Spring is just around the corner, and with the change of season comes a myriad of potential hazards for pets. Easter and springtime decorations (and edibles) liven the scenery and our environment, but can also pose harm to our furry friends. Spring is a great time to assess your pet’s environment for potential hazards. Be proactive, it’s better and less costly compared to spending unexpected time in the veterinary hospital. Here are a few quick tips on what to watch for this spring.
If you suspect your pet may have come in contact with or ingested a potentially poisonous substance, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Hotline at (800)-213-6680
Plant Toxicities
Easter Lily (and related Lily plants)
The Easter lily is a common finding during the springtime. This plant, and related plants in the lily family, are profoundly toxic to cats if ingested. There are really dangerous lilies and less dangerous lilies. If you have lilies it’s best to educate yourself about the potential danger to your pet. Peace, Peruvian, and Calla lilies contain oxalate crystals which can cause minor signs, such as inflammation of the mouth and associated structures. The more dangerous and potentially fatal lilies are true lilies which include Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese Show lilies – ALL OF WHICH ARE HIGHLY TOXIC TO CATS. Small ingestion of the really toxic variety can result in profound illness. The initial symptoms of lily ingestion typically include vomiting and lethargy, and if untreated, can progress to kidney (renal) failure and death. It’s best to be safe and report any potential lily ingestion to your veterinarian. The quicker you bring your cat in, the better and more efficiently your veterinarian can treat your cat, thus ensuring a more favorable outcome. Early treatment typically involves decontamination by inducing vomiting and administration of toxin binders. Your veterinarian will likely begin intravenous fluid therapy to assist in maintaining normal kidney function and also perform serial blood test to determine just how badly the kidneys are damaged.
Tulips and Hyacinth
Tulips contain allergenic lactones while hyacinths contain similar alkaloids. The toxic components of these plants are concentrated in the bulbs (versus the leaf or flower). Safeguard against, or discourage your dog from digging up the bulbs in your garden. When the bulbs are chewed or ingested, it can cause severe tissue inflammation of the mouth and esophagus. Symptoms which can be seen include severe drooling, vomiting, even diarrhea. It should be noted there isn’t a specific antidote for tulip or hyacinth ingestion. Treatment typically revolves around supportive measures such as rinsing of the mouth, administration of antiemetic (anti-vomiting) medications, and possibly fluids, either intravenously or subcutaneously, depending on the severity of the symptoms. Fortunately, patients do very well with appropriate therapeutic measures. In the case of large scale ingestion, the symptoms can be far more severe and include increased heart and respiratory rates. More severe symptoms are always best addressed by a veterinarian.
Daffodils
Daffodils contain lycorine, a plant alkaloid and can induce severe vomiting in patients that consume them. Ingestion of the bulb, plant or flower can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Other signs include abdominal pain and possible cardiac arrhythmias or respiratory depression. Like hyacinths, daffodils contain crystals in the outer layers of the bulbs, which can cause oral inflammation and drooling. Considering daffodils can potentially cause severe symptoms, confirmed ingestion should prompt consultation with your veterinarian.
Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley (aka Convallaria majalis) is a plant containing cardiac glycosides which can cause symptoms similar to digitalis (foxglove) ingestion. Symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, a drop in heart rate and cardiac arrhythmias can be seen in patient having consumed this plant. Confirmed ingestion should prompt consultation with your veterinarian and appropriate treatment instituted immediately.
Easter Goodies
Easter Grass
Cats love anything that moves. Easter grass easily moves in a breeze and, for some cats, is simply irresistible and must be eaten. Stringy things, or linear foreign bodies, like Easter grass or tinsel at Christmas pose a deadly threat if ingested. An owner’s first clue their pet may have consumed foreign material may be the presence of foreign material visibly protruding from the mouth or anus. It is not advised to manually attempt to extract the material if visible. Consult with your veterinarian immediately. Symptoms of linear foreign bodies include repeated vomiting, a decrease in appetite and possibly a painful abdomen. Commonly, patients that consume foreign material, especially linear foreign bodies, must undergo surgery to remove the material and repair the damage to the intestines.
Chocolate
Everyone knows chocolate is toxic to pets and is typically more of a hazard to dogs. Like their owners, many dogs have a sweet tooth. This coupled with a great nose and a fierce sense of determination and you can see how easy it is for dogs to find and consume chocolate and chocolate containing products around the house …hidden or not. Cats will consume chocolate, too, but far less frequently than dogs.
The most toxic components in chocolate are theobromine and caffeine and the level of toxicity after consumption is based on the type and quantity of chocolate consumed. Different types of chocolate have varying amount of the toxic elements. Dark chocolate and baking chocolates contain the highest concentration and pose the greatest risk. Lesser concentration of the toxic elements are found in milk and white chocolates. Early clinical signs include vomiting and diarrhea and, depending on the type and amount of chocolate consumed, can progress to trembling, anxiety and incoordination. If your pet ingests chocolate, consult with your veterinarian. They should be able to easily determine the risk to your pet based on the type and amount of chocolate ingested.
Fertilizers
As the green thumbers among us work diligently in their rose and flower gardens this spring, be aware of the risk fertilizers pose to our pet.
Blood Meal
This fertilizer is made from dried, ground, and flash-frozen blood, and has a nitrogen content of about 12%. While it’s a great and effective organic fertilizer, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea when consumed. More importantly, it can result in severe inflammation of the pancreas, a condition called pancreatitis. Some types of blood meal are fortified with iron, posing a risk for iron toxicity when consumed.
Bone Meal
This organic fertilizer is made from processed, dried, and flash-frozen bones that are ground to a powder. The “bone” ingredient is what makes it so appealing to your dog. Dogs are exposed by digging in and consuming the soil where this fertilizer has been distributed. In large amounts, bone meal can cause a fierce case of constipation, even posing a significant risk for intestinal obstruction, which could require surgery.
Rose and Plant Fertilizers
Some of these fertilizers contain disulfoton, and organophosphate. Other organophosphates (OP) can also be a component in plant fertilizers. A nearly 60-pound dog can die from consuming as little as a teaspoon of 1% disulfoton. Organophosphates are notorious for causing a series of clinical symptoms referred to as SLUD – salivation, lacrimation, urination, and defecation. Some cases of organophosphate toxicity can prove to be fatal. Early assessment and appropriate treatment are instrumental for survival.
Pesticides and Insecticides
Veterinary practices frequently field calls from concerned owners regarding animal exposure to a pesticide or insecticide. Most of these types of products are basic irritants to pets and are not usually a big concern. Some products could contain organophosphates and exposure and ingestion can cause SLUD signs. It’s never a bad idea to consult with your veterinarian if your pet has ingested an insecticide or pesticide.
The best approach for any pet owner is to educate themselves regarding the risk of toxins in and around the home and keep all Easter edibles and non-edibles up and away from your pets. Always report possible toxin ingestion to your veterinarian. Be safe and have a wonderful springtime.
Dr. Scott Gibbs is the primary veterinarian and owner at Hilltop Animal Hospital in Fuquay-Varina.
