My cat loves to graze on houseplants and cut flowers, and sometimes vomits within an hour or two afterward. Is it okay to let her do this? Are there other household poisons I should be worried about?
As Easter approaches, the potential that your cat or dog will be exposed to toxins from cut flowers, chocolate and potted plants like sago palms increases. But the danger household items pose to pets goes well beyond the spring holiday season. Other things that can make your pet sick include raisins, ibuprofen and pennies. For some poisons, delaying a visit to the vet by just hours can be the difference between life and death. The list of potential poisons for pets is long, but here’s what you need to know about some of the most common — and deadly — indoor household toxins.
Cats
Although the range of poisons for cats tends to be narrower than for dogs — in part because most cats are fussier about what they eat — cats tend to have worse outcomes because they are much more sensitive to poisons than are dogs and people.
Lilies. Lily plants, including daylilies, stargazer lilies, Asiatic lilies, tiger lilies, Easter lilies and Oriental lilies, are extremely poisonous for cats. Just a nibble on a leaf or petal can lead to rapid kidney damage with loss of appetite, vomiting, hypersalivation, lethargy and sometimes neurological signs such as stumbling, tremors and seizures. Although cats usually recover if treated within 24 to 48 hours of exposure, once kidney failure develops, many affected cats will die.
According to Larry Cowgill, a professor of veterinary nephrology at the University of California at Davis, even pollen, stamens and petals that drop from shelves can be toxic. “If a cat just walks through pollen and licks its paws, kidney failure and death can follow,” he said.
Over-the-counter pain medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), especially ibuprofen (Advil), are also toxic to cats. Just sucking on an ibuprofen caplet can lead to rapid kidney failure and death. “Because of the trend to produce flavored medications for pets, we’ve been treating more and more cats that get into NSAIDs for dogs, like carprofen,” Cowgill said.
Cats are also very susceptible to acetaminophen (Tylenol) poisoning, which causes liver damage and impairs the ability of blood to carry oxygen (methemoglobinemia). Affected cats have brown, yellow or muddy-colored gums, and develop weakness, respiratory distress, and sometimes swelling of the face and paws. There is no safe dose of acetaminophen for cats; just 50 mg can be enough to cause death.
Flea and tick medications for dogs. Pyrethroids such as permethrin, which are present in some flea and tick medications labeled for use only in dogs, are toxic for cats. Even having contact with a dog in the household that has been treated with a spot-on topical product can cause a cat to have neurologicalal signs (usually tremors, shaking and salivation).
Dogs
Because dogs will eat pretty much anything, they are more likely to be poisoned than cats; around 90 percent of cases reported to the Pet Poison Helpline are dogs.
Grapes and raisins. Ingestion of grapes and raisins can cause kidney injury in dogs, although according to Steven Epstein, a professor of emergency and critical care at the University of California at Davis, most treated dogs have a good prognosis. Some dogs eat large numbers of grapes or raisins with no problems; others can die after eating less than a handful of raisins. As with lilies and cats, though, once kidney injury develops, only about half of dogs will survive.
For decades, how grapes and raisins cause kidney failure in dogs has been a mystery. Investigations for mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides and tannins have been — well — fruitless. Recently, the Pet Poison Helpline identified an identical illness in dogs that ingested large amounts of cream of tartar (one dog ate homemade Play-Dough), or tamarind pods or paste (used in Southeast Asian dishes). The common thread is tartaric acid, which is in cream of tartar, tamarind pods, and grapes and raisins; in fact, cream of tartar is a by-product of winemaking. Variations in how individual dogs react to tartrates might explain why some dogs can safely ingest grapes and raisins, while others die.
Xylitol. This sweetener found in baked goods, chewing gum, mints, peanut butter, diet bars, drink powders and some human dental products (such as toothpaste and mouthwash) can cause low blood sugar levels and liver failure, with lethargy, vomiting and weakness typically developing within 24 hours.
Other foods. Chocolate (especially dark chocolate), onions and garlic also can cause severe illness. Onions and garlic are most likely to create problems in small dogs. (I once treated a Chihuahua with onion toxicity after it ate a large quantity of Chinese takeout.)
Human medications. As with cats, ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be toxic for dogs, although higher doses are typically needed to cause illness. Other problematic human medications include vitamin D supplements, estrogen creams, antidepressants and other prescription drugs, and recreational drugs including cannabis and amphetamines.
Potted sago palms. Although the seeds of these popular houseplants are the most toxic, dogs can be poisoned when they ingest any part of the plant; just mouthing on a frond can lead to death. Signs can develop within hours and include lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting and diarrhea (which can be severe and bloody), indications of liver failure (yellowing of the skin, eyes and gums), and in severe cases, neurological signs such as stumbling or seizures.
Rat bait. Most rat baits contain compounds that stop the blood from clotting (anticoagulant rodenticides such as bromethalin), but some contain vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Baits that contain vitamin D3 cause calcium levels to rise in the blood, which in turn causes mineralization of tissues and death, effectively turning animals into stone. Pets can die after ingesting the bait itself or poisoned rodents.
Zinc. Ingestion of zinc-containing objects leads to red-blood-cell damage and anemia. Pennies minted after 1982 are the most common household source of zinc, but it’s found in other objects, as well. (We recently saw a dog with zinc poisoning after eating a metal Monopoly piece.)
How are poisoned pets treated?
Veterinarians usually treat dogs and cats that have ingested household poisons with intravenous fluid therapy and gastrointestinal decontamination (inducing vomiting with medications and giving a slurry of activated charcoal). For animals with severe toxicities, dialysis can be used to treat kidney failure as well as to extract poisonous substances from the blood, preventing further damage. Depending on the poison, other treatments and supportive care measures (such as oxygen and blood product transfusions) might also be needed.
How can I reduce the chance that my pet is poisoned?
- Familiarize yourself with the top 20 poisons for dogs and cats in your state, and keep them out of reach of pets.
- If you prefer fresh flowers and live indoor plants to artificial ones, look for florists with pet-friendly offerings (which can be found online). Choose these if you want to send gifts to friends, family or colleagues who might own pets, too.
- Always keep pet and human medications locked in a cabinet. Dispense them over a sink. If they do happen to drop on the floor, pick them up immediately. Give pets human medications only if they’ve been prescribed by your vet.
- If you have both dogs and cats, use products on dogs only if they are also safe for cats. Check the label if you bought it from a pet store or online.
- Should your pet get sick and there’s a chance of toxicity, call your vet or a pet poison helpline immediately and follow their advice. If you can’t get help over the phone, take your pet to a 24-hour emergency clinic.
Have questions about your pet’s behavior, health or other issues? Use this form to submit them to Dr. Sykes.
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