You Think Your Pet's Been Poisoned

What Should You Do? What Should You Not Do?

In the event of a pet poisoning emergency, remain calm. It’s important that you keep a level head so that you can properly assess the situation and communicate clearly with your veterinarian.

Scan the Surroundings

Get a handle on the situation by following these guidelines:

• Safely remove any remaining poisonous material from your pet’s reach.
• Gather the container or substance to bring to the veterinary hospital or to describe to the Pet Poison Helpline expert.
• Collect a sample of any material that your pet may have vomited.

If your pet has ingested something that could be harmful, the prognosis is always better when immediately reported; it’s safer for your pet and less expensive to treat before your pet has developed symptoms. That’s because decontamination (like inducing vomiting, having the stomach pumped, or administering activated charcoal) can only be performed within a narrow window of time.

Even if your pet is not immediately exhibiting signs of poisoning, it’s important to seek professional advice if you suspect that your pet has ingested a poisonous substance. When in doubt, call for help first.

To Vomit or Not To Vomit

Many people assume that they should induce vomiting if their pet has ingested something poisonous. However, forcing your pet to vomit could actually cause more harm or even be dangerous if done improperly or at the wrong time.

Keep these guidelines in mind:

• If your pet is already showing signs of poisoning, it’s too late to induce vomiting.
• If your pet has certain medical problems (like laryngeal paralysis or brachycephalic syndrome), inducing vomiting is not recommended and can make your pet’s condition worse.
• Certain toxins (such as corrosive cleaners and hydrocarbons such as gasoline, paint thinners and kerosene) should NOT be brought back up. Inducing vomiting after the ingestion of a corrosive material may ultimately cause more harm to your pet.

Most important, always seek veterinary advice before administering any kind of treatment yourself.

Home Remedies

In the panic of a poisoning emergency, many people give their pets kitchen staples such as milk, peanut butter, vegetable oil or salt — none of which should ever be given to an animal in distress.

Seemingly “common sense” home remedies should never be administered without veterinary supervision. Pets can experience adverse reactions to even the most “harmless” of remedies given by the most well-intentioned owners. Contact a veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline first!

Transporting a Poisoned Pet

Handling an ill animal requires extra precautions to ensure the safety of both you and your pet. If your pet is sedate, carefully transport him to the car or, better yet, have someone drive while you watch your pet.

In rare circumstances when your pet may have ingested a specific type of gopher or mole poison (zinc phosphide), contact Pet Poison Helpline before attempting to administer first aid, as byproducts of these poisons can be extremely harmful to humans too.

Get Help

If your pet is unconscious, convulsing or having difficulty breathing, go immediately to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital. While they are stabilizing your pet, you can call Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 for treatment guidelines and recommendations.

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