Was your Pet Exposed To Or Ingested A Toxin?

Symptom Definition

Toxin ingestion or exposure is when a pet ingests or comes into contact with a substance that can cause illness or death.

Here is a List of Common Pet Toxins:

Over the counter medications (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, cold and flu medications, vitamins and supplements)
Human food and drinks containing xylitol (artificial sweetener), grapes, raisins, large volumes of onions and garlic
Human prescription medications (blood pressure medications, heart medications, ADHD medications, inhalers)
Chocolate
Veterinary products (over-dosing on flavored chews and tablets that are either medications or supplements)
Recreational drugs (marijuana/THC, psilocybin and muscarine mushrooms)
Household products (deoxidizers, batteries)
Rodenticides (rat/mouse baits), slug bait, and insecticides
Plants, molds, and fungi (lilies, sago palms, amanita mushrooms, compost/fertilizers)
This list is NOT comprehensive, and if you have any questions about toxicities, please contact your veterinarian, VRCCO or ASPCA Animal Poison Control.

When to Act

If you are concerned your pet may have ingested or been exposed to a toxin please call ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. They will provide guidance on whether or not your pet needs emergency medical attention.

Treatment for Toxin Ingestion

Our emergency team will utilize the ASPCA’s report in treating your pet when they arrive at our facility. Certain toxins or medication overdoses can also be corrected by filtering the blood via hemodialysis, hemoperfusion or plasma exchange. These life-saving treatments are now available at VRCCO. Although contacting poison control is always recommended, not all poison control centers are aware of these treatment options. Our emergency team can help to determine if one of these treatments would be helpful for your pet. Please call us at 541-209-6960 for more information.

Care Advice Tidbits

There is new evidence to suggest that 1 grape per 10lbs is unlikely to cause toxicity. If your pet has consumed more than 1 grape per 10lbs please call ASPCA to determine if you should have your pet evaluated by a veterinarian.

Certain lilies are very toxic to cats and all parts of the plant are toxic. These lilies include, but are not limited to, Easter lilies, Tiger lilies, Stargazer lilies, Japanese lilies, Oriental lily hybrids, Casa Blanca lilies, and Daylilies. Lily toxicities can be fatal for cats. We do not recommend you keep lilies in the house or in your garden beds if you are a pet parent to cats.

White chocolate does not contain high levels of theobromine and is not likely to cause clinical signs associated with chocolate toxicity. However, pets may still experience GI upset from the fat and sugar content of the white chocolate.

Classic signs of THC ingestion include ataxia (a wobbly gait), hyper-reactivity, and dribbling urine. Some pets will also vomit if they are nauseous.