ACE-inhibitors
Poisonous to: Cats, Dogs
Level of toxicity: Generally mild to moderate, depending on the dose ingested.
Common signs to watch for:
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Excessive drinking or urination
- Collapse
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (“ACE”) inhibitors are common cardiac medications used in both human and veterinary medicine to treat underlying heart disease or hypertension (high blood pressure). When accidentally ingested in poisonous amounts by pets, ACE-inhibitors can result in hypotension (low blood pressure), dizziness, and weakness. Pets ingesting small amounts of ACE-inhibitors can potentially be monitored at home, unless they have underlying medical problems (e.g., kidney failure, cardiac disease, etc.). Treatment for ACE-inhibitor poisoning may include decontamination, blood pressure monitoring, aggressive IV fluid therapy if hypotension is detected, and blood work monitoring.
Poison type: Medications
Alternate names: cardiac medication, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, enalapril, captopril, lisinopril, ramipril, imidapril, benazepril, Lotensin, Capoten, Vasotec, Prinivel, Zestril
