Poisons

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

Some time ago Leigh asked for a list of plants that are know to be 
toxic.  This might be something you all might want to print off and put in 
your puppy books:

From: http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/medical-info.02.html#HD

Poisons
If you need to induce vomiting, first make sure that it's appropriate to do 
so. Don't induce vomiting
·	more than two hours after ingesting problematic substance
·	when the substance is an acid, alkali, solvent, or petroleum product, as 
it will do as much damage on the way up as it did the way down
·	when dog is comatose or very depressed
To induce vomiting:
·	1 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide per 30lbs body weight; give once, repeat 
after ten minutes; don't administer more than three times; some dogs will 
drool and look miserable before vomiting
·	1 teaspoon syrup of Ipecac per 10lbs body weight; works quickly
·	1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt placed far back on the tongue or dissolved in 1 oz 
water; do not repeat dosage; dry mustard powder (s ame instructions) may be 
substituted
Local Poison Control Centers
Check the emergency room of the local hospital and ask for the number of 
the local Poison Control Center. You should have this number up on the 
refrigerator alongside the vet's number and the emergency care number.
National Animal Poison Control Center
The National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC) provides a 24-hour 
emergency hotline that every dog owner should keep in plain sight. The 
hotline numbers are (800)548-2423 and (900)680-0000. The 800 number 
requires a credit card number and charges a flat $30; the 900 number is 
$2.95 per minute for a maximum of $30.
The NAPCC is a non-profit service of the University of Illinois and is the 
first animal-oriented poison center in the United States. Since 1978, it 
has provided advice to animal owners and conferred with veterinarians about 
poisoning exposures. The NAPCC's phones are answered by licensed 
veterinarians and board-certified veterinary toxicologists. They have 
specialized information that lets the experienced NAPCC staff make specific 
recommendations for your animals; plus over 250,000 records are in their 
database.
When you call, be ready to provide:
·	Your name, address, and phone number;
·	If calling the 800 number, your credit card number;
·	The species, breed, age, sex, weight, and number of animals involved;
·	The poison your animals have been exposed to, if known;
·	Information concerning the poisoning (the amount of poison, the time 
since exposure, etc.); and
·	The problems your animals are experiencing.
Household products and plants are the most common culprits in poisoning 
cases. In the case of poisoning from household products, many companies 
cover the costs the pet owners incur when it has been determined that their 
product is responsible for the reaction.
For further information, write to: The American Humane Association, 63 
Inverness Drive East, Englewood, CO 80112-5117, or call (303) 792-9900.
Foods
Chocolate, tea, coffee, cola:
It is not chocolate itself that is poisonous to dogs, it is the 
theobromine, a naturally occuring compound found in chocolate. Theobromine 
causes different reactions to different dogs: dogs with health problems, 
especially epilepsy, are more affected by theobromine than healthy dogs. 
Theobromine can trigger epileptic seizures in dogs prone to or at risk of 
epilepsy. The size of the dog will also be a major factor: the smaller the 
dog, the more affected it is by the same amount than a larger dog. 
Therefore, toxicity is described on a mg/Kg basis.
Furthermore, theobromine can cause cardiac irregularity, especially if the 
dog becomes excited. Cardiac arythmia can precipitate a myocardial infarct 
which can kill the dog.
Theobromine also irritates the GI tract and in some dogs can cause internal 
bleeding which in some cases kills them a day or so later.
Theobromine is also present in differing amounts in different kinds of 
chocolate. milk chocolate has 44-66 mg/oz, dark chocolate 450 mg/oz and 
baking/bitter chocolate or cocoa powder varies as much as 150-600 mg/oz. 
How much chocolate a dog can survive depends on its weight (and other 
unknown circumstances). Under 200 mg theobromine per kg body weight no 
deaths have been observed.
Theobromine will stay in the bloodstream between 14 and 20 hours. It goes 
back into the bloodstream through the stomach lining and takes a long time 
for the liver to filter out.
Within two hours of ingestion, try inducing vomiting unless your dog is 
markedly stimulated, comatose, or has lost the gag reflex. If your dog has 
eaten a considerable amount of chocolate, or displays any of the above 
symptoms, take it to the vet without delay.
In the absence of major symptoms, administer activated charcoal. The 
unabsorbed theobromine will chemically bond to this and be eliminated in 
the feces. In pinch, burnt (as in thoroughly burnt, crumbling in hand) 
toast will do.
Nuts:
Walnuts are poisonous to dogs and should be avoided. In particular, there 
is a type of fungus common to walnuts (especially wet deadfall walnuts) 
that will cause severe episodes of seizuring. Many nuts are not good for 
dogs in general, their high phosporous content is said to possibly lead to 
bladder stones.
Misc:
Onions, especially raw onions, have been shown to trigger hemolytic anemia 
in dogs. (Stephen J Ettinger, D.V.M and Edward C. Fieldman, D.V.M. 's book: 
Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine vol. 2 pg 1884.) Also: "Six Cases 
of Heinz Body Haemolytic Anaemia Induced by Onion and/or Garlic Ingestion" 
- CM Edwards and CJ Belford Aust.Vet.Prac. 26 (1) March 1996, 18-22.
Potato poisonings among people and dogs have occurred. Solanum alkaloids 
can be found in in green sprouts and green potato skins, which occurs when 
the tubers are exposed to sunlight during growth or after harvest. The 
relatively rare occurrence of actual poisoning is due to several factors: 
solanine is poorly absorbed; it is mostly hydrolyzed into less toxic 
solanidinel; and the metabolites are quickly eliminated. Note that cooked, 
mashed potatoes are fine for dogs, actually quite nutritious and digestible.
Turkey skin is currently thought to cause acute pancreatis in dogs.
Poisonous houseplants
In assessing the risk to your dog from these plants, you need to consider 
both the age of your dog and it's propensity to chew on plants. Many of the 
below toxic plants rarely cause problems because most dogs don't chew them 
-- the exceptions being, of course, young puppies who are inclined to 
explore the world with their mouths, teething dogs who may chew on 
everything, and older dogs that are simply fond of chewing. Oleander, for 
example, is rather toxic, but most cases of poisoning involve 1) cattle, 
other grazing livestock 2) puppies and 3) human babies/toddlers.
Dumb cane is probably the one plant that should always be kept out of 
reach, since it takes only one nibble to have a potentially fatal situation.
(from Carlson & Giffin.)
·	That give rash after contact with the skin or mouth:
(mums might produce dermatitis)
        chrysanthemum        poinsettia           creeping fig
        weeping fig          spider mum           pot mum

·	Irritating (toxic oxalates), especially the mouth gets swollen; tongue 
pain; sore lips; some swell so quickly a tracheotomy is needed before 
asphyxiation:
        arrowhead vine       majesty              boston ivy
        neththytis ivy       colodium             pathos
        emerald duke         red princess         heart leaf (philodendron)
        split leaf (phil.)   saddle leaf (phil.)  marble queen

·	Toxic plants - may contain wide variety of poisons. Most cause vomiting, 
abdominal pain, cramps. Some cause tremors, heart and respiratory and/or 
kidney problems, which are difficult for owner to interpret:
        amaryllis            elephant ears        pot mum
        asparagus fern       glocal ivy           ripple ivy
        azalea               heart ivy            spider mum
        bird of paradise     ivy                  sprangeri fern
        creeping charlie     jerusalem cherry     umbrella plant
        crown of thorns      needlepoint ivy

Poisonous outdoor plants
(from Carlson & Giffin.)
·	Produce vomiting and diarrhea in some cases:
     delphinium           poke weed            indian tobacco
     daffodil             bittersweet woody    wisteria
     castor bean          ground cherry        soap berry
     indian turnip        fox glove            skunk cabbage
     larkspur

·	May produce vomiting, abdominal pain, and in some cases diarrhea
     horse chestnut buckeye   western yew      apricot, almond
     rain tree monkey pod     english holly    peach, cherry
     privet                   wild cherry      mock orange
     japanese plum            american yew     bird of paradise
     balsam pear              english yew      black locust

·	Varied toxic effect
     rhubarb               buttercup           moonseed
     spinach               nightshade          may apple
     sunburned potatoes    poison hemolock     dutchman's breeches
     tomato vine           jimson weed         mescal bean
     loco weed             pig weed            angel's trumpet
     lupine                water hemlock       jasmine
     dologeton             mushrooms           matrimony vine
     dumb cane

·	Hallucinogens
     marijuana             periwinkle          morning glory
     peyote                nutmeg              loco weed

·	Convulsions
     china berry           nux vomica          coriaria
     water hemlock         moon weed

Poisonous household items
Acetaminophen           	Laxatives
AntiFreeze			Lead
Aspirin				Lye
Bleach				Matches
Boric Acid			Metal Polish
Brake Fluid			Mineral Spirits
Carbon Monoxide			Mothballs
Carbuerator Cleaner		Nail Polish and Remover
Christmas Tinsel		Paint & Remover			
Cleaning Fluid			Perm Solutions
Deoderants/Deoderizers		Phenol
Detergents			Photo Developer
Disinfectants			Rat Poison
Drain Cleaner			Rubbing Alcohol
Dye				Shoe Polish
Fungicides			Sleeping Pills
Furniture Polish		Soaps
Gasoline			Suntan Lotions
Hair Colorings			Tar
Herbicides			Turpentine
Insecticides			Windshield Fluid
Kerosene			Woodstains

Poisonous animals
Bufo toads. Found in various areas, especially in south Florida. Very 
poisonous -- it can kill a small dog in a matter of minutes. It burns the 
mucous membrane of the mouth (gums) which is why they drool and foam, and 
that's also how it enters the bloodstream. It kills by elevating the heart 
rate and blood pressure to deadly levels, similar to the effects of 
chocolate. There is an antidote and the effects can be lessened if you 
immediately flush the dog's mouth with water before taking it to the vet.