The Truth About the Cold, Wet Nose

Man-made substances that are highly lethal to animals:

Antifreeze is very sweet tasting and dogs and cats will readily drink it. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol (which quickly causes kidney failure) and it is DEADLY! The lethal dose for a cat is 2 tablespoons and for a for a twenty pound dog only a quarter of a cup will kill.

It is not unusual for antifreeze to leak from radiators and pool on driveways or street surfaces & gutters. If you suspect that your pet has been exposed to antifreeze do not wait for symptoms to appear, by then it may be too late. Get help immediately. Signs that should alert you to the possibility of antifreeze poisoning are delirium, stupor, breathing problems, drooling, mouth sores, vomiting, convulsions, comas, and death. Treatment includes pumping the stomach, intravenous injections of alcohol and fluids to help save the kidneys, and an extended period of hospitalization.

Snail Bait is a commonly used garden product. The active ingredients, metadehyde, is highly toxic to all mammals, as well as snail. This product, like antifreeze, is very tasty and, therefore, attractive to animals. The signs of snail bait poisoning are lack of coordination and muscle tremors, salivation & anxiety, generalized seizures. If your pet shows symptoms such as these, call your vet or an emergency animal hospital immediately. If none are available call your local Animal Care & Control facility. Stay calm and minimize noise and stimuli, to reduce anxiety in the animal, while transporting it immediately to the vet. Chances of recovery are good with prompt medical treatment.

Medications--Store medications for all family members and pets in high cabinets, out of reach. With their curiosity and strong teeth, dogs can crack open a pill bottle and swallow the entire contents in a very short time. Even if a medicine prescribed for your pet, too large a dose could cause problems.

Medications that come in tubes may also pose a large risk. Most pets have sharp teeth and can chew into a tube within seconds. Creams and ointments that may be quite safe when applied to the skin can cause serious problems when eaten.

Human Foods That Poison Pets

Feeding pets food that we enjoy is not only wrong, it can also be fatal. There are some foodstuffs that humans relish which cause illness and death if eaten by pets.

Chocolate, macadamia nuts and onions are good examples. Each of these foods contains chemicals which rarely cause problems for humans, but for dogs, these same chemicals can be deadly.

Chocolate toxicity 

Chocolate contains Theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic.

When affected by an overdose of chocolate, a dog can become excited and hyperactive. Due to the diuretic effect, it may pass large volumes of urine and it will be unusually thirsty. Vomiting and diarrhea are also common. The effect of Theobromine on the heart is the most dangerous effect. Theobromine will either increase the dog's heart rate or may cause the heart to beat irregularly. Death is quite possible, especially with exercise.

After their pet has eaten a large quantity of chocolate, many pet owners assume their pet is unaffected. However, the signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death following within twenty-four hours.

Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. A 10-kilogram dog can be seriously affected if it eats a quarter of a 250gm packet of cocoa powder or half of a 250gm block of cooking chocolate. These forms of chocolate contain ten times more Theobromine than milk chocolate. Thus, a chocolate mud cake could be a real health risk for a small dog. Even licking a substantial part of the chocolate icing from a cake can make a dog unwell.

Semi-sweet chocolate and dark chocolate are the next most dangerous forms, with milk chocolate being the least dangerous. A dog needs to eat more than a 250gm block of milk chocolate to be affected. Obviously, the smaller the dog, the less it needs to eat.

Onion and garlic poisoning 

Onions and garlic are other dangerous food ingredients that cause sickness in dogs, cats and also livestock. Onions and garlic contain the toxic ingredient Thiosulphate. Onions are more of a danger.

Pets affected by onion toxicity will develop 'hemolytic anemia', where the pet's red blood cells burst while circulating in its body.

At first, pets affected by onion poisoning show gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea. They will show no interest in food and will be dull and weak. The red pigment from the burst blood cells appears in an affected animal's urine and it becomes breathless. The breathlessness occurs because the red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body are reduced in number.

The poisoning occurs a few days after the pet has eaten the onion. All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated onions, raw onions, cooked onions and table scraps containing cooked onions and/or garlic. Leftover pizza, Chinese dishes and commercial baby food containing onion, sometimes fed as a supplement to young pets, can cause illness.

Onion poisoning can occur with a single ingestion of large quantities or with repeated meals containing small amounts of onion. A single meal of 600 to 800 grams of raw onion can be dangerous whereas a ten kilogram dog, fed 150 grams of onion for several days, is also likely to develop anemia. The condition improves once the dog is prevented from eating any further onion.

While garlic also contains the toxic ingredient Thiosulphate, it seems that garlic is less toxic and large amounts would need to be eaten to cause illness.

The danger of macadamia nuts

Macadamia nuts are another concern. A recent paper written by Dr. Ross McKenzie, a Veterinary Pathologist with the Department of Primary Industries, points to the danger of raw and roasted macadamia nuts for pets.

The toxic compound is unknown but the affect of macadamia nuts is to cause locomotory difficulties. Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters. Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting. Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated.

Dogs have been affected by eating as few as six macadamia kernels (nuts without the shell) while others had eaten approximately forty kernels. Some dogs had also been given macadamia butter.

Luckily, the muscle weakness, while painful, seems to be of short duration and all dogs recovered from the toxicity. All dogs were taken to their veterinary surgeon.

Pet owners should not assume that human food is always safe for pets. When it comes to chocolate, onions, garlic and macadamia nuts, such foods should be given in only small quantities, or not at all. Be sure that your pets can't get into your stash of chocolates, that food scraps are disposed of carefully to prevent onion and garlic toxicity and that your dog is prevented from picking up macadamia nuts if you have a tree in your garden.

Other potential dangers

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Holiday Hazards to your pets

The holiday season is full of wonderful family traditions but it can also be one of the most hazardous times of the year for pets.

Holiday treats are meant for people, not pets. Beware of guests who may give your dog cookies, chocolate and other sweets. These treats are not healthy for your canine. Fatty foods and sugar confections can rapidly become toxic to an animal unaccustomed to them. A dog's digestive system is not adapted for such rich foods, and chocolate contains Theobromine, which can be harmful and sometimes fatal. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, irregular heartbeat, seizures and, in some cases, death. Never leave gifts of chocolate under the tree, in stockings or on tables easily accessible to pets.

There are other foods that can be "a recipe for disaster."

The wag of a tail can topple a Christmas tree. Make sure the tree is steady and secure it in a flat, wide base. Anchor the tree with fishing line tied to drapery rods or wall mounts.

Bows, yarn and ribbon from packages pose the same kind of risk as tinsel. Pick them up and dispose of them quickly.

When decorating with holiday lights, keep in mind that exposed wiring, indoors or outdoors, could electrocute an animal that chews on it. Tape wires to the wall of sides of the house.

No matter how much fresh water you put out for a cat or dog, some will still want to drink from the water in the Christmas tree stand. Some of the tree preservatives put into the water could harm pets. Forgo the preservatives or make sure the water is covered so that pets can't get into it.

Keep poinsettias, holly and mistletoe out of reach. Pets can get sick if they chew on leaves, flowers or berries.

Winter weather can also be a hazard for pets. Make sure pets are dry, protected and in a safe environment. Just as temperature is an important consideration of pet health in summer, cold winters can prove equally dangerous. A fur coat is not enough to protect house pets from frostbite and hypothermia.

When temperatures drop, do not leave metal water or food dishes outside, for pet tongues can freeze onto to metal. Switch to plastic or ceramic dishes and bowls. Check outdoor water bowls frequently and break the ice when the water freezes.

Short-haired dogs, especially those with virtually no body fat, should wear coats or sweaters outside.

Hot Weather Tips for Your Pets

For many of us, a long hot summer day is ideal--it means fun & relaxation. But, please remember to take into consideration the needs of your canine companion. Below is a list of do's and don'ts that we hope you will find helpful. (Courtesy of the the ASPCA, NY.)

If, in spite of the extra care you give your dog during the hot days of summer, you observe twitching, rapid panting, agitated barking or a wild "staring" expression, call your vet. Don't immerse your pet in water or use ice packs to counteract heatstroke. Do pour water on the animal every 3 to 5 minutes and then place him or her in a draft or under a fan.

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Ticks, Bee Stings & Fox Tails

Ticks: These little buggers can be a real problem, especially in regions where serious infectious diseases are transmitted, such as Lyme Disease. All animals, domesticated and wild, are sources of these parasites. Check your animals thoroughly, especially if they have been in wooded areas. If you find a tick, don't try to remove it with any of the mythical methods you may have heard of, such as cleaning fluid, nail polish, petroleum jelly, hot matches, or goddess forbid, lit cigarettes. Beside causing minor to major irritation to the dog's skin, you will also kill the tick making it more difficult to remove intact (be sure to kill it after you remove it).

Ticks secrete a glue that holds the mouthpiece in place while feeding so that it is not easily dislodged. It has to be removed carefully:

1. First, swab the area with alcohol. Then, using tissue or tweezers, gently grasp the body of the tick and pull directly away from the point of attachment. Don't jerk or twist.
2. If the mouthpiece breaks off in the skin, use a sterilized needle to remove as you would a splinter.
3. Wash the bite area with soap and water and apply an antiseptic such as alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
4. Wash your hands thoroughly.
5. Mark the date of the tick bite on your calendar and watch for symptoms of disease in the following weeks.

Lyme Disease, transmitted by the dear tick, causes enlarged lymph glands and inflammation of the joints. Humans are susceptible to Lyme Disease and exposure to the disease can cause life-long consequences for both you and your pet.

Bee stings cause pain and swelling. The mouth and face are usual sites of stings. Some dogs are allergic to stings and can react badly. Immediate veterinary care is essential if there is acute swelling to the mouth or throat. If you know your dog to be allergic to bee sting, keep over-the-counter Benadryl available and if you see your dog get stung, give him or her two tablets immediately. Be sure to inform the vet that you have administered the Benadryl--the treatment for bee sting will most likely be an intravenous antihistamine, and since Benadryl is an antihistamine the vet may want to adjust his or her own dosage.

Bees leave a stinger embedded in the skin. With a magnifying glass, remove the stinger with tweezers. Ice the area with an icepack to reduce the swelling.

Foxtails are barbed seeds of dried grasses and weeds, most common during the dry season. They are easily inhaled simply by your pooch sniffing around the grass or brush. Because they are barbed, they can easily become embedded between toes or lodged inside the ears or work their way into the animal's eyes and can be very difficult to remove. Once inside the animal, the foxtail can travel through the body, causing severe abscesses and infections. Besides being very painful for your animal, removal can be a costly procedure depending on how deeply embedded in the skin or how far back in the dog's ear, throat or sinuses it becomes embedded.

Be very proactive in protecting your dog from foxtails. Remove dried weeds from the yard and keep your dog away from weeds in other locations. After every outing, be sure to examine your pet, especially between the toes, under the tail, and in the ears.

Be on the lookout for symptoms and get your pup to the vet immediately:

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Last updated on: 06/21/2013

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