Pets see the world differently than humans and want to explore every nook and cranny of their home environment. Items that you see or pass by each day without a second thought may smell, look, or taste interesting to your pet—and get them in trouble. Toxins can be found in many places throughout homes, yards, and garages, putting pets at constant risk of toxin ingestion. 

Animal poison control centers receive thousands of calls each year from concerned pet owners seeking help for a potential pet poisoning, but many pet owners are unaware of these services. The Neighborhood Veterinary Centers Nederland team knows that pet poisonings are serious incidents that endanger lives, and we want to prepare pet owners with our step-by-step guide if you think your pet ingested a toxin.

Step #1: Learn about common pet toxins

Knowing which items could be problematic for your pet will help you determine if your pet needs veterinary care. Many items pose a risk, but the most common ingestions include:

  • Foods — Chocolate, coffee, xylitol, alcohol, yeast dough, grapes, raisins, garlic, onions, and macadamia nuts top the list of popular human foods toxic to pets.
  • Medications — Prescription and over-the-counter medications may harm a pet’s liver or kidneys. Common culprits include ibuprofen (e.g., Advil), acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol), and ADHD, heart, and cough or cold medications.
  • Marijuana — Edible marijuana products are equally attractive to pets and humans.
  • Rodenticides — Rat poisons are designed to kill rodents, and can also poison pets.
  • Plants — Lilies are extremely toxic to cats, but many other plants are harmful to pets.
  • Outdoor products — Antifreeze, fertilizers, pesticides, and cocoa bean mulch lurk on the lawn or in the garage.
  • Household products — Paint, glue, and household cleaners can harm pets.

Signs that your pet has ingested a toxic substance vary greatly between products, and you may not see signs for several days. Unexplained vomiting is a common red flag that may be followed by strange behavior, mentation changes, difficulty walking, difficulty breathing, increased thirst or urination, tremors or seizures, agitation, diarrhea, weakness, paleness, bruising, or collapse. You should not wait for signs to appear before getting help for your pet.

Step #2: Gather information about the toxin your pet consumed

If you suspect your pet ingested a toxin, gather as much information about that toxin as possible. Collect the original packaging, or try to recall the brand and specific product. Determine as many of the following details as possible:

  • How much of the toxin your pet consumed
  • The time frame during which they may have consumed the toxin
  • Whether they are vomiting or showing any other toxicity signs
  • Their most recent weight, general health conditions, and current medications

Step #3: Call a pet poison control hotline

The next step is to call a pet poison control hotline and relay the information from step two to a toxicology professional. A small fee is charged to open a case with poison control, but the information they provide is priceless. They will determine if your pet consumed a potentially harmful or lethal toxin amount, what you can do for your pet at home, and whether you need to seek immediate veterinary care. If your pet does need veterinary care, the poison control hotline can provide expert support to the veterinary team throughout treatment, which is helpful should unexpected complications arise. The two most popular poison control lines are the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and the Pet Poison Helpline.

Step #4: Call Neighborhood Veterinary Centers of Nederland

If poison control has advised you to seek immediate veterinary care and it’s during our regular operating hours, first call our hospital, which helps us prepare for your pet’s arrival. If your issue occurs after hours, our triage phone line operators can direct you to the nearest emergency facility equipped to handle your pet’s situation. If you must visit an emergency facility, call while you are en route.

Step #5: Bring your pet to the veterinary hospital as instructed

When you arrive at the veterinary hospital, tell the staff members what happened and give them your poison control case number. The veterinary team will take it from there and provide life-saving treatments, and will likely hospitalize your pet for overnight supportive care and monitoring. 

As veterinary professionals, we recommend pet owners take every precaution possible to prevent disastrous pet poisonings, but we also know that sometimes things don’t go as planned. A Neighborhood Veterinary Centers Nederland team member is always available to talk Southeast Texas pet owners through an emergency situation on our after-hours triage phone line, or in the clinic during regular hours. Contact us if your pet ingests a toxin, or to schedule your pet’s next routine visit.