Guide to history taking for the potentially poisoned pet

The following guideline is meant to facilitate a timely evaluation in the case of accidental poisoning. Please try to gather as much of the following information as you can prior to calling for a toxicological consultation.

Pet information:

1. Species and breed:
2. Sex of animal:
3. Age:
4. Weight:
5. Underlying medical conditions (if present):
6. Animal's name (may be multiple animals involved) and Owner's last name:
7. Environmental information such as indoor/outdoor cat, 100% outdoor dog, etc…
8. What is the dog's normal demeanor? Is he/she generally stressed at the veterinary hospital? Is this pet normally very passive?

Potential Toxin: The following examples may help in determining what pertinent information to collect in any situation.

Medication:

1. What is the exact name of the drug?
2. Is there any formula information such as extended release (XR) or long-acting?
3. What is the milligram strength?
4. How many tablets are potentially missing?
5. If the container is destroyed rendering identification impossible and a pill is found, what is the pill code printed on the tablet or capsule?

Plant:

1. What is the exact name of the plant, with proper spelling? Generally it is best to have the scientific name as well as the common name of the plant. If it is unknown what kind of a plant it is, it should be taken to the nearest greenhouse for identification.
2. Is it a houseplant, outdoor plant, or weed
3. What part of the plant was ingested- bulb, leaves, flowers, berries, stems, fruit?
4. Approximately how much was ingested?

Household or garden chemical:

1. What is the exact name of product with the brand name?
2. What are the active ingredients?
3. Is there an EPA register number? If the product can't be identified by name, this number will serve as identification.
4. What are the label warnings?

Rodenticide:

1. What is the active ingredient, and the concentration of the active ingredient?
2. What was the net weight of the product to begin with, and how much remains?
3. What is the exact name of the product, with the brand name?
4. If the package is destroyed, is there a visible EPA register number?

Scenario : Exactly what has transpired?

1. How long ago did this ingestion occur? If it happened while the owner was away, how long was the dog or cat alone?
2. Is the owner describing any behavioral or physical abnormalities at this time? Describe.
3. What are the physical exam findings; record vitals, does there appear to be any CNS depression or stimulation? Is there evidence of burns to the mouth, drooling, etc?

It is important to remember that when a pet has ingested something potentially harmful, the owner of the pet may not be thinking clearly. Try to calmly guide them through this by asking direct questions, which will allow for an expedient evaluation. If you have any questions regarding documentation of the poisoned pet, don't hesitate to contact our Pet Poison HELPLINE™ at 800-213-6680.