Toxicity to pets

Lead is a toxic metal that is persistent in the environment. Common items that may contain lead are old drapery weights, car batteries, leaded ammunition, antique toys, fishing sinkers, diving weights, flakes of old paint (> 1978), and stained-glass solder. Lead is toxic for all species, but young and/or malnourished animals are at highest risk for poisoning. Clinical signs of lead poisoning include gastrointestinal distress (e.g., vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anorexia), neurological disorder (e.g., stumbling, seizure, blindness), and hematological changes (e.g., anemia, abnormal red blood cells).