Manning Veterinary Hospital

Household Poisons – Dangerous for unsuspecting pets!

During the course of last year we had several cases of dogs ingesting toxic substances that they had found at home and during their walks. This included snail and rat bait, human medications and even dead toadfish and cane toads! Not only is this dangerous but it can be fatal. If your pet is caught or suspected of swallowing something it shouldn’t, take your pet immediately for Veterinary treatment. Vomiting can be induced. Once the stomach is empty most animals go home without complications depending on the poisons involved.
Sadly not all owners are aware of when their pet has eaten a poisonous substance. The symptoms displayed vary depending on what has been ingested. Some poisons take effect the same day and others will only display symptoms several weeks after being eaten.The symptoms seen by some commonly swallowed poisons include:
Snail pellets: muscle tremors, vomiting, salivating normally within the hour of
ingesting.
Rat & mice bait: Usually no symptoms are seen until a few weeks after ingestion,
these baits cause internal bleeding. Blood may be seen in the animals faeces, from
the gums and severe bruising can occur from any small knock.
Toadfish: muscular paralysis is normally seen hours after ingestion.