Common Food Toxicoses in Dogs

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Common Food Toxicoses in Dogs

• By Jessica Miller
• AS 464 Companion Animal Management
• Learning Module

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MY OBJECTIVE

• The objective of this learning module is to
  inform users of the common food toxicoses seen in
  dogs in order to aid in the prevention of illness
  and education of the public

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How to Use This Learning Module

• Please click on the hyperlink (hold Ctrl key
  and click) to find a set of instructions for how
  to use this learning module

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The Common Food Hazards Presented in this
Learning Module

• Chocolate/coffee/ tea/ caffeine
• Onions/Garlic
• Yeast/ raw dough
• Grapes/Raisins
• Mushrooms

• Macadamia Nuts
• Human vitamins and supplements containing iron
• Products sweetened with xylitol
• Ibuprofen

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Some Other Common Food Hazards You Should be
Aware of

• Poultry/fish bones
• Fat trimmings
• Milk and dairy products
• Large Amounts of liver
• Fruit pits and seeds
• Moldy or Spoiled food/garbage

• Raw eggs
• Raw fish
• Avocados
• Rhubarb/tomatoes/ potatoes
• Alcoholic beverages

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Chocolate Intoxication

• Toxin Methylxanthines Theobromine and
  Caffeine
• Clinical Signs
• Gastrointestinal upset
• Cardiovascular effects
• Central Nervous System signs
• Treatment
• Emesis followed by administration of activated
  charcoal
• IV Fluids
• Medications (beta-blockers, seizure medication)
• Monitor Cardiac Status through electrocardiography
  
• Toxic Dose
• Mild Symptoms at 20 mg methylxanthine/kg
• Severe Symptoms at 40-50 mg methylxanthine/kg
• Seizures at 60 mg methylxanthine/kg
• To read more about chocolate toxicity in dogs
  please click on the hyperlink
• To calculate toxic chocolate doses for your dog
  please click on the hyperlink

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Garlic/Onion Intoxication

• Toxin Thiosulfinates
• Clinical Signs
• Heinz Body anemia
• Gastrointestinal upset
• Contact dermatitis if skin exposure
• Treatment
• Induce emesis followed by administration of
  activated charcoal
• Monitor hematocrit levels
• IV fluids
• While blood transfusion if seriously ill
• Toxic Doses
• Studies have shown it takes at minimum ingestion
  of over .5 of animal body weight to show
  clinical signs
• To read more about garlic/onion toxicity in dogs
  please click on the hyperlink

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Yeast/Raw Bread Dough Intoxication

• Toxin Ethanol Toxicosis
• Complications can occur such as gastric
  obstruction, bloating or stomach rupture
• Clinical Signs
• Behavioral changes
• Ataxia or Coma
• Blindness
• CNS respiratory depression
• Urinary incontinence
• Cardiac arrest and death
• Treatment
• Stomach tube to expel gas
• Emesis with extreme caution or cold water
  gastric-lavage followed by activated charcoal and
  IV fluids
• Surgical removal of dough at extremes
• Monitor blood ethanol levels, body temperature,
  metabolic acidosis, heart and respiratory rates
• Toxic Dose
• Exhibit clinical signs with blood ethanol levels
  of 2-4mg/ml

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Grape/Raisin Intoxication

• Toxin Toxin/mechanism unknown
• Clinical Signs
• Gastrointestinal upset
• Acute renal Failure
• Increased blood chemistry values
• Treatment
• Emesis followed by administration of activated
  charcoal
• IV Fluids
• Monitor blood chemistry
• Toxic Doses
• Lowest documented toxic dose was .32-.65 oz/kg
• To read more about grape/raisin toxicity in dogs
  please click on the hyperlink

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Mushroom IntoxicationThere are several species
of mushrooms that are toxic. Eight groups have
been created based upon toxin type into which a
toxic mushroom could fall. Intoxication by
mushrooms containing cyclopeptides is most common
and is therefore the focus of this slide. Toxic
doses vary among species

• Toxin Cyclopeptides Amatoxins, Phallotoxins,
  and Virotoxins (contained in the Amanita,
  Galerina, and Lepiota species)
• Clinical Signs Usually occur within 10-12 hours
  post ingestion
• Three phases of the poisoning
• Gastroenteritis lasting 24 hours (bloody
  diarrhea, vomiting, pain, fever)
• Elevations of serum alanine transaminase and
  aspartate transaminase within 12-24 hrs
• Hepatic dysfunction, renal failure, metabolic
  acidosis, hemorrhage, and neurological
  dysfunction 3-4 days later often resulting in
  death
• Treatment
• Emergency Emesis and repeated activated charcoal
  administration
• IV Fluids
• Parenteral Penicillin G benzathine
• Antibiotics and GI protectants
• Silibinin dihydrogen disuccinate disodium and
  acetylcysteine as possible antidotes
• Whole blood transfusions if bleeding is severe

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Macadamia Nut Intoxication

• Toxin Toxin/mechanism unknown
• Clinical Signs
• Gastrointestinal upset
• Progressive weakness in hind limbs
• Treatment
• At home monitoring
• Induce emesis
• Toxic Doses
• Adverse effects seen at 2g/kg
• Weakness seen from 2.4-62.4g/kg
• Vomiting seen above 62.4g/kg
• To read more about macadamia nut toxicity in dogs
  please click on the hyperlink

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Iron Intoxication

• Toxin Excessive amounts of iron cause corrosion
  of the lining of the lumen of the digestive tract
  and cell damage
• Clinical Signs
• Gastrointestinal upset and damage
• Lethargy
• Central Nervous System depression
• Liver and Kidney failure
• Dark urine
• Treatment
• Emesis followed by Milk of Magnesia
• IV Fluids
• Chelation therapy
• Medication for protection of the gastrointestinal
  tract
• Toxic Dose Varies depending upon iron levels
  already present within the body
• Mild signs at ingestion of 20-60 mg/kg
• Serious clinical signs with ingestion over 60
  mg/kg
• Oral doses between 100 and 200 mg/kg can be
  lethal
• To read more about iron toxicity in dogs please
  click on hyperlink

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Xylitol Intoxication

• Toxin Xylitol (a pentose sugar alcohol used in
  sugar free products such as gum, candy, baking,
  etc) Causes a rapid release of insulin resulting
  in hypoglycemia
• Clinical Signs Can occur within 30 minutes after
  ingestion
• Vomiting
• Ataxia and Depression
• Hypokalemia
• CNS effects (seizures, coma)
• Liver failure
• Treatment
• Emesis
• Correct hypoglycemia by intravenous dextrose and
  glucose therapy
• Monitor potassium levels and blood glucose
• Toxic Dose
• Ingestion of 0.15g/kg has caused hypoglycemia

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Ibuprofen Intoxication

• Toxin Ibuprofen
• Clinical Signs
• Gastrointestinal upset
• Gastric ulcerations
• Respiratory and CNS effects
• Acute Renal Failure
• Treatment
• Emesis followed by activated charcoal
• Medication for gastric ulcerations
• Fluid diuresis
• Monitor blood chemistry
• Toxic Dose
• Gastrointestinal problems at 25mg/kg or more
• Acute renal failure around 175 mg/kg
• CNS effects around 400 mg/kg
• Lethal dose around 600mg/kg
• To learn more about ibuprofen intoxication in
  dogs please click on the hyperlink

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You Have Reached the End

• Thank you for viewing this learning module. I
  hope it has been both educational and
  informational, helping you to better care for you
  pet through increased awareness of common
  toxicoses.

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References

• Please click on hyperlink to see my works cited
  page
• Please click on hyperlink to see my works
  consulted page