It is difficult to give concise information about plant toxicity's as
there are hundreds of plants that are potentially poisonous to animals.
While many people seem to think poinsettias, ivy and mistletoe are
dangerous plants, and while these plants have toxic potential, they seldom
cause serious clinical signs if eaten.
It is worth noting here that dogs and cats often vomit after chewing on
plants; this probably does not represent "poisoning" or any dangerous
exposure. Only severe or persistent vomiting is a danger sign in small
animals. Sporadic vomiting without accompanying signs of illness (for
instance, diarrhoea, depression, loss of appetite) is rarely a cause for
worry, whether associated with plant ingestion or not. The best advice,
however, is to contact your veterinarian if you have specific concerns.
Other Plants to Watch out For: Aconite - All parts Alocasia - All parts Amaryllis, esp. the bulb - Induce vomiting, give lots of water, get to
vet. Anemone - All parts Angel's trumpet - Varied toxic effects. Almond - May cause vomiting, abdominal, and in some cases, diarrhoea. Apple - Seeds (large quantities) -Get to vet immediately. Apricot - Seeds (large quantities) - May cause vomiting, abdominal, and
in some cases, diarrhoea. Get to vet immediately. Arrow grasses - Leaves. Arrowhead vine - Irritates mouth, throat, tongue and lips. Asparagus Fern - May cause vomiting, cramping, tremors as well as other
problems. Atropa belladonna - All parts. Autumn Crocus - Bulbs. Avocado- Leaves and stems. Azalea- All parts - May cause vomiting, cramping, tremors as well as
other problems. Balsam Pear - May cause vomiting, abdominal, and in some cases,
diarrhoea. Baneberry - All parts. Belladonna - All parts. Bird of paradise - All parts - May cause vomiting, cramping, tremors and
other problems. Induce vomiting, give lots of water, get to vet. Bittersweet - Leaves, unripe fruit, stem - May cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Black-eyed Susan - All parts. Black locust - May cause vomiting, abdominal, and in some cases, diarrhoea.
EXTREMELY TOXICRUSH YOUR PET TO THE VET
:
-induce vomiting, give lots of water
Black Nightshade -
Berries. Bleeding heart - Foliage and roots. Boston Ivy - Irritates mouth, throat, tongue and lips. Box - Leaves and
twigs - Induce vomiting, give lots of water, get to vet Buckeye - All
parts - May cause vomiting, abdominal, and in some cases, diarrhoea
DRUGS
Animal poisoning by drugs is by far the most common type of small animal
poison exposure, accounting for 75% of 1990 toxin exposures as reported by
the AAPCC and 82 of 425 fatalities. Dogs and, less frequently, cats, can
be poisoned by human or veterinary drugs as a result of accidental
ingestion or overdose just like children can; it is worth emphasizing that
all medications should be placed out of reach of inquisitive noses which
are too often attached to undiscriminating mouths!
This section focuses on those medications which are too frequently given
by well-intentioned owners for the purpose of relieving discomfort
experienced by the animal and which instead can cause a much more serious
problem for the pet. Human over-the-counter pain relievers are
occasionally used in veterinary medicine for pain relief but they should
only be given upon specific advice and direction of a veterinarian. Pain
relievers, or analgesics, are not designed for use by cats and dogs and a
minimal human dose can poison a pet. Cats and dogs do not utilize and
tolerate drugs in the same way people do and human drugs should NEVER be
assumed to be safe for animals.
ACETAMINOPHEN (Tylenoltm)
XXX - Emergency!
XX - Highly Dangerous
X - Dangerous
Tylenol is, of course, the human over-the-counter analgesic medicine used
to relieve pain. In people, after the pills are taken, the ingredients are
broken down in the body by enzymes in the liver. In people, Tylenol is
generally a safe and useful painkiller. Cats, however, have less of the
enzyme required to detoxify the drug following ingestion. As a result,
there are many dangerous metabolites, or break-down products of
acetaminophen that bind to red blood cells and other tissue cells,
resulting in the destruction of these cells. There may also be direct
damage to tissue cells from the painkiller. As little as one regular
strength tablet (325 mg) can poison a cat to the degree that it can
develop noticeable clinical signs of illness. Two extra-strength tablets
are likely to kill a cat. Dogs (particularly small dogs) are also
susceptible to significant tissue damage from as little as two regular
strength Tylenol and repeated doses increase the risk significantly. Signs
develop quickly and can include salivation, vomiting, weakness and
abdominal pain.
Due to the significant toxicity to pets in relatively minimal dosages, the
recommendation is clear - Tylenol should not be given to dogs or cats.
Other, safer, drugs are available for pain relief; talk to your
veterinarian about your own pet's specific needs.
Article By
David The Dogman
http://www.thedogman.net
