Toxicology

Figure 2. Chocolate is available in various forms, as (a) cocoa powder, (b) chocolate bars and (c) boxed chocolates.

Chocolate toxicosis in pets

Chocolate is made from the fermented, dried then roasted beans of Theobroma cacao (Figure 1). After roasting, the shell is removed, and the remaining nibs are ground to cocoa mass which is liquefied...

Figure 2. The salbutamol cannister is typically held in a plastic device for drug delivery by inhalation. This can also be easily broken by a dog when chewing and playing with the inhaler.

Salbutamol toxicosis in dogs

Most cases of salbutamol toxicosis in dogs are due to puncturing an asthma inhaler. In cases where the salbutamol dose was estimated, 0.33–0.72 mg/kg caused restlessness, tachycardia, tachypnoea,...

Figure 2: Christmas cake (a) and Christmas pudding (b) contain dried vine fruits and ingestion can cause acute kidney injury in dogs.

Winter poisoning hazards for pets

A common antifreeze ingredient is ethylene glycol (also known as ethanediol). It is not toxic itself, but is metabolised to toxic compounds by the action of alcohol dehydrogenase. This enzyme oxidises...

Figure 1. Various products are available for slug and snail control in the UK, but this will change as new legislation comes into effect

Molluscicide toxicosis in dogs

Metaldehyde has long been a common ingredient of molluscicide preparations. However, from 31 March 2022 the outdoor use of metaldehyde slug baits has been banned in the UK to protect wildlife and the...

Figure 1. Mouldy food such as bread and particularly dairy products, such as cream cheese, are common and readily accessible sources of tremorgenic mycotoxins in dogs.

Tremorgenic mycotoxicosis in dogs

Mouldy foods, particularly mouldy dairy products (Figure 1), are common sources of tremorgenic mycotoxins (Box 1), but any food waste, including composted waste (Figure 2), rotting, fallen fruits and...

Aflatoxicosis in dogs

Following the huge outbreak in the early 1960s in England, it was suspected that deaths in large numbers of turkey poults in the late 1950s had also been a result of aflatoxicosis. Similarly, a...

Figure 1. Hair loss on the limb of a cat during recovery following exposure to laundry detergent. The container had fallen from a work surface and spilled on the floor near where cats were sleeping. They had detergent on their legs and feet but were not treated promptly and developed chemical burns. One cat was euthanised with severe respiratory signs and the other recovered.

Poisons affecting the skin

Detergents are very common household chemicals. They are found in a variety of cleaning products such as washing up liquids, toilet cleaners and fabric washing products and come in the form of...

Figure 1. Onions and related plants (leeks, garlic, spring onions) can cause haemolytic anaemia in cats and dogs.

Poisons affecting the blood

Anaemia is a reduced number of red blood cells or haemoglobin in the blood and there are three main causes, blood loss (from trauma, for example), decreased red blood cell production or increased red...