Běžné domácí jedy pro psy a kočky: příznaky a co dělat

Foods that can poison pets

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which overstimulate the heart and nervous system. The darker it is, the more dangerous. Cocoa powder and baking chocolate carry the highest risk, and white chocolate contains very little. Signs usually start within 6 to 12 hours and include vomiting, thirst, restlessness and a racing heart. Severe cases bring tremors, seizures and an irregular heartbeat, and signs can last up to three days.

Xylitol is a sweetener in sugar-free gum and mints, some peanut butters and baked goods, toothpaste, chewable vitamins and some medicines. In dogs it causes a sudden drop in blood sugar, sometimes within 30 minutes. Signs include vomiting, weakness, wobbling, collapse and seizures, and some dogs develop liver damage a day or two later. This poisoning has been reported only in dogs, and cats are not thought to be at risk.

Grapes and raisins can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs. The suspected cause is tartaric acid. Its level varies from fruit to fruit, so even a few grapes may be enough to harm a small dog. Vomiting or diarrhea often starts within 6 to 12 hours, and kidney failure can follow within one to three days. Raisins hide in cakes, cereal bars and bread. There are anecdotal reports of kidney problems in cats as well, so it is safest to keep grapes away from cats too.

Onions, garlic, leeks, chives and shallots damage red blood cells and can cause anemia. Raw, cooked, dried and powdered forms are all harmful, and cats are even more sensitive than dogs. Leftovers, soups and gravies often contain onion or garlic powder. Signs usually appear a few days after the meal, so owners may not connect the two. Watch for weakness, pale or yellowish gums and fast breathing.

Lilies are an emergency for cats

True lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) are among the most dangerous plants for cats. The group includes Easter, Asiatic, Oriental, Stargazer and tiger lilies. Every part of the plant is toxic, including the pollen and the water in the vase. A small bite of a leaf or petal, or a few grains of pollen licked off the fur, can be enough.

Drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite and low energy can appear within hours. Kidney failure can follow within one to three days. When treatment starts 18 hours or more after exposure, the kidney damage is usually permanent. For this reason, any contact between a cat and a true lily or daylily is treated as an emergency, even when the cat seems fine.

Dogs that eat lilies usually get only a mild stomach upset. Peace lilies and calla lilies can irritate the mouth, and Peruvian lilies can cause mild stomach upset. In a home with a cat, the safest choice is to keep true lilies and daylilies out of the house altogether, including in bouquets.

Human medicines

Some pets are poisoned when a well-meaning owner gives a human painkiller to ease pain. The safest approach is to give your pet no human medicine unless your veterinarian has prescribed it.

Ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin belong to a group of painkillers called NSAIDs. In pets they can cause stomach ulcers, internal bleeding and kidney damage, with vomiting, belly pain and black, tarry stools. Cats are especially sensitive. Acetaminophen, also called paracetamol, is very dangerous for cats because their liver cannot break it down well. Within hours a cat may have brown or muddy-colored gums, a swollen face or paws, weakness and a fast heartbeat. In dogs it is more likely to damage the liver.

Antidepressants, ADHD medicines and vitamin D supplements are also among the medicines that poison pets most often. Even one dropped pill can be dangerous for a small animal, so it helps to pick up anything that falls and keep pill organizers out of reach.

Antifreeze, flea products and cleaners

Many antifreeze products contain ethylene glycol, which tastes sweet. Cats are more sensitive to it than dogs. An animal may first look drunk, then seem to improve for a while before the kidneys fail. There is an antidote, and it works best when given within the first few hours.

Dog flea and tick products that contain permethrin can poison cats. This happens when a dog product is put on a cat by mistake, or when a cat rubs against a freshly treated dog. Twitching, trembling, wobbling and seizures are typical signs. With early treatment, most cats make a full recovery.

Cleaning products such as bleach and drain cleaner can irritate or burn the mouth and throat. Keep them closed and stored where pets cannot reach them.

Rat and mouse poison

Rat and mouse baits are made to taste good to rodents, and pets often find them tempting too. The main types work in very different ways, and which ones are sold differs from country to country.

• Anticoagulant baits stop the blood from clotting. Signs usually appear 3 to 7 days later and include weakness, pale gums, nosebleeds, bruising, blood in the urine or stool, and trouble breathing.
• Bromethalin baits cause swelling in the brain, with tremors, seizures, wobbling or weak back legs. Cats are very sensitive to it, and there is no antidote.
• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) baits push blood calcium to dangerous levels and can damage the kidneys. Vomiting, weakness, thirst and heavy urination can start within one to two days.

Different products often look alike, so the color or shape of the bait does not tell a vet what is in it. If you find a chewed packet, keep it or take a clear photo of the label. A pet can also be poisoned by eating a rodent that has eaten bait.

Příznaky, kterých si všímat

Signs depend on the poison, and some take days to appear. Contact your veterinarian if you notice any of these after your pet may have eaten something harmful.

• Vomiting, diarrhea or drooling
• Restlessness, trembling, twitching or seizures
• Weakness, wobbling or collapse
• Pale, brown or yellowish gums
• Bleeding, bruising, or blood in the urine or stool
• Drinking and urinating much more or much less than usual
• A swollen face or paws in a cat

Kdy jde o akutní stav

If your pet may have eaten something toxic, it is best to call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency clinic straight away, even if your pet seems well. Many of these poisons act slowly, and treatment works best before signs appear. The vet can tell you whether the amount is likely to be dangerous. Some countries also have animal poison helplines.

While you get help, move your pet away from the source. Note what it was, roughly how much is missing and when it happened. Bring the packaging, the plant or a sample with you.

Veterinary guidance is to avoid making a pet vomit at home unless a veterinarian advises it. Salt and other home methods can cause harm of their own. Some substances, such as corrosive cleaners and petroleum products, do more damage coming back up, and a drowsy or seizing animal can choke. For what to do during a seizure and how to get your pet to the clinic safely, see first aid for dogs and cats.

How vets diagnose and treat poisoning

What your pet ate, how much and when tells the vet more than any single test, so packaging and labels help a great deal. After an exam, the vet may run blood and urine tests to check the kidneys, liver, blood sugar, calcium, red blood cells and clotting.

If the exposure was recent and it is safe to do so, the vet may make your pet vomit. Depending on the poison, the vet may also give activated charcoal to bind what is left in the gut. Many pets need intravenous fluids, medicines to control vomiting or seizures, and monitoring in the hospital. A few poisons have a specific antidote, such as vitamin K for anticoagulant rat baits. Many others, including lilies, grapes and bromethalin, do not, and treatment supports the body while it recovers. The outlook depends mostly on how much was eaten and how quickly treatment started.

Keeping a new pet safe

Poisoning is not contagious, so it does not pass between pets or to people. In a home with several animals, check whether the others could have reached the same source. Keep a freshly treated dog away from cats for as long as the product label and your vet advise.

The first weeks in a new home carry extra risk. A newly adopted pet is often curious and does not know the house rules yet, and an animal that lived on the street may have learned to eat whatever it finds. Keep medicines, sweets and gum in closed cupboards, and keep handbags off the floor and low furniture. Use bins with lids, and place rat bait only where pets cannot reach it. Save your vet's number and the nearest emergency clinic in your phone. For a full checklist to work through before a dog arrives, see how to prepare your home for a rescue dog.

At Paw Squadron, the first stops after every rescue are the vet and a bath, with a checkup, deworming and treatment against fleas and other parasites. Every animal also gets vaccinations and a microchip before adoption. When parasite treatment is due at home, ask your veterinarian for a product made for your pet's species. You can find more care guides in PawPedia.