A-Z Challenge: M is for Marijuana Toxicity

Welcome to the A-Z Challenge! This year my theme is Pet Health - information for people about their furry, four-legged family members.

I cannot tell you how many customers have walked into clinics that I've worked that smell of pot so bad that you can hardly breathe in their presence. And when you are no longer in their presence you're amazed you didn't get a contact high.

A lot of people believe that since pot is not that harmful of a drug (in relation to other illegal drugs) to people, that it's also not harmful to their pets. Not so, since animals metabolize drugs differently than people.

The toxin in pot is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which has strong anti-emetic effects, making it hard to induce vomiting to get the toxin out of your pet's system. Most pets will actually be poisoned by ingestion rather than inhalation.

Signs of your pet having found your secret stash are: dilated pupils, drop in body temperature, glazed eyes, lack of muscle control, abnormal sensitivity, semiconsciousness, depression, and in rare cases, coma. Also be aware that your pet can die from THC toxicity, although it is rare.

If you believe your pet has eaten your secret stash, get your pet to your veterinarian as soon as possible. And don't lie about what your dog got into, because treatment for your pet is based on what you tell the veterinarian. (And when you get home, find a pet-safe secret place for your stash).

My sources: Pet Education by Dr.'s Foster & Smith as well as my own experiences working in large/small animal practices and a veterinary laboratory.

 

A-Z Challenge: E is for Ethylene Glycol Poisoning

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Welcome to the A-Z Challenge! This year my theme is Pet Health - information for people about their furry, four-legged family members.

Ethylene Glycol Poisoning - in Antifreeze - should be a concern of any pet owner whose animals are ever outside. The reason this toxin is so dangerous is due to it's sweet smell and taste to our furry critters. This poison can and will affect the brain, liver, and kidneys in a short period of time.

If you're concerned that your pet has ingested any antifreeze, do not induce vomiting. Call your veterinarian immediately or a poison control center and do as instructed. And remember: time is of the essence!

There are three stages of poisoning:

Stage 1: 0-12 hours after ingestion. Nervous system signs including mild depression, lack of muscle control/staggering, knuckling, seizures, hyper-excitability, stupor, and rarely coma, and death. These signs are similar to acute alcohol intoxication and resemble drunkenness. Other symptoms may include lack of appetite, vomiting, drop in body temperature, and an increase in drinking and urination.

Stage 2: 12-24 hours after ingestion. Cardiopulmonary system signs are seen including increased heart rate and respiratory rate.

Stage 3: 12-72 hours after ingestion. Kidneys are affected. Symptoms include severe depression, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, kidney failure, and death.

 A veterinarian can look at your pet's urine for the presence of crystals, which is an indicator of antifreeze poisoning. Unfortunately, it can also mean other things, and can even show up in normal urine. A lab test is available, for dogs only, but that means you have to wait for the results. Most, if not all, veterinary labs will be 24 hours. The lab location I worked for was open 24 hours, as I was on night shift. As an FYI, ethylene glycol tests are considered "STAT" - meaning we have someone stop what they are doing and do it now and get the results out ASAP. I myself only had a couple of positives when I did the testing. The test is rather involved; we take the blood sample submitted, spin it down, and add various chemicals in various stages in different tubes. It takes almost half an hour to do the test properly. Even in the lab, we know that your pet is sick, and we want the test to be negative just as much as you do.

Always remember that your garage is full of toxins. If you even think your pet has ingested any toxin, call your veterinarian immediately. If it's late at night, either your vet's office will have a vet on call, or hopefully there will be a 24 hour emergency vet open. Larger cities usually have the latter option available to you, and if you're out in the country, country vet's will offer 24 hour service on an emergency basis.

My sources: Pet Health Network, Pet Education by Dr.'s Foster & Smith, as well as my own experience working in large/small animal practices and a veterinary laboratory.

A-Z Challenge: C is for Chocolate Poisoning

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Welcome to the A-Z Challenge! My theme this year is Pet Health - information for people and their furry, four-legged family members.

Unless you just plain don't like it (which makes you weird . . . not unlikeable, just weird), chocolate is just plain wonderful. Sometimes a bright spot in an otherwise horrible day. For pets, however, they think it tastes good, too, but unfortunately it can be quite toxic to them.

The reason being is that chocolate contains two items that can be toxic: caffeine and theobromine. Caffeine directly stimulates the heart and the central nervous system. Both ingredients can cause an increase in heart rate, and in some cases can cause an irregular heartbeat.

Now, different types of chocolate will contain these ingredients in different amounts. For example, white and milk chocolate are less toxic than baking cocoa. However, none of it is good for your pets.

Just an FYI:  a dose of less than 1 oz of milk chocolate per pound of body weight could potentially cause death. Less that 0.1 oz of Baker's unsweetened chocolate per pound of body weight could be lethal. Usually the more bitter the chocolate, the higher the level of theobromine.

Symptoms of your dog having devoured your secret chocolate stash are: vomiting, diarrhea, panting, increased drinking, bloating, lack of muscle coordination, muscle twitching/tremors. Please note that these signs will typically occur 6 or more hours after ingestion. Which is why it is so important to get your pet to the vet as soon as possible for treatment. In extreme cases collapse, seizures, and even death can occur.

Typically the veterinarian will induce vomiting to get the chocolate out before too much is absorbed by the body.  Activated charcoal may also be administered to absorb anything left in the stomach and/or intestines.

In general, most animals that find your super secret chocolate stash recover completely within a couple of days of treatment. 

When I was in high school, I babysat for some neighbors kids. One Valentine's Day, I came home in the evening and went out the front door to feed my horses. On the front porch I noticed bits of foil wrapping and cardboard packaging. Picking it all up, I deduced it had been a giant Hershey Kiss. I called one of my neighbors and asked if they had dropped one off; they had as their boys had wanted to get me something. They had placed it on top of the dog house on the front porch, against the wall of the house so that the dog couldn't get it. Unfortunately, our shepherd/lab cross managed to get to it (we never could quite figure out how as it was a BIG dog house). They felt terrible and asked if Dustie was okay. No one knew how long it had been since she ate it, and she showed no signs of being ill. (perhaps the cardboard packaging absorbed most of the chocolate?) Of course, this was a dog who regularly ate tennis balls and at one point, my volleyball. I really think she was part goat . . . In the end, we were very lucky nothing happened to our Dustie that night.

My sources: Pet Health Network and Pet Education by Dr.'s Foster/Smith, as well as my own experiences working in large/small animal practices as well as a veterinary laboratory.


  

A -Z Challege: A is for Aspirin Toxicity

Welcome to the A-Z Challenge! My theme for this year is Pet Health - information for people about their furry, four-legged family members.

 

First thing all pet owners should know is that human medicine is not always suitable for pets. Our pets metabolize chemicals much differently that we humans. Aspirin toxicity in dogs and cats is more common than vet offices would like. Sometimes it's accidental, a pill gets dropped on a floor and we don't see it. More often than not, though, people give aspirin to their pets, not knowing the consequences. And before you ask, even baby aspirin can be toxic.

Cats actually lack an enzyme that is required for metabolizing a by-product of aspirin and therefore get sick faster.

Symptoms for both dogs and cats are similar: depression/lethargy, vomiting that may include blood, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, and increased respiratory rates.

These symptoms  can occur 4-6 hours after the aspirin was ingested. Aspirin toxicity can lead to acute kidney failure, coma, and even death.

Chronic (over time) toxicity can lead to ulcers and even perforation of the stomach lining, toxic inflammation of the liver, and even bone marrow suppression leading to anemia.

Just an FYI: Children's aspirin contains 81 mg, regular aspirin contains 325 mg, and extra-strength aspirin contains 500 mg. Pepto-Bismol contains 300 mg of salicylate per tablet and 262 mg per 15 ml (1 tbsp.) of liquid. Numerous other products contain aspirin.

Toxic doses: For dogs 22mg per pound per day and for cats 11mg per pound per day.

About a month ago, a young couple came in with their pit bull, who was experiencing some of the symptoms. After about a half hour of blood work, the owners finally cop to giving their dog aspirin for about a month for what they thought was arthritis pain in their dog. The dog wound up being fine, but it cost the pet owners $300-$400 in blood work and medicines to  help with stomach ulcers and vomiting.

If your dog has arthritis pain, or other physical pain, veterinarians have pain relievers that are safe for your pets. It may cost you money every month, but I can guarantee pet pain relief medications will not cost you as much as giving your dog aspirin to save a few bucks.

Before you give aspirin, talk to your veterinarian about proper dosages and treatments and alternatives.

My sources: Pet Health Network and Pet Education by Dr.'s Foster/Smith, plus my own experience by working in large/small animal vet practices as well as a veterinary laboratory.