Common Household Toxins
There are many resources available covering potential household toxins, but we wanted to elaborate on several of these potentially lesser-known items of concern.
1. Pennies
Pennies seem fairly innocent, however, pennies minted after 1982 contain zinc, which has the potential to damage red blood cells and can lead to anemia. The acids within the stomach digest the copper around the zinc, which can lead to absorption of the zinc. Some signs you may notice at home are lethargy, weakness, pale gums, blood in the urine, or vomiting. If you know that your pet has ingested a penny, x-rays may be done to confirm a penny (or other change!) has been ingested and the penny may need to be removed surgically or via endoscopy.
2. Disc Batteries
Disc batteries are another potential household hazard. When ingested, these batteries can conduct electricity within the gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to necrosis and possible perforation of the gastrointestinal tract. Similar to pennies, a x-ray would need to be taken and the battery would then need to be removed.
3. Marijuana
With the legalization of marijuana, marijuana toxicity has been a much more common emergency seen in veterinary hospitals. Ingestion of any marijuana product can potentially show signs, so it is important to properly store or throw away marijuana products stored in the home. Some signs you may notice at home are hypersalivation, leaking urine, incoordination, abnormal mentation, and potentially seizures. Typically, signs should resolve within the day, but at higher doses we are concerned about low heart and respiratory rates that may affect the cardiovascular status of your pet. With edibles, there is also the concern for chocolate or xylitol toxicity. With any ingestion of marijuana, it is always important to have your pet assessed to see if they are stable or not. Depending on your veterinarian’s exam findings will determine the type of treatment that is needed.
4. Lilies
While Lilies are beautiful they are potentially harmful to our pets, and especially our cats. Some lilies are more toxic than others - “true” lilies, such as Japanese, Stargazer, Easter, Rubrum or Tiger Lily have the potential to cause acute kidney injury in our feline patients. All parts of the plant are toxic including the water in the vase so it is very important to use care if displaying these in your home. If your cat has had any exposure to lilies, no matter how benign you think it is, it is always recommended to have your cat evaluated by a veterinarian to look for signs of kidney injury. Some signs of kidney injury are vomiting, weakness, lethargy, decreased urination, or the inability to urinate. The last two clinical signs are the most severe and indicate extensive kidney injury, where dialysis may be indicated. Treatment includes decontamination (emesis, cleaning the cat of pollen, activated charcoal), and supportive care (fluids and anti-emetics). There are other lilies that are less toxic, such as the Calla, Devil’s, and Peace Lily. These lilies do not cause kidney injury, however, they do contain crystals within the plant part to prevent ingestion by animals in the wild. These types of lilies cause damage to the oral cavity, where you might notice that your pet is drooling, pawing at his or her mouth, or not eating. Typically, the treatment is feeding soft foods and giving pain medications. There are other plants that contain these crystals, such as Philodendrons or Pothos plants.
5. Household Cleaners
Lastly, household cleaners are another potential household hazard. These cleaners are sometimes acidic or basic, which can cause tissue injury. Depending on how your pet was exposed to the products determines the clinical signs we can see. Household cleaners can cause damage to the tissue of the eyes, mouth, gastrointestinal tract or even the respiratory system. The treatment for this is supportive and dependent on the system that is affected. Your veterinarian may recommend giving your dog or cat milk or water to help neutralize the substances. They may also prescribe pain medications to alleviate any pain from the tissue damage. Soft food may also be recommended, if there has been any damage to the esophagus.
As you can see there are many potentially hazardous substances found in our homes. The best way we can treat these exposures is by prevention. This means locking away any hazardous chemicals away from our pets' reach. This blogpost is not a comprehensive list of all the potential pathogens, so if you are ever concerned about something your pet may have been exposed to, we recommend contacting the ASPCA poison control hotline that does consults 24 hours/7 days a week. This service will allow you to better guide whether what your pet has been exposed to is an emergency or not. This will also allow your veterinarian to better dictate the treatment for your pet.
Written by Dr. George