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Insecticides are commonly used in our homes, in our gardens and even in topical tick solutions for our pets. While they do a great job of ridding ourselves of the pesky intruders, insecticides can also cause severe damage to our pets if ingested.

• Amitraz: Used in some brands of dog tick collars and topical solutions, symptoms begin within two to six hours of ingestion and include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, disorientation and possible coma.
• Carbamate insecticides: Typically used on crops and soils, these prevent and treat flea infestations and are also found in ant and roach baits. Can affect the nerve-muscle junctions in cats and dogs. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, difficulty breathing, muscle tremors, twitching, weakness and paralysis.
• Metaldehyde: Found in garden products used to kill snails and slugs, causes rapid onset of neurological symptoms one to four hours after exposure, such as repeated seizures and a high body temperature.
• Strychnine: A toxin used to control rats, moles and other predators, can be extremely toxic to the neurological system and cause death in dogs when ingested. Has an adverse affect on the muscles that stimulate breathing.

Deadly Flea Products
Some flea products are deadlier than the fleas themselves. Many over-the-counter treatments contain the toxins pyrethrin and permethrin, an insecticide commonly used to kill fleas on dogs. Applying too much can cause toxic signs such as drooling, lethargy, muscle tremors, vomiting and seizures. Bathe pets in lukewarm water using mild dish soap. Avoid hot water (can dilate blood vessels and increase absorption of the flea product) and flea shampoo. Before buying a topical flea product, ask your veterinarian which ones are safe for your pet.

Taking The Bait
Without a cat in the house, some dog owners kill rats the old-fashioned way: with rat bait. Unfortunately, curious dogs find the sweet, crunchy pellets just as tasty and succumb to kidney failure. If your pet eats rat bait, don’t throw away the package! It’s critical to know if the bait has Vit D rodenticide or anticoagulant rodenticide; the treatments are very different. Accidental ingestion may develop a bleeding disorder, neurological problems, gastrointestinal distress, kidney failure, or death.

Further Reading :
A Survival Tail
Treating an accidental poisoning quickly can save your pet’s life.

The Wrath Of Grapes
As few as seven grapes can be toxic to dogs.

Learn more about VPI Pet Insurance:
Dog insurance, Cat insurance, What’s covered, Get a quote