |
Cationic detergents |
Fabric softeners, sanitizers, disinfectants, and rust inhibitors in petroleum products. This category includes quaternary ammoniums. |
Non-ionic detergents |
Dishwashing detergents, shampoos, and some laundry detergents. |
Most have little or no toxicity but Cationic are highly to extremely toxic; 1% solutions are damaging to mucous membranes.
the others may cause vomiting and diarrhoea but Anionic detergents cause irritated mucous membranes, vomiting, lack of appetite, diarrhea, and GI distention. May have corrosive injuries in the mouth and GI tract. Eye exposure may result in edema around the cornea, reddening and swelling of the conjunctiva, and corneal erosions or ulcers.
Vomiting, lack of appetite, drooling, muscle weakness, depression, seizures, collapse, coma, and burns to the mouth and GI tract. Eye exposure may cause redness and severe corneal erosions and ulcers. Skin exposure may result in hair loss and skin irritation.
Do NOT induce vomiting, call the vet. If on the skin, flush with water, in the eyes flush with water or sterile saline for 20 minutes.
found in antifreeze, solvents, rust removers, film processing solutions, and taxidermist's preservation solutions. See ‘antifreeze’ above.
from vitamins and plant fertiliser. May take 6-12 hours for symptoms to show – vomiting, diarrhoea which might be bloody and drowsiness. Dog may appear to recover and then relapse. Liver and kidney failure is possible as well as a dark colour to the urine. Induce vomiting and administer Milk of Magnesia (to precipitate the iron in the GI tract to decrease absorption). Egg, water, or milk may also be given. Seek veterinary attention.
found in skin lotions, after-shave lotions, perfumes, colognes, cleaning solvents, window cleaners, and sanitizers. It is a nervous system depressant, toxicity from breathing the vapours or ingestion (when 1.3ml/lb is toxic). Signs - vomiting with or without blood, retching, abdominal pain, central nervous system (CNS) depression, decreased respiratory rate, and coma. The pet will appear drunk and the breath often has an alcohol odour. Do NOT induce vomiting, call the vet.
absorbed through the skin or G.I tract may cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, ataxia, difficulty breathing, tremors, seizures, coma, and death. Do NOT induce vomiting, wash any exposed skin and call the vet.
found in lead-containing paint, linoleum, tile, batteries, plumbing materials, putty, lead foil, solder, golf balls, some roof coverings, lubricants, wine bottle cork foils, rug pads, acid (soft) drinking water from lead pipes or improperly glazed ceramic water bowls, lead weights, fishing sinkers, drapery weights, newsprint, dyes, insulation, lead-containing burnt lubricant oil, and lead shot. Lead affects many body systems especially the GI tract and nervous system. Anytime a pet shows symptoms involving both the GI tract and nervous system and anaemia, lead poisoning should be on the list of possible causes. The whole family including humans should have their lead levels checked. Lead can cross the placenta and through mothers milk. The young are more susceptible.
found in thermometers, fluorescent lights, button-cell batteries, barometers, thermostats, electrical switches, some blood pressure measuring devices, and in the switches of the lights commonly found in children's trainers (those that "light-up" with each step). Mercury is toxic to humans and animals, and can cause harm to the nervous system, cardiovascular system, digestive tract, kidneys, and cause birth defects and affect the development of young children. Mercury vapours, e.g., resulting from a broken mercury thermometer, enter the body through the lungs from where the mercury may then be distributed throughout the body. The amount of mercury vapour released from a broken thermometer does not present an immediate health hazard, but extended exposure will cause health problems. Even small spills can, in some cases, cause high levels of mercury vapours that are unsafe to breathe. Mercury vapours are readily absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream and are therefore, particularly hazardous. The vapour is heavier then air and will sink to the floor, closer to children and pets. If significant exposure of a person or pet is believed to have occurred, you should discuss with your family doctor/veterinarian whether urine mercury tests should be conducted. Contact your council about how to dispose of spilled mercury and contaminated clean up items.
from snail, slug, or rat poison, or ingestion of a poisoned snail, slug, or rat. Metaldehyde may also be present in fuels used in small heaters. Toxic at 45mg/lb body weight. Sings start 15 minutes to 3 hours after ingestion - anxiety, hyperesthesia, ataxia, muscle tremors, nystagmus especially in cats, dilated pupils, panting, drooling, seizures, hyperthermia, respiratory failure, and death. The pet may survive the early stages of the poisoning and then succumb to complications such as organ failure in the next 3-5 days. Give milk and induce vomiting and call the vet.
the use of naphthalene is being replaced by paradichlorobenzene because naphthalene is about twice as toxic. Paradichlorobenzene is an organochlorine insecticide. Ingestion of it causes central nervous system excitement and seizures. It is metabolized to a compound that causes liver damage. Signs include vomiting. Seizures, brown/blue gums, pallor and increased heart rate. Do NOT induce vomiting. Call the vet.
from coal tar shampoos, keratolytic shampoos, shampoos with 3% hexachlorophene, and drugs and foods containing benzoic acid. They destroy the proteins in cells. Extremely corrosive, liver and kidney damage can occur as soon as 12 hours. Signs are panting, hyperactivity, restlessness, apprehension, drooling, vomiting, dark mucous membranes, green or black urine, ataxia, muscle tremors, shock, abnormal heart rhythm, and coma. Give water, milk or egg whites, wash affected skin with liquid soap. Treat as extreme emergency and get to the vet!!
found in sanitizers and disinfectants, the toxic dose is 0.5-1.1ml/lb body weight. Irritant to mucous membranes. Vomiting, drooling, abdominal pain, weakness and coma. Give water, milk, or egg whites. DO NOT induce vomiting as aspiration may result due to rapid onset of CNS signs. If ocular exposure has occurred, rinse eyes with sterile saline or water for 30 minutes. In cases of dermal (skin) exposure, bathe and rinse thoroughly. Call the vet.
found in zinc oxide skin preparations, galvanized metal such as nails and staples, calamine lotion, suppositories, shampoos, zinc undecylenate (Desenex), sunblock containing zinc oxide, fertilizers, and paint. Zinc oxide is a stomach irritant and interferes with the absorption of copper and iron. Signs include vomiting, diarrhoea, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, and generalized depression. With long-term exposure or when large quantities are ingested, signs also include severe intravascular hemolytic anemia, blood in the urine, jaundice, weakness, multiple organ failure, and death. Call the vet.