Toxins & Poisons

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Plants & Pets

Toxic Listing

This may not represent a complete list of all poisonous plants. Also, your pet could develope a sensitivity or allergy to a plant that is not on the list, resulting in toxicity. Please contact your veterinary practice immediately if you think your pet has ingested any of the plants or items referred to in the following lists and articles.

http://www.sniksnak.com/plants-toxic.html

ALERT! - Dec 02
A KILLER IN YOUR GARDEN!

(Reproduced from article seen in Seadown Veterinary Group Autumn Newsletter.)

A member of Seadown’s staff recently read of the death of a young, fit and healthy dog, which was totally avoidable, if only the owner had known!

A bag of cocoa shell mulch was spread on a garden, the type that is used as a mulch or weed inhibitor and is freely available from garden centres. This product has an odour, which is irresistible to some dogs, as it is basically chocolate.

A three-year-old Weimaraner bitch ate some and two hours later she was dead! The post mortem revealed the cause of death was the theobromine (see below) found in the cocoa shell in her stomach.

The packaging bears a small disclaimer, which says, “may be harmful to animals”, which hardly emphasises the seriousness of the risk.

Most people are now aware that human chocolate is a poison for dogs, the dark bitter kind being the worst, but who would think of cocoa mulch being so deadly.
BEWARE OF CHOCOLATE POISONING! Courtesy of The Kennel Club
Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine (see above), which is toxic to dogs. All chocolate and chocolate powders contain this substance, although some types of chocolate contain more than others - for instance, dark chocolate contains more than milk or white chocolate. Even relatively small quantities of chocolate, particularly dark chocolate or cocoa powder, can have serious effects, so it best to avoid giving chocolate to dogs altogether. (Doggy choc drops are of course entirely different and absolutely safe for your dogs.)

If your dog does manage to eat a quantity of chocolate, particularly dark chocolate or cocoa powder, you should seek advice from your vet.
RAISINS & GRAPES!
It has also been reported that Raisins and Grapes are toxic to dogs!
In America, it was discovered that a healthy, young 70-lb male Irish Setter died of complete kidney failure within 24 hours of eating raisins after devouring a 14 oz box, taken from his owner’s grocery bag.

Many of us may have used grapes and raisins, as treats for our dogs in the past, but please DON’T, it is now known to be dangerous and can kill!

Chrissy Gough MIACE,

Raisins
This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix that ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't call my emergency service until 7AM.

I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute Renal failure but hadn't seen any formal paper on this. We had her bring the dog in immediately. In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like me - had heard something about it, but.... Anyway, we contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said to give I V fluids at 1 1/2 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 hours.

The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was already at 32 (normal less than 27) and creatinine! over 5 ( 1.9 is the high end of normal). Both are monitors of kidney function in the bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and started the fluids. Rechecked the renal values at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine over 7 with no urine production after a liter of fluids. At the point I felt the dog was in acute renal failure and sent him on to MedVet for a urinary catheter to monitor urine output overnight as well as overnight care.

He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet and his renal values have continued to increase daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting medications and they still couldn't control his vomiting. Today his urine output decreased again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his blood pressure, which had been staying around 150, skyrocketed to 220.. He continued to vomit and the owners elected to
euthanize.

This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners who had no idea raisins could be a toxin. Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very serious risk. Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's. Any exposure should give rise to immediate concern.

Even if you don't have a dog, you might have friends who do. This is worth passing on to them.

Xylitol - Dangerous to dogs!

Xylitol can be found in sugar free gum.

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/xylitol-dog-warning.shtml

Please contact your veterinary practice immediately if you think your pet has ingested any of the plants or items referred to in the following lists and articles.

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Dog training is an investment for the rest of your dogs days and the lives of all dogs you may own in the future.

When a change in your dogs behaviour occurs especially regarding aggresision issues, it is advisable to seek the advice of a qualified veterinary surgeon to rule out any medical problems before embarking on a behavioural programme.