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If you suspect your pet has been poisoned by a toxic substance, call your vet or a poison control center right away. Use this chart to help you identify the origin of the poisining and help give your pet precious first aid to help buy them time while you make the trip to the veterinary emergency clinic. Call your veterinarian immediately following this first aid recommendation.
| Poison Source | Symptoms | Induce Vomiting | Give Charcoal | Give Oil and Bread | Bathe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acids (bleach, drain cleaners) | Swallowed: drooling, pawing at mouth, abdominal pain. On Skin: whining, rolling, licking |
No | No | Yes | Yes. If ingested, rinse mouth with milk or water. If topical, rinse thoroughly with cool water. |
| Alkalis (ammonia, laundry detergent) | Swallowed: drooling, pawing at mouth, abdominal pain On skin: crying, rolling, licking |
No | No | Yes | Yes. If ingested, rinse mouth with milk or water. If topical, rinse thoroughly with cool water. |
| Antifreeze | Drunken behavior, increased thirst and urination, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, panting, appetite loss | Yes | Yes | No | N/A |
| Baker's Chocolate | Drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excess urination, hyperactivity, muscle tremors, seizures, coma | Yes | Yes | No | N/A |
| Coal-tar products (phenol disinfectants like lysol, treated wood, fungicides, tar paper, photographic developer) | Depression, weakness, lack of coordination, coma, death | Yes | Yes | No | Yes. If the poison is on your pet's skin, rinse thoroughly with cool water. Bathe with a mild dishwashing liquid, then rinse again with cool water. |
| Flea Products (Carbaryl, Sevin, Propoxur, Frontline, Advantage, Program, Fenthion, Parathion, Ronnel, Trichlorofon) | Variety of signs include apprehension, muscle twitches, shivering, seizures, drooling, diarrhea, hyperactivity, depression. | Yes, if swallowed | Yes, if swallowed | No | Yes. If the poison is a powder, brush coat first, rinse thoroughly with cool water, bathe with a mild dishwashing liquid, then rinse again thoroughly with cool water. |
| Lead (paint, ceramics, linoleum, golf balls) | Abdominal pain, vomiting, seizures, lack of coordination, excitement and hysteria (ie: excessive barking), weakness, blindness, chewing fits. | Yes | Yes | No | N/A |
| Pain medicine (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen) | Blood in vomit, appetite loss, drooling, drunk behavior. For acetaminophen (cats): blue gums, difficulty breathing | Yes | Yes | No | N/A |
| Other medicine | Various signs - if you know your pet has ingested a particular medicine, call the vet or poison control center right away. | Yes | Yes | No | N/A |
| Pest baits (strychnine, vitamin D, warfarin, arsenic, bromethalin,cholecalciferol, metaldehyde, phosphorus, sodium fluroacetate, sinc, phosphide) | Range of signs include bloody urine and diarrhea, bleeding from body openings, thirst, staggering, abdominal pain and cramps, paralysis, seizures, strong garlic breath, depression, coma. | Yes | Yes | No | N/A |
| Petroleum products (motor oil, gas, turpentine, paint, paint thinner, paint remover, lighter fluid, kerosene) | Vomiting, difficulty breathing, tremors, seizures, coma, respiratory falure, death. | No | No | Yes | Yes. If the poison is on the coat, rinse thoroughly with water, bathe with a mild dishwashing liquid, then rinse again. |
