There is no reason to worry that a witch will show up at your doorstep and offer a poisoned apple to your unsuspecting kitty, but cats and dogs do ingest dangerous items from time to time. Blame it on curiosity (a classic cat-killer), or that your dog just had to lick the antifreeze that spilled on the floor –either way, accidents do happen. Acquaint yourself with the steps below to be prepared about what to do if your pet gets poisoned.
Recognize the Signs
Maybe you weren’t in the room to see what events transpired, but fortunately there are some tell-tale signals that should raise suspicions that your pet may have gotten some poison in her system.
Here are some symptoms to look out for:
- lethargy or sedation (note if your pet is suddenly exhausted, unable to move or function as she normally does)
- drooling or pawing at her mouth
- dark red gums
- lack of balance when standing
- panting and heavy breathing
- nausea (this may be accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea –both of which are initial signs that the body is trying to dispel toxins)
- tremors/twitching
- seizure or coma
Responding
- Immediately remove the poison source & identify its contents to inform the vet. Keep the label nearby for reference in case the vet has questions.
- Try to determine how much of the poison might have been ingested.
- Save a sample of the vomit for testing if the vet requires it.
Call a Pet Poison Helpline
Phone the Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 (for a $49 fee), or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435 (for a $65 fee), right away to get instructions on how to help your dog or cat expel the poison and heal from the damage. DO NOT take any steps to solve the problem yourself without first consulting an advisor. However, when you do, they may recommend one of the below measures to limit the body’s absorption of the toxins.
Eliminate the Poison
- Purge the Poison. If the pet ingested a toxic substance (as opposed to a caustic substance), it can be treated with vomiting to help rid the body of the poison before it can do its worst damage. Feed your cat or dog hydrogen peroxide 3%, by the spoonful or syringe, measuring one teaspoon for every 10 lbs of pet. This process is much more challenging with cats, who do not vomit easily. NOTE: If your pet has consumed caustic poisons like lye, drain fluid or kerosene, DO NOT attempt to induce vomiting as it will exacerbate the body’s reaction to the liquid.
- Absorb the poison with charcoal. As an initial step, feeding your pet charcoal in tablet form or as a powder mixed in water, will allow the bulk of the poison to soak into the charcoal particles. This will slow the process of poisoning, but will not remove it entirely; a visit to the vet will still be necessary.
- Neutralize the Poison. This method works well with some caustic poisons. Feed your cat or dog three teaspoons of either vinegar or lemon juice mixed with three teaspoons of water to help neutralize any toxic alkaline in her system. This will also help settle the burning sensation in the stomach.
- Diluting with milk. Giving your cat or dog some milk will help to dilute the poison, and will line the stomach and mouth with a thick coating. If your pet is showing signs of heavy lethargy and or dizziness, do not give them milk or anything else to drink or eat as this could be problematic.
Once all preliminary steps have been taken to help lessen the effects of the poison, take your dog or cat to the vet IMMEDIATELY to ensure that the problem is entirely resolved. For an exhaustive list of what products and items to be aware of, refer to our Poisonous Items and our Poisonous Foods blogs.