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Too much vitamin A can lead to poisoning. Vitamin A poisoning is sometimes diagnosed in dogs that are fed primarily table scraps. There is considerable variability in how susceptible dogs are to this problem. It takes a long time for signs of vitamin A poisoning to develop; symptoms do not usually appear until the dog is at least middle-aged.
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Too much vitamin A can lead to poisoning. Vitamin A poisoning is sometimes diagnosed in cats that are fed primarily table scraps. There is considerable variability in how susceptible cats are to this problem. It takes a long time for signs of vitamin A poisoning to develop; symptoms do not usually appear until the cat is at least middle-aged.
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Pets and people need some zinc in their diets. However, too much zinc can cause serious health problems. The amount of zinc required to cause poisoning depends upon the pet’s size, the form of zinc ingested, and how much was ingested. Some forms of zinc are more readily absorbed than others.
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Many liquid potpourri products and essential oils are poisonous to dogs, including oil of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen, and ylang ylang. Both ingestion and skin exposure can be toxic.
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While macadamia nuts are edible for humans, they are poisonous for dogs. Initial signs of macadamia nut poisoning include vomiting, fever, and lethargy, and will progress to incoordination, reluctance to use the rear limbs, inability to stand, joint stiffness, and muscle tremors. Macadamia nuts can also lead to pancreatitis.
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Aspirin is a commonly used, over-the-counter, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and is used to treat fever, pain, inflammation (swelling), and clotting disorders in humans. Aspirin poisoning occurs when a dog ingests a toxic dose of aspirin, either through misuse or accidentally. High doses may damage major organs like the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.
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Lead is a common household hazard for birds. Due to their curious, explorative nature, house birds can be exposed to lead around the house. Lead causes heavy metal toxicity, affecting the blood, nervous system, and gastrointestinal system. Lead poisoning can be fatal if not treated.
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Xylitol is a naturally occurring substance that is widely used as a sugar substitute. It is found naturally in berries, plums, corn, oats, mushrooms, lettuce, trees, and some other fruits. It may also be called wood sugar, birch sugar, and birch bark extract. Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, liver failure, or even death in dogs.
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Pyrethrin insecticides are naturally derived from the chrysanthemum (mum) flower, and pyrethroids are the synthetic versions. The use of pyrethrins/pyrethroids is generally safe in dogs; however, cats and fish are very sensitive to these products.
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While a favorite healthy snack for people, grapes, raisins, and currants can cause kidney failure in dogs. Fortunately, dogs who receive prompt decontamination and treatment prior to symptoms developing are more likely to have a good prognosis following exposure.
