Summer Toxins to Avoid with Your Pet

Summer is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy nature and the warm sunshine with your pet. Pets are inquisitive creatures and love to investigate their surroundings. Unfortunately, this trait can lead pets down the path of injury and illness. The following information will help you to avoid many summer dangers that can affect your pet.

If you believe your pet ingested any item of concern, it is important to immediately call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison center, at 1-800-213-6680 to have the risk of poisoning assessed.

Are mole and gopher baits safer than mouse and rat baits?

No, mole and gopher baits are generally much more toxic to your dog and cat than most mouse or rat baits. It usually only takes a very small amount of these baits to cause significant and sometimes fatal effects, even in large dogs.

Most of these baits contain zinc phosphide or bromethalin. There is no antidote available for either of these ingredients and both can lead to rapidly developing, life-threatening signs of poisoning. Zinc phosphide baits are most commonly found in a “peanut” (pellet) form. Mole and gopher baits that contain bromethalin are often found in a worm or grub form.

What are the clinical signs of mole and gopher bait poisoning?

When bait containing zinc phosphide is ingested, it reacts with stomach acid to create toxic phosphine gas. This toxic gas causes vomiting, cardiovascular abnormalities, neurological signs, and possible respiratory disorders. If untreated, these signs may lead to death. Signs develop very quickly, usually starting with vomiting and excessive drooling, followed by tremors, difficulty breathing, and a distended abdomen (bloat).

Phosphine gas can be toxic to humans as well, so if vomiting develops, it is important to keep your pet in a well-ventilated area, preferably outside. If your pet vomits in the car on the way to the vet, roll down the windows to avoid breathing in the phosphine gas. Toxic doses of bromethalin, a neurotoxin, result in cerebral edema (swelling of the brain). Clinical signs include mental dullness, incoordination, tremors, paralysis, and seizures.

How is mole and gopher bait poisoning treated?

While there is no antidote available for either zinc phosphide or bromethalin, aggressive treatment is important to ensure the best chance of survival for your pet. Treatment usually consists of decontamination and close monitoring by your veterinarian for any stomach upset, bloat, cardiovascular abnormalities, neurological signs, or respiratory distress.

How do snail and slug baits affect dogs and cats?

Some snail and slug baits are extremely poisonous to dogs and cats. They can contain metaldehyde or forms of iron and are typically available as pellets or granules. Metaldehyde poisoning causes clinical signs that have earned the name “shake and bake” due to the extreme tremors, seizures, and high body temperatures that result. Other signs of poisoning include drooling, restlessness, vomiting, and difficulty walking. Treatment consists of intensive supportive and symptomatic care, including treatment of tremors and seizures and temperature regulation.

The iron-based baits tend to be safer than metaldehyde bait, but they can still cause stomach upset. Large exposures to iron-based baits can lead to iron toxicity, which can cause significant gastrointestinal signs and organ damage. Treatment may include decontamination, medications to support the gastrointestinal tract, bloodwork monitoring, and potentially antidotal chelation therapy to lower concentrations of iron in the bloodstream.

Are compost bins dangerous to dogs and cats?

Compost can grow mold, which can produce tremorgenic mycotoxins that are toxic to dogs and cats. Composting is fine when done appropriately. Your compost should always be fenced off to keep pets and wildlife safe.

What clinical signs occur with moldy food poisoning?

Eating even small amounts of moldy food containing tremorgenic mycotoxins (toxic compounds produced by certain molds) can result in clinical signs within only 30 minutes. These signs include significant neurological stimulation and gastrointestinal upset. Treatment may include prompt decontamination and supportive and symptomatic care if clinical signs occur.

What vegetable plants are not safe for dogs and cats?

For some people, one of the greatest enjoyments of the summer is working in the garden and enjoying the rewards when harvest arrives. However, there are plants and human foods that can be toxic to dogs and cats. These include:

• Tomato plants (the unripe fruit): Cause gastrointestinal irritation, incoordination, and weakness
• Rhubarb leaves: Cause kidney failure in large doses
• Onions and garlic: Destroy red blood cells and cause anemia
• Grapes: Cause acute kidney failure

If any of these plants or foods are ingested, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately to determine the treatment your pet needs.

Are wild mushrooms safe for dogs and cats?

Many mushrooms are non-toxic, but some can cause gastrointestinal irritation, neurologic abnormalities, and liver failure. It can be difficult to identify mushrooms, so seek veterinary care immediately if your pet ingests any wild mushroom. Mushrooms purchased at a grocery store for human consumption are not usually a concern in pets.

My pet loves to chew mulch. Should I worry?

Mulch products pose a foreign body and obstruction risk if your pet ingests them. Cocoa bean mulch may cause an additional problem due to the methylxanthine (theobromine and caffeine) content. Toxic doses of methylxanthines can cause gastrointestinal upset, neurologic stimulation, and changes to heart rate and rhythm. Early and aggressive veterinary care is important to minimize the severity of poisoning.

What outdoor chemicals should I be concerned about?

Many people use fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides throughout the summer months. All these products may pose a health risk to dogs and cats.

• Fertilizer ingestion commonly causes gastrointestinal upset. Fertilizers can also contain bone, blood, or feather meal, which pets find tasty. Ingestion of these types of fertilizers can lead to stomach upset and potentially pancreatitis. If the product is moldy, there is the potential for your pet to develop neurological signs.
• Herbicides rarely cause concerns other than mild gastrointestinal upset when used and applied according to the label directions, provided that pets are kept off the treated surfaces until the applied areas have dried completely.
• Most pesticides cause vomiting and diarrhea; however, in large doses, certain ingredients can result in more significant problems, including neurologic abnormalities. Problematic pesticides can include ingredients such as bifenthrin, carbamates (aldicarb, carbaryl, methomyl), and organophosphates (acephate, disulfoton).

Due to the vast number of products available for lawn and pest control, and the potential for harm to your pet, it is recommended to contact Pet Poison Helpline or your veterinarian to determine whether your pet needs treatment.

Are blue-green algae a problem for my pet?

Blue-green algae are bacteria that can be found in fresh or brackish bodies of stagnant water. They thrive in the warm summer months. Lakes are a common source of blue-green algae, and they are also found along streams and riverbanks. Typically, these algal blooms are seen in any body of water with excess nutrients from fertilizer or manure runoff.

Blue-green algal blooms look like a green, blue-green, rusty, or brown film or mat that collects on the water’s edge. Blue-green algae can produce various toxins that can affect your pet’s central nervous system, skin, and liver. If your pet is exposed to toxins in blue-green algae by swimming in or drinking contaminated water, they can become quite ill. Signs associated with exposure to blue-green algae can develop quickly and include stomach upset, weakness, red skin, blisters, tremors, seizures, coma, yellow skin or eyes, bleeding abnormalities, difficulty breathing, and even death.

Before you let your pet go near a body of water, take a few minutes to investigate. Blue-green algae are present throughout the United States, and their occurrence is not limited to summer months. Most states have blue-green algae bloom maps during the summer due to their higher prevalence in warmer months. If there is a blue-green algae bloom in the area, signs are often posted near the water. If your pet gets into water that may contain blue-green algae, rinse your pet thoroughly with fresh water as soon as possible, rinse out their mouth, and contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline.

Pet Poison Helpline, an animal poison center based out of Minneapolis, MN, is available 24/7 for pet owners and veterinary professionals that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. The staff provides 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 per-incident fee includes follow-up consultations for the duration of the poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.