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Pet Poison Helpline Offers List of Fall Toxins to Keep Pets Safe:
Tips on seasonal foods and common household items that can put your pet
at risk
The start of fall brings new seasonal
household items that pose a threat to the safety of our pets. These
common household items can cause serious problems if ingested by
animals. Here is the list of seasonal products that the veterinarians
at Pet Poison Helpline recommend keeping away from pets.
- Mothballs: While you may think these white balls are benign, they
are not. Mothballs typically contain either paradichlorobenzene or
naphthalene. While the old fashioned mothballs (naphthalene) are often
considered more toxic, both can be deadly. Symptoms include vomiting,
severe abdominal pain, tremors, weakness, possible kidney or liver
failure, and severe abnormality of your pet’s red blood cells.
- Mushrooms: While most mushrooms are generally non-toxic, certain types can be very dangerous. One of the most dangerous is the Amanita phalloides
or death cap mushroom which is found throughout the United States. The
proper identification of mushrooms is extremely difficult and often
only done by experts. Therefore, it is wise to consider all ingestions
of unidentified mushrooms as toxic until proven otherwise. Depending on
what type of mushroom is ingested, symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea,
abdominal pain, depression, tremors, and seizures, with liver and
kidney damage occurring later. Pet owners should scour their yard
frequently to get rid of any mushrooms.
- Antifreeze: As people prepare their boats, cars or cabins for
winter, pets may inadvertently be exposed to antifreeze. As little as
one teaspoon in a cat or a tablespoon or two for dogs, depending on the
size of animal, can be fatal. Signs of early poisoning include acting
drunk or uncoordinated, excessive thirst, and lethargy. While signs may
seem to improve after eight to twelve hours, internal damage is
actually worsening, and crystals develop in the kidneys, which result
in acute kidney failure. Immediate treatment with an antidote is vital.
- Mouse and rat poisons (rodenticides): As you prepare to winterize
your garage, cabin, or house, make sure to place poisonous baits in
areas where your pet cannot reach them (i.e., high up on shelves,
hidden behind work spaces, etc.). “Rodenticides also pose the potential
for relay toxicity,” said Dr. Ahna Brutlag, assistant director of
veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline. “In other words, if your
dog eats a bunch of dead mice poisoned by rodenticides, they can
experience secondary effects.” Because there are several different
types of chemicals in mouse and rat poisons, all with different active
ingredients and types of action, it is imperative to keep your pets
away from all of these potentially dangerous poisons.
- Compost bins or piles: Piles of decomposing and decaying organic
matter and molding food products in your backyard compost pile have the
potential to contain ‘tremorgenic mycotoxins’, meaning molds which
cause tremors. Even small amounts ingested can result in tremors or
seizures within 30 minutes to several hours.
- Red maple leaves: Horse lovers, beware. As little as one pound of
dried maple leaves blowing into your horse’s pasture can be toxic. When
ingested, these leaves result in a severe hemolytic anemia – it causes
red blood cells to rupture, causing weakness, pale gums, an elevated
heart rate and shock.
The best thing any pet owner can do is
to be educated on common household toxins, and to make sure you
pet-proof your house appropriately. Make sure to keep all these
products in labeled, tightly-sealed containers out of your pet’s reach.
When in doubt, if you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your
veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 with any questions
or concerns.
About Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison
Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet
owners, veterinarians and vet techs that require assistance treating a
potentially poisoned pet. Staff can provide treatment advice for
poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small
mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective
option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35
per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the
poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by
calling 800-213-6680.
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