On average, more than 100,000 cases of pet poisoning are recorded in the country. Pets can end up being exposed to toxins in very many forms, and this can end up causing major health issues, including failure of the organs or fatality. Some of the common poisons that pets have known to be exposed to are medications, human food, and household substances.
While not all toxins have the same or immediate effect, they can end up causing damage in the long run when left untreated. A pet owner needs to be proactive about checking out the environment around your pet to ensure there are no chances of pet positioning.
What are the main symptoms of pet toxicity?
The symptoms that each pet shows will be based on different factors, including the type of pet, the breed, and the poison they have been exposed to. Below is a list of the most common symptoms that pets exhibit as a result of toxicity.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms
This is when the pet exhibits vomiting and loss of appetite. This could be a result of eating paint, food from the garbage, or even toxic plants. English Ivy and English Holly are two highly toxic plants for pets. Other toxic plants include Chinaberry, daphne, iris, pokeweed, and poinsettia. Another well-known symptom of gastrointestinal disruption from toxicity is diarrhea. - Neurological symptoms
Some of the most common and equally well-known reasons for seizures or other neurologic symptoms in pets is due to toxicity caused by tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, strychnine, aspirin, antidepressants, gasoline, dishwasher detergent, furniture polish, flea repellents, insecticides, and drain cleaners. Exposure to certain spiders, snakes, toads, and frogs can also end up causing seizures. Some known plants that easily end up causing toxicity in pets are buckeyes and chestnuts. - Bleeding and anemia symptoms
A common set of symptoms under this category, when pets are exposed to toxicity, is nosebleeds, anemia, bruising, and the presence of blood in the pet’s stool. Most commonly, these symptoms occur when exposed to mouse or rat poison. Other triggers are due to sweet clover, bracken fern, and onions, and garlic; they can end up causing even fatality in pets. - Heart symptoms
When a pet is exposed to toxicity, some of the heart-related symptoms that it can showcase include cardiac symptoms and irregular heart rhythm. This can be toxicity that is caused as a result of medication and certain specific kinds of plants, including milkweed, mountain laurel, oleander, kalanchoe, and jimson weed. - Kidney and liver symptoms
Both the kidney and liver become easily damaged when exposed to toxicity. The symptoms will usually include the inability to urinate. This can be caused by very many plants (even houseplants) and exposure to certain medications such as Tylenol.
The amount of toxicity consumed by a pet determines the impact it will have on their body. It is certainly not easy to keep track of the environment at all times, but if you see your pet exhibiting sudden unexplained symptoms, then it is best to immediately consult a vet to ensure that this is not a serious issue.
