Laurie Anne Walden, DVM![]() Your pet has swallowed an object, something toxic, or medication intended for another animal or a person. Should you try to make your pet vomit? Here are the short answers:
If your pet has been exposed to something that might be dangerous, seek veterinary advice before giving any treatments at home. Call your veterinarian’s office, a local emergency clinic, or an animal poison control hotline:
Animal poison control services have a consultation fee, but calling is usually well worth the cost because their consultants are veterinary professionals with extra training in toxicology and access to specialized information. Cats None of the products that might be used to induce vomiting at home are safe for cats. All of the possible home remedies given by mouth (like hydrogen peroxide) can severely damage a cat’s esophagus and stomach. At the veterinary clinic, we use injectable drugs to induce vomiting in cats. These drugs have some additional effects, like sedation, that need to be monitored and possibly reversed with other medications. Cats don’t always vomit even after receiving these drugs, so they might need other decontamination methods. The veterinary joke (we love cats so we tease them where they can’t hear) is that cats vomit when you don’t want them to but don’t vomit when you do want them to. Still, injectable medications given at a clinic are safe and usually effective for inducing vomiting in cats. Dogs The only vomit inducer that can be given by mouth and is safe for dogs (in some cases, not all) is 3% hydrogen peroxide. It’s sensible to keep a fresh bottle of peroxide on hand if you have a dog. But don’t use it unless a veterinarian tells you to. Making an animal vomit can be dangerous:
Never give a dog salt, syrup of ipecac, oil, or mustard to try to induce vomiting; these are all unsafe for dogs. Don’t try to induce gagging by putting a finger or object down a dog’s throat—it’s not likely to work and would put you at risk of being bitten. To induce vomiting in dogs at the veterinary clinic, we use drugs given by injection or as eye drops. Dogs that receive these drugs need to be monitored and might need other medications to reverse the effects. Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/selective-focus-photography-of-dog-lying-on-ground-uKtvYMGe8ls Laurie Anne Walden, DVM![]() Cats are at risk of severe illness and death if they are infected with bird flu (highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus, type H5N1). The H5N1 influenza virus has been spreading worldwide for the past few years. An outbreak among poultry and dairy cattle in the United States has caused the deaths of millions of domestic poultry and led to recalls of raw meat–based pet diets and raw milk. Cats that have died from H5N1 infection in the United States have been infected by eating raw meat products or by drinking raw milk. Avian influenza viruses start in migratory waterfowl like ducks and geese, who spread these viruses without getting sick themselves. Influenza viruses typically spread next to domestic poultry: chickens and turkeys. Mutations let influenza viruses jump to new species, including mammalian species like cows, pigs, cats, and humans. The H5N1 virus has spread to all of these species (1 person infected by contact with birds has died, but at this time transmission to humans is rare). Cats are at higher risk than dogs of becoming seriously ill if they are infected with H5N1 virus. All felines—domestic cats and big cats—are at risk. So far, H5N1 infections have been confirmed in indoor cats, barn cats, wild cats like bobcats and mountain lions, and captive big cats like tigers. How Cats Are Infected Cats are infected with H5N1 flu virus in these ways:
Raw Diets Carrying the Most Risk Raw diets containing poultry—chicken, turkey, or duck—are the biggest risk. Because H5N1 virus has also infected dairy cows, it’s possible (but less likely) for raw diets containing beef to be contaminated if these products contain meat from dairy cows. Frozen and freeze-dried poultry products are also a risk. Freezing and freeze drying are unlikely to kill influenza viruses because these methods are used to preserve viruses for research purposes, according to Dr Scott Weese, a zoonotic disease expert at the University of Guelph. High-pressure pasteurization (as opposed to high-heat cooking) is used for some commercial raw diets, but this method doesn’t always inactivate pathogens. High-pressure pasteurized diets have been recalled because of Salmonella contamination, and some could be contaminated with influenza virus. For more information about raw diets and the H5N1 virus, see Dr Weese’s article on the Worms and Germs website: https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2025/01/articles/animals/cats/h5n1-influenza-raw-diets-and-petsan-overview/ Signs of Infection in Cats Cats infected with H5N1 influenza virus show respiratory signs similar to flu in humans. They can also develop neurologic signs that mimic rabies and other nervous system disorders. These are some of the signs in cats:
Diagnosis and Treatment Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a reportable disease, so veterinarians collaborate with public health officials to test cats suspected of having H5N1 infection. The diagnostic tests chosen depend on the cat’s clinical signs. If the signs are compatible with rabies, the cat might have to be euthanized for rabies testing (always keep your pets’ rabies vaccinations up to date to reduce this risk). Treatment is mostly supportive care. Antiviral medications to treat H5N1 infection have not been tested in many cats yet. The prognosis for cats that are sick with H5N1 influenza is poor. How to Keep Cats and People Safe At this time, the H5N1 virus has not been shown to spread from cats to humans or from humans to other humans. Still, the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends taking these precautions:
If you think your cat might have H5N1 influenza, take these steps:
For More Information
Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/49446130417/ Laurie Anne Walden, DVM![]() Medications used to treat attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are commonly prescribed for humans, so pets are at risk of accidental exposure. Swallowing even a small amount of these medications can cause severe and possibly life-threatening problems for animals. However, most animals recover if they are treated promptly. If your pet has chewed or swallowed an ADHD medication, contact a veterinary clinic or animal poison control hotline right away:
Types of Medications Most ADHD medications are stimulants that increase levels of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain. These medications typically contain either amphetamines or methylphenidate. Amphetamines and methylphenidate are controlled substances. They are in legal prescription medications used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy and are also in some illegal drugs. These are some brand names of prescription drugs that contain amphetamines or methylphenidate:
Illegal drugs that contain these substances include crystal meth, ecstasy, and methamphetamine. Signs In dogs and cats, amphetamines and methylphenidate cause problems with the nervous system, heart, lungs, and digestive system. These are some of the signs:
Treatment Animals with amphetamine or methylphenidate exposure usually need to be hospitalized at a 24-hour facility. Treatment includes decontamination (removing or inactivating drug that’s still in the stomach, if possible and safe for the animal), medications to treat the neurologic and cardiovascular effects, and supportive care such as intravenous fluid therapy and body temperature regulation. If your pet has swallowed one of these medications, don’t try to induce vomiting at home unless a veterinarian has instructed you to do so. Making a pet vomit is not safe in some situations, depending on the species (don’t give peroxide to a cat!) and the pet’s clinical signs. Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/adorable-yorkshire-terrier-in-autumn-leaves-29056473/ Laurie Anne Walden, DVM![]() Over-the-counter (nonprescription) pain medications can cause serious problems for dogs and cats. Because these medications don’t need a prescription and are used for children as well as adults, some pet owners mistakenly believe that they’re safe for animals too. But dogs and cats don’t process these drugs the same way as humans. If your pet has signs of pain, call your veterinarian instead of giving your pet something from your medicine cabinet. Prescription pain medications developed specifically for dogs and cats are safer and more effective for them than over-the-counter human medications. In any case, animals that have a level of pain high enough to be obvious to a human need to see a veterinarian. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen) The most common human nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) available without a prescription are aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Some brand names are Advil, Aleve, Ascriptin, Bayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin, Midol, and Motrin. In animals, NSAIDs can cause these problems:
NSAIDs reduce inflammation by blocking the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which are responsible for prostaglandin production. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances with many functions; they’re involved in the inflammatory response and also protect the stomach lining and maintain blood flow to the kidneys. Because NSAIDs decrease prostaglandin levels, these medications decrease inflammation and pain. However, the lower prostaglandin levels can also cause serious adverse effects like stomach ulcers and kidney damage. Some newer NSAIDs target specific COX enzymes and prostaglandins that are less likely to affect the stomach and kidneys. Several NSAIDs have been approved for use in dogs, and a few are available for cats. Examples are carprofen, grapiprant, deracoxib, and robenacoxib. These species-specific drugs are available only by prescription from a veterinarian and are less likely than human NSAIDs to cause adverse effects in dogs and cats. Animals receiving prescription NSAIDs need regular examinations and bloodwork to monitor kidney and liver function. Acetaminophen Brands containing acetaminophen include Tylenol, Panadol, Excedrin, and Midol. Some pain relievers labeled “complete” or “dual action” contain acetaminophen plus aspirin or ibuprofen. Acetaminophen is also called paracetamol. Acetaminophen is highly toxic and often fatal to cats. Acetaminophen is also potentially toxic to dogs, but it can be used in dogs with caution and veterinary oversight. In humans and dogs, acetaminophen is broken down mainly in the liver through a process called glucuronidation. A toxic dose of acetaminophen in a human or a dog damages liver cells and causes liver failure. Cats don’t have the enzymes needed for glucuronidation, so their bodies break down acetaminophen through a different process called sulfation. The sulfation process in cats creates products that react to hemoglobin, the substance within red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. In cats, acetaminophen exposure causes anemia and life-threatening oxygen deficiency. Cats that swallow acetaminophen are less likely than dogs to develop liver failure because they usually die of oxygen deficiency before the liver has a chance to fail. An antidote to acetaminophen (N-acetylcysteine) is available, so dogs and even cats with acetaminophen poisoning can recover if they are treated immediately at an emergency veterinary clinic. For More Information Get the Facts About Pain Relievers for Pets (US Food and Drug Administration): https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/get-facts-about-pain-relievers-pets Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/round-white-pills-iPl3q-gEGzY Laurie Anne Walden, DVM![]() Cases of infectious respiratory disease in dogs have received media attention in the last couple of weeks. We don’t yet know what’s causing these illnesses or whether the reported cases are true outbreaks. However, there is no doubt that dogs can be exposed to a variety of infectious organisms, mostly affecting the respiratory and gastrointestinal (digestive) systems, when they’re around other dogs. Take steps to reduce your dog’s risk if your dog goes to group settings like these:
Dogs in animal shelters are at especially high risk because incoming animals are likely to be carrying infections, overcrowding is common, and stress can blunt the immune response. Infectious disease agents—viruses, bacteria, parasites, and so forth—are spread in 5 main ways: by direct contact, through the air, by mouth, by vectors (mosquitoes, ticks, and other animals), and on objects (water bowls, shoes, etc). Dogs in group settings can be exposed through any of these routes. Infectious Respiratory Disease Canine infectious respiratory disease complex, also called kennel cough, is caused by a wide range of viruses and bacteria, like canine parainfluenza virus, canine influenza virus, and Bordetella bronchiseptica. These infectious agents are carried in respiratory secretions and transmitted by direct contact with an infected dog, through the air, or on contaminated objects. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. Most dogs have mild illness and recover, but some develop pneumonia. Vaccines are available for some of the agents that cause respiratory disease. Infectious Gastrointestinal Disease Canine parvovirus is highly contagious among dogs. Infection is often fatal but can be prevented with vaccination. A number of other viruses, bacteria, and protozoa that cause gastrointestinal disease are contagious among dogs. These agents are shed in feces, so transmission is generally by direct contact, by mouth, or on contaminated objects. Symptoms are related to the digestive tract: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and so forth. Raw meat is a source of bacterial infection (E coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, etc). Dogs that eat raw meat can shed these bacteria in their feces without showing any symptoms, and other dogs that have contact with the feces can become infected. Parasites Intestinal parasites—most often hookworms and roundworms—are common in dogs that aren’t receiving regular parasite prevention medication. These worms are contagious to other dogs (and people) through feces. External parasites like fleas and ticks are vectors that spread infectious diseases to dogs and people. Some of these diseases, like bartonellosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease, can be quite serious. Dogs can also catch fleas and mange mites directly from other dogs. How to Reduce Your Dog’s Risk
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/black-and-tan-german-shepherd-and-brown-and-black-german-shepherd-mix-dogs-on-brown-field-Z-lEcNOfWMI Laurie Anne Walden, DVM![]() Warm weather brings some extra risks for pets. Some animals need protection from sunlight, and all animals need protection from hot temperatures. Sun-Related Skin Conditions Ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight causes skin damage in animals just like it does in humans. Fur and melanin (dark pigment) protect the skin from UV rays, so animals with short white hair or no hair are at higher risk than those with thick dark fur. Most animals with sun-related skin disease spend a lot of time outdoors, but even indoor cats can develop skin disease caused by UV rays coming through windows. Sun-related skin damage typically affects areas of the body that don’t have thick fur and are exposed to the sun. Any part of the body with thin or light-colored hair can be involved, but these are the most common areas:
Solar dermatitis, also called actinic dermatitis, is skin disease caused by exposure to UV radiation. It can be mistaken for allergic skin disease because the lesions are similar and it is often seasonal. Affected skin is red, painful to the touch, and scaly or flaky. Bumps and oozy lesions might develop. Over time, the skin becomes thickened and scarred. Because solar dermatitis usually causes a secondary skin infection, the lesions might improve with antibiotics, at least at first. UV radiation causes mutations within skin cells, so solar dermatitis can transform into skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma or hemangiosarcoma, for example). These cancers are malignant: they can spread throughout the body. Solar dermatitis and skin cancer are diagnosed with skin biopsy. Heat Stroke Heat stroke is a life-threatening risk to animals during warm weather. Unlike solar dermatitis and skin cancer, it doesn’t require direct exposure to UV rays. The outdoor temperature doesn’t even have to be very hot for an animal to develop heat stroke. The temperature inside a parked car quickly rises higher than the outside temperature, so animals inside parked cars are at risk even in moderately warm weather. Brachycephalic (short-nosed) animals like pugs and bulldogs are at especially high risk. Signs of heat stroke include panting, dark red or purple gums, vomiting, collapse, and seizures. Heat stroke requires immediate first aid (cooling with water, not ice) and emergency veterinary care. For more information, see the blog post on heat stroke. How to Protect Your Pet The best way to protect animals is to minimize their exposure to UV rays and heat:
Sources
Image source: Elisa Kennemer on Unsplash Laurie Anne Walden, DVM![]() Animal exposures to marijuana have increased dramatically in recent years. As more states legalize medical or recreational marijuana for human use, more pets are likely to have access to cannabis products. To keep things clear, here are a few terms used to describe cannabis products:
Sources of Exposure Edible products account for most THC exposures in pets. Edible products made with butter or oil infused with medical-grade marijuana have a high concentration of THC. Edible products can also contain other ingredients, like chocolate and xylitol, that are dangerous for animals. Cannabis plants are also a risk for animals. The THC content of cultivated C sativa has increased over time and varies among plants, so it’s hard to know just how much THC an animal that eats part of a cannabis plant or inhales the smoke has received. Vaping devices containing CBD, THC, or synthetic cannabinoids have caused toxicosis in animals. Animals have also been poisoned by eating marijuana in discarded cannabis products and—this one is gross—human feces. CBD products have been reported to cause poisoning in animals. It’s possible that the toxic effects were caused by contamination with THC or another substance, not the CBD itself, but the effects of CBD on animals are still being investigated. Another concern with CBD is that it might interact with prescribed medications, possibly affecting liver function. Signs Marijuana toxicosis makes animals sick but is rarely fatal. However, 2 dogs have died after eating baked goods containing medical-grade marijuana butter. Signs of poisoning start within a few minutes to several hours after exposure, depending on the type of exposure. These are some of the signs of marijuana toxicosis in animals:
Exposure to THC or synthetic cannabinoids can also cause changes in heart rate, inability to regulate body temperature, aggression, seizures, and coma. Diagnosis Over-the-counter human urine tests for marijuana don’t work well in dogs and tend to return either false-positive or false-negative results. The diagnosis of marijuana toxicosis is usually based on clinical signs, although many diseases and other toxins can cause the same signs. Knowing that an animal could have been exposed to marijuana certainly makes the diagnosis easier, but owners aren’t always willing to tell a veterinarian that their pet had access to a cannabis product. Treatment Whether an animal with marijuana poisoning needs to be hospitalized depends on the severity of the signs. Treatment is mostly supportive care, with medication used as needed to treat specific problems (like heart rate abnormalities). Inducing vomiting can be unsafe, so an animal that has eaten a cannabis product might need to be sedated so the stomach can be emptied through a tube. The prognosis is usually good for animals with marijuana poisoning. The risk is higher for animals exposed to medical-grade marijuana products or synthetic cannabinoids. Sources
Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nida-nih/28147221034/in/photostream/ Laurie Anne Walden, DVM![]() Spring is the start of snake season in North Carolina. The vast majority of snakes in our state are harmless. Only a few venomous snake species (copperheads, cottonmouths, rattlesnakes, and coral snakes) live in North Carolina. In the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, the copperhead is by far the most common venomous snake. Learn to recognize copperheads. Copperheads have a distinctive hourglass pattern that from the side looks like a row of Hershey’s kisses. It’s easier to identify a copperhead by its markings than by the shape of its head or pupils. Head shape isn’t a reliable way to tell if a snake is venomous; some nonvenomous snakes can flatten their heads to mimic a pit viper’s triangular head. As for pupil shape (round vs vertical slits)—seriously, just don’t get close enough to a wild snake to check. You can see photos of North Carolina snakes on the Herps of NC website: https://herpsofnc.org/snakes/. You’ll notice that copperheads and also a lot of nonvenomous snakes are brown with splotches. This color combination is common because it’s great camouflage, but unfortunately it means that nonvenomous snakes are often mistaken for copperheads. Don’t worry too much about identifying a snake that’s bitten your dog. Treatment is based more on symptoms than on snake species, and it’s more important to get your dog to an emergency clinic without delay. If you want to identify a snake you’ve seen outdoors, take a photo so you can look it up online, but don’t approach or disturb the snake. Dogs get bitten because they’re curious, not because snakes are aggressive attack animals. Snakes hide in small spaces where they’re relatively safe from predators and can find food (mostly small rodents like mice). Woodpiles, tarps, underbrush, tall grass, leaf litter, rock crevices, and yard debris are all possible snake habitats. Snakes bite for defense. A dog that steps on a snake or sticks its nose into a snake’s hiding place can be bitten. Because of their color camouflage, copperheads are hard to spot. You and your dog might not even know a copperhead is there unless it bites one of you. Avoid snake areas. If you see a snake, leave it alone and walk away. Here are some ways to reduce your dog’s chance of a snake encounter:
If your dog is bitten, seek emergency veterinary care right away. Copperhead venom isn’t as toxic as cottonmouth or rattlesnake venom, but a copperhead bite can still be quite serious for a dog. Copperhead bites are very painful and cause swelling and tissue damage. The venom can also interfere with blood clotting. Dogs with snakebite are usually hospitalized for pain management, intravenous fluids, wound care, supportive care, and observation. Copperhead bites aren’t often treated with antivenin, but dogs with severe symptoms might need it. If your dog is bitten, stay calm and take your dog to an emergency clinic. Don’t use ice, a tourniquet, or anything to remove venom from the wound; all of these can make the tissue damage worse. Leave the snake alone. If you try to catch or kill it, you could be bitten too. CDC image source: https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=10841 Laurie Anne Walden, DVM![]() Laundry and dish detergents contain chemicals that are unsafe for animals. Detergent pods pose a bigger risk than bottled liquid detergents or detergent powders. Toxic Ingredients Detergents contain anionic and nonionic surfactants, which lift dirt and oil off of surfaces and fabrics. These types of surfactants cause mild irritation to the skin and eyes. If swallowed, they can cause vomiting. Fabric softeners, disinfectants, and sanitizing solutions sometimes contain cationic surfactants, which are more corrosive than anionic and nonionic surfactants. Cats are especially sensitive to cationic surfactants. Direct contact can injure the skin, and cats that lick these products from their paws or fur can also have damage to the mouth and digestive tract. Some detergents are alkaline (they have a high pH, the opposite of acids). Concentrated alkaline products damage the stomach if swallowed. Detergents might also contain ethanol and other potentially toxic ingredients. Detergent Pods Animals (mainly dogs) that bite detergent pods are at higher risk than animals that lick liquid detergents or detergent powders. Even when the ingredients are similar, the consequences of exposure are more serious with detergent packaged in pods. Detergent in pods is concentrated and under pressure. When a tooth punctures a pod, the detergent sprays the inside of the mouth, from where it is swallowed, inhaled into the lungs, or both. Animals that lick spilled liquid detergent aren’t likely to consume very much of it because it doesn’t taste good. In comparison, dogs that bite detergent pods get a larger dose of product at a higher concentration. The most severe effects of detergent exposure are lung inflammation and pneumonia, which happen when detergent—or vomit that contains detergent—is inhaled into the lungs. Pneumonia can be fatal, so it’s possible for dogs that chew detergent pods to die. Signs of Detergent Toxicosis
If Your Pet Is Exposed
Sources
Image source: Antonio Jose Cespedes on Pixabay Laurie Anne Walden, DVM![]() Polyurethane glues that expand when they’re exposed to moisture pose a serious risk to dogs that chew the container and swallow even a little bit of the product. Some (not all) Gorilla Glue products are expanding adhesives. Some wood glues, craft glues, general household glues, and construction adhesives also expand when wet. Dogs rarely swallow expanding adhesives, but the potential consequences can be severe. Anything that swells up when it’s wet is hazardous if swallowed. With expanding adhesives, the risk is even greater: these products expand to a size much larger than the amount swallowed and then harden to form a solid mass that can block material from entering or leaving the stomach. Expanding adhesives contain diisocyanates, which are chemicals used to make polyurethane products. Diisocyanates are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb moisture from the air. Glues that contain diisocyanates are used to seal cracks and fill gaps. In the moist, acidic environment of the stomach, products containing diisocyanates expand up to 8 times their original volume. Expansion starts within minutes after the product is swallowed. The hardened mass of glue becomes a foreign object in the stomach. A volume of glue as small as half an ounce can form a mass large enough to cause a blockage.[1] Glue that has cured before being swallowed—has already finished expanding and has formed a solid mass—is much less of a chemical risk, although of course it could still cause an obstruction if a dog managed to swallow a big enough chunk. Diisocyanates also irritate the skin and respiratory system, but these problems are much less common in animals than in people who are exposed to high levels at work. Signs and Diagnosis A mass of glue in the stomach causes the same signs as any other foreign object: vomiting, loss of appetite, painful abdomen, and loss of energy. Glue ingestion is diagnosed, or at least strongly suspected, when a dog is seen swallowing glue, the dog’s owner finds a chewed glue container, or the dog has glue residue on the fur. The mass formed by a diisocyanate glue is visible on radiographs (x-ray images) but can look very similar to food in the stomach. Other imaging tests or a series of radiographs taken over time might be needed to definitely diagnose a foreign object in the stomach. Expanding adhesives don’t stick to the inside of the stomach, luckily. In a study of dogs treated for Gorilla Glue ingestion, the glue irritated the stomach lining and caused ulcers in some dogs but didn’t cause serious damage to the stomach in any dog. The dogs had bloodwork abnormalities similar to those caused by vomiting in general or any type of stomach obstruction. Whether the presence of diisocyanates in the stomach caused any other problems wasn’t clear.[1] Treatment A foreign object that’s causing a stomach obstruction needs to be surgically removed. If a mass of glue seems small enough to pass on its own and the dog doesn’t have any worrisome signs like belly pain, the veterinarian and dog’s owner might decide to watch and wait. What to Do if Your Pet Is Exposed
Reference 1. Friday S, Murphy C, Lopez D, Mayhew P, Holt D. Gorilla Glue ingestion in dogs: 22 cases (2005-2019). J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2021;57(3):121-127. doi:10.5326/JAAHA-MS-7126 |
AuthorLaurie Anne Walden, DVM Categories
All
Archives
March 2025
The contents of this blog are for information only and should not substitute for advice from a veterinarian who has examined the animal. All blog content is copyrighted by Mallard Creek Animal Hospital and may not be copied, reproduced, transmitted, or distributed without permission.
|