For an appointment, please call
(847) 966-3080
Client Testimonials
Copyright © 2003-2010
North Shore
Veterinary Clinic
Substances That Are Toxic To Your Pet If Eaten

Quite a few dog and cat owners take care choosing a food for their pets. Some give treats either from the store or from the table. Most people don't think twice in these instances (except for an occasional thought of "Is my pet overweight?") and most often there is no need to.

Sometimes pets eat things they should not: the grass outside, the steak on the dinner table, your socks, ...etc. Obviously, some things pets eat are not a big deal and others can cause serious problems. They can experience various symptoms if they eat something inappropriate:

If you see any of these signs, call your veterinarian.

Often pets will exhibit the above symptoms, but they will recover with a visit to the veterinarian and your loving care. Some substances warrant much more concern. Substances we label "toxic" are known to have been fatal to pets even if they only consume small amounts.

We list here only the most common known toxic substances in the home.

Do NOT let your pet eat anything on this page.

For further information contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 for a fee of $45 per case.

Chocolate

Chocolate mouse, chocolate candy bars, chocolate-chip cookies, people love chocolate and with good reason. Dogs seem to have a sweet tooth as well, and they will eat chocolate if they can get it. While this sweet substance is fine for people, it can be toxic for dogs and cats.

The toxic compound in chocolate is theobromine. (Caffeine exists in chocolate, but in amounts small enough not to be of concern.) Different types of chocolate contain different amounts of theobromine:

Obviously, baker's and semi-sweet chocolate cause the most concern. If your pet eats any chocolate, call us for instructions. Be sure to tell us how much chocolate and what type your pet ate.

If ingested, your pet may display toxicity signs:

Rather than worry about these unfortunate symptoms or how much chocolate is too much, simply keep chocolate away from your pets. While it is not a medical emergency if large dogs eat one or two M&M's, it does encourage their sweet tooth and they will be more likely to steal chocolate when no one is around.

Grapes & Raisins

Many people have heard that grapes and raisins are potentially harmful for their pets. Many others give grapes as treats or have never heard of problems concerning these fruits.

Between 2001 and 2004, more than 200 cases of toxic reactions to grape and raisin ingestion were reported to the Animal Poison Control Center of the ASPCA. The evidence shows that any type of grape may be potentially toxic, both those with seeds and seedless varieties. Many of these cases involved grapes grown without herbicides or insecticides. The specific toxic substance is as yet unknown.

There is a real concern if your dog eats grapes or raisins, but the amount needed to cause a toxic reaction is unclear. A single grape or raisin eaten by a small dog can cause signs of vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea. To play it safe, the answer is simple, do not give your dog grapes or raisins.

Pennies

Pennies usually don't cross anyone's mind as a potentially toxic substance. Those minted before 1982 contain 95% copper. Those minted in 1982 and later contain 95% zinc and it is zinc that is potentially toxic to your pet. We are not asking you to sort your pennies by date, but simply be aware that if your pet chews or swallows any change, we recommend calling your veterinarian.

As yet, no one knows the specific amount of zinc that causes a toxic reaction, so any amount should be considered potentially toxic. Zinc toxicity affects the kidneys, liver, stomach and small intestine, and can cause your pet to become anemic. When a pet ingests a penny, the stomach acid breaks it down, but the rate at which the bloodstream absorbs zinc varies based upon several factors such as the length of time from its last meal and how long the pennies stay in its stomach.

Signs of zinc toxicity in your pet include vomiting, changes in behavior including depression, and anemia. (Severe anemic signs include pale gums, lips, or tongue.) Later signs include fatigue, diarrhea, and pain in the abdomen. (Your pet exhibits this by hunching or painful movement or sensitivity to touch.)

Timing is critical in cases of zinc toxicity, contact your veterinarian or emergency clinic and describe the situation if you even suspect your pet might have ingested any pennies or fragments of pennies.

Onions & Garlic

Dogs and cats lack the appropriate enzymes to digest onions properly. Both garlic and onions contain thiosulphate, a compound toxic to cats and dogs. Onions possess this chemical in much higher quantities than garlic. The form of onion, powdered, whole, cooked, or dehydrated does not seem to influence the concentration of thiosulphate. Therefore, all forms of onions should be considered dangerous.

Animals that ingest appropriate amounts of thiosulphate develop a condition known as Heinz body anemia. Small "bubbles" form on the surface of red blood cells that can cause them to rupture before their normal life span. If enough red blood cells rupture, the animal becomes anemic, actually a form of hemolytic anemia. This episode typically occurs several days after ingestion. Feeding small amounts of onions over several days can have a cumulative effect resulting in this hemolytic episode.

Many foods contain onions or onion powder. Many people would be surprised to learn baby food often contains onion powder as a flavoring agent. This can be of concern to sick cats which often receive baby food as part of a nursing therapy to return them to health. Actually cats have greater susceptibility to thiosulfate than dogs.

If you have any concerns or discover the foods you have been feeding your pets contain onion, please call your veterinarian for recommendations.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts can be potentially very toxic to cats and dogs. These tasty morsels quite often find their way into many homes, especially during the holidays. The toxic dose actually has quite a large range meaning your pet may become ill from just a few nuts or may seem fine after eating two dozen.

Toxicity signs usually begin within twelve hours of ingestion. The exact toxic compound in these nuts is unknown as yet. But it is known that ingestion of macadamia nuts can cause locomotor difficulties and a tremor in the muscles. If your pet has eaten any macadamia nuts, call us immediately.

Be aware that chocolate covered macadamia nuts present additional potential problems.

Avocados

Avocados, those funny green fruits with the large seeds yield guacamole and spice up exotic dishes. However, they are too exotic for your pets. The leaves, fruit, bark, and seeds all have a compound known as "persin." This compound causes damage to cardiac tissue and respiratory distress. Often fluid accumulation occurs in the abdomen, lungs, and pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart).

No one knows the amount necessary to cause a toxic reaction. Just keep all parts of the avocado plant away from your pets.

Actually, the avocado is toxic to quite a number of species including goats, ostriches, songbirds, horses, sheep and livestock, and parrots.

Acetaminophen & Ibuprofen

People use acetaminophen for pain relief and to break fevers. Ibuprofen provides pain relief and reduces swelling and inflammation. For people, these medications work very well. For pets, these medications do not have the desired effect and instead can be toxic. In a recent two year period, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center reported more than 2100 cases of exposure by pets to either one of these compounds.

Acetaminophen can produce signs of toxicity from a single dose or repeated doses. Cats are especially vulnerable to this compound. It typically causes liver toxicity and eventually prevents red blood cells from carrying oxygen.

Ibuprofen can cause ulcers and perforations in the stomach and affect kidney function. Cats are twice a sensitive as dogs to this drug.

Animals that ingest appropriate amounts of these types of medication may develop a condition known as Heinz body anemia. Small "bubbles" form on the surface of red blood cells that can cause them to rupture before their normal life span. If enough red blood cells rupture, the animal becomes anemic, actually a form of hemolytic anemia. This anemia may occur shortly after ingestion to several days later.

Sometimes a pet will limp because of pain from an injury or arthritis. Nobody wants to see their pets in pain. Some well-intentioned owners want to give a pain reliever to their pet. Obviously don't use a human medication. They are designed to be safe for people, not pets. If your pet ingests a medication containing either ibuprofen or acetaminophen, call your veterinarian.

The following medications are fine for people, but not pets. They contain either acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Call your veterinarian for any questions you may have and for options to help your pets live pain free.

Aspirin

Aspirin can be toxic to cats. Do not give your cat aspirin for any symptoms you see, unless your veterinarian explicitly instructs you otherwise.

Prescription Medication

It seems obvious that your pet should not take any medication not specifically prescribed for it or without the advice of a veterinarian. Just as in people, taking the wrong medication can have potentially severe consequences. When it comes to prescription medication, most people realize this. However, many pets receive over the counter medication from their well-intentioned owners for seemingly small problems.

Over the counter medications are designed to be safe for people, NOT pets. Some medications contain substances safe for people, but toxic for dogs and cats. Secondly, doses of medication appropriate for people are often not the same as those required by pets. (The doses for dogs may be very different from those in cats as well.) It is easy to unknowingly give too much medication to your pet and very difficult to predict the consequences.

To easily avoid all these concerns, simply call North Shore Veterinary Clinic. Describe your pet's problem and your vet will tell you if there is an over-the-counter medication appropriate to give your pet and how much to give and when.

Finally, dogs and cats occasionally find and ingest medication left unattended, and if they do, they usually consume all of what they can find.

In this instance, as soon as you discover the situation, call North Shore Veterinary Clinic or the local emergency clinic immediately. Tell us what happened: who ate the medication, which medication it was including its strength, how much your pet consumed, and when it happened. Please follow our instructions. Your pet may need to come to the hospital.

Flea & Tick Medication

This entry seems contradictory on a veterinary web site. Flea & Tick medication is safe for dogs, but not for cats. Any medication that prevents fleas and only fleas should not cause problems for your feline companion (assuming it is designed for cats). But as yet, no manufacturer produces a tick or mosquito medication that is safe for cats. The compounds that prevent ticks are toxic to your cat.

One prominent manufacturer did produce a tick medication specifically for cats. That product has since been recalled and all future production ceased for safety issues with cats.

Other Foods Toxic To Your Pets