Deadliest Pet Toxins

Most recently, we have had some medications enter our household that are extremely harmful and even deadly to our dogs, so I thought I would share the information I found about medications that are toxic to animals.

I was prescribed 5-Fluorouracil, usually found as an ointment or a lotion, and it is used to treat skin cancer. My dermatologist warned me that this lotion was extremely toxic to animals. When a dog ingests 5-fluorouracil, it can cause intractable seizures, severe vomiting and diarrhea, and possibly bone marrow suppression. My small dog, Mini-Cooper, loves to give kisses, and since the lotion was to be applied to my nose, I felt the risk of him licking it was too great, so I elected not to use the lotion. Instead, I have the cancer spot frozen off.

I also use a nebulizer, and the solution used is Ipratropi/alb 0.5/3mg inh solution. The albuterol sulfate component of this solution is a potent beta-2 adrenergic agonist that is rapidly absorbed and extremely dangerous to dogs in these quantities. Even a single 3mg vial contains a massive, potentially life-threatening overdose for a dog.

My large dog, Brody, (left) took one of the empty plastic vials out of my trash can by my desk and ingested it. Even the empty vial made him vomit, and it wasn’t until he threw up the chewed-up vial that we realized what had made him ill. He is fine, but I now dispose of the vials in a lid-locked trash container that he cannot get into. He had never gone into the trash before, but I guess there is a first time for everything.

Other deadly medications

According to ASPCA Poison Control, below are several other deadly pet toxins to beware of:

Amphetamines are medications commonly used for weight loss or ADHD treatment, and are also included in illicit substances like methamphetamine and MDMA (ecstasy). Overdoses often result in significant hyperactivity, pacing, panting, tremors, and seizures. Internally, severe elevations in body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure are seen.

Baclofen is a prescribed muscle relaxer for humans. For small dogs, even one or two pills could potentially be life-threatening. Initially, dogs will salivate and become disoriented and vocal. As signs progress, they may become comatose, have seizures, and have difficulty breathing. If your pet has ingested baclofen, it is best to get them to a veterinary clinic immediately as signs can progress very rapidly.

Calcium channel blockers are common blood pressure medications. Examples include diltiazem, amlodipine, verapamil, and nifedipine. Even small exposures may lead to a severe decline in blood pressure and heart rate in pets. Outwardly, a pet may just seem lethargic or more tired than normal.

Lamotrigine is a prescription medication used to prevent or reduce the severity of seizures. Overdose can lead to irregular heartbeats, muscle tremors, and seizures.

5-Hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, is an over-the-counter supplement often used for sleep or mood moderation. A dog that gets into a bottle of 5-HTP may develop significant vomiting, abdominal pain, high body temperature, high heart rate, and elevated blood pressure. Tremors and seizures are also possible.

Not medications, but still dangerous

Home brewers should be concerned about hops (Humulus lupulus). Hops are the flowers of the Humulus lupulus plant and are commonly used in making beer. When dogs get into the plant or the pellets used to make beer, life-threatening elevations in body temperature can be seen.

Metaldehyde is the active ingredient used in some slug and snail baits. Pets that ingest these baits will rapidly develop severe tremors and seizures.

Blue-green algae (BGA) contains harmful toxins that cause either rapid seizures or liver failure. If taking your pet to a lake, pond, or river, make sure to check the area for any postings or warnings. Many health departments will post warnings when BGA has been detected, and in these instances, it is crucial to keep your pet out of the water. If you are unsure if a body of water has been tested and you see algae floating, it is best to keep your pet out of the water.

Methomyl is an active ingredient found in some fly baits. It is an insecticide that will cause salivation, vomiting, slow heart rate, difficulty breathing, weakness, tremors, and seizures when ingested by a mammal.

Most of these toxins are pharmaceutical-related, but there are many other foods that are dangerous to pets if ingested. According to Chewy.com, these foods can be harmful and, in some cases, deadly to pets.

Common everyday foods that are toxic to animals

Alcohol is highly toxic to all pets, including cats and dogs. Alcohol can lurk in places beyond the obvious beer or cocktail: Some desserts, like rum cake and tiramisu, are flavored with alcohol, for example. Fermented fruit, including fermented apples, also can contain it.

Apple seeds are problematic for dogs and cats because they contain cyanide, which is toxic to pets (as it is to humans). However, to suffer ill health effects, your pet would need to ingest a very large quantity of apple seeds.

Apricot Stems, Leaves and Pits- While the apricot itself is a great option for an occasional treat, the stems, leaves and pits contain cyanide. If you opt to feed apricot to your pup or cat, take care to throw away the stems, leaves and pits.

Avocados- All parts of avocados–the leaves, fruit, seeds, pit and skin–contain Persin, which is a fungicidal toxin. Percin is highly toxic to horses, cattle, goats, and birds and can cause severe health issues or even death.

Caffeine is toxic to dogs and cats. When a pet consumes enough caffeine to harm them, caffeine toxicity is usually seen within 30 to 60 minutes.

Cherry Stems, Leaves, Seeds and Pits- Every part of a cherry other than the fruit flesh itself contains cyanide, which is highly toxic to dogs and cats. For this reason, most pet parents skip feeding their pets cherries altogether.

Chocolate- White chocolate, dark chocolate, and milk chocolate. This sweet treat is practically a food group for some of us humans. However, for dogs and cats, chocolate is toxic. It contains caffeine, which we know is dangerous, plus theobromine. Dark chocolate has more caffeine and therefore poses a greater risk of toxicity than milk chocolate.

Garlic- It’s a staple for adding flavor to human food, but garlic is on the no-go list for cats and dogs. It contains thiosulfate, which can damage your pet’s red blood cells.

Grapes and Raisins- It took years to pinpoint the reason, but we finally know what component of grapes and raisins is toxic to dogs: tartaric acid. Ingesting grapes and raisins can cause your pet to experience kidney damage or even kidney failure.

Mustard seeds, a component of this common condiment, are toxic to dogs and cats. Some of the chemical compounds mustard seeds contain can cause a cat or dog to develop severe gastroenteritis.

Nuts- A compound called juglone, found in walnuts and pecans, is toxic to dogs. Almonds contain amygdalin, which can break down into hydrogen cyanide when ingested. It’s toxic to both dogs and cats. Furthermore, almonds are difficult to digest and can lead to stomach upset and pancreatitis. Macadamia nuts are toxic to both dogs and cats.

Onions (Plus Onion Powder, Shallots, Leeks and Chives)- Onions contain N-propyl disulfide, a compound that is highly toxic to dogs and cats. Toxicity causes the red blood cells to break down, which can lead to anemia.

Peach Stems, Leaves and Pits- As with cherries, every part of peaches other than the fruit flesh contains cyanide, which is toxic to dogs and cats, and the pits can pose a choking hazard.

Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol that’s often used to sweeten sugar-free gum and candy. It can also be found in baked goods, breath mints, dietary supplements, toothpaste and some peanut and nut butters.

Xylitol is toxic for dogs because it is absorbed into their bloodstream very quickly. This causes their body to release high levels of insulin, which leads to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), a condition that can be fatal. Additionally, xylitol can cause liver failure.

Yeast Dough- If your pet ingests yeast dough, it can expand in their stomach—basically in the same way it would continue rising in the fridge. Yeast dough can cause a buildup of gas, resulting in bloat, which is a potentially life-threatening emergency. When a pet experiences bloat, their stomach rapidly expands with gas and fluid.

Please adopt, don’t shop, and keep an eye on your pet to keep them out of harm's way from everyday foods that could make them very ill or worse.