As a veterinarian, it’s not surprising that I am a passionate fan of All Creatures Great and Small, the beloved media franchise inspired by James Herriot’s novels about a veterinary practice in the English Yorkshire Dales in the 1930s and 1940s. The latest adaptation, now in its fifth season on PBS, features a trio of veterinarians caring for just about every animal imaginable.
In last week’s episode, an unfortunate pigeon was diagnosed with lead poisoning. It was a timely episode, since March 16-22, 2025 is National Poison Prevention Week.
I’ll discuss common pet poisons and some recent cases at AMC in this week’s blogpost.
Poison: A Definition
A poison is defined as a substance that, when ingested or absorbed by the body, causes illness or death. In preparation for National Poison Prevention Week, I have been tracking pets admitted to the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center for poisoning. Reviewing these cases can help pet owners recognize common hazards and emerging risks—some of which you might never expect your pet to encounter.
Top Five Pet Poisons Treated at AMC
- Chocolate
- Marijuana
- Carprofen
- Illegal / illicit drugs
- Raisins
Dogs and Chocolate Remain a Toxic Combination
Every patient on my list of poisonings was a dog—perhaps because cats tend to be more discriminating eaters than dogs. Dogs also have a sweet tooth, unlike cats, which may explain why chocolate remains the most frequent toxin we see at AMC. Two dogs had double poisoning after eating both chocolate and marijuana, a particularly dangerous mix.
Remember: the darker the chocolate, the more hazardous for your pet, as it contains higher levels of theobromine, a stimulant that causes hyperactivity, vomiting, muscle tremors and seizures.
Medications Mishaps
Medications, both human and veterinary, remain perennial top toxins. Inadvertent medication consumption was sometimes a team effort, involving multiple poisoned dogs from the same household for the same medication, highlighting the importance of safe and secure storage.
Carprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication group used to treat arthritis in dogs, was the most common medication resulting in admission to our hospital. Some NSAIDS come as very tasty chew tabs for dogs, which might explain their appeal to our canine friends.
Surprising Toxins
Two recent cases demonstrate how unexpected items can pose serious dangers:
- Construction Glue: One dog ate construction glue a couple of weeks before admission to AMC. Some of the solidified glue passed in the stool, but an ultrasound showed some still in her stomach. Our surgeons removed the remaining hardened pieces of glue, and the dog will be ok. We don’t know the exact glue this dog ate, but it is similar to studies that describe Gorilla Glue ingestion in dogs. The study describes how Gorilla Glue hardens and expands when it comes in contact with moisture in the stomach, causing vomiting and abdominal pain.
- Bread Dough: Another dog was hospitalized after eating bread dough. You may be thinking, people and dogs eat bread every day, so why did eating bread dough land this dog in the hospital? Well, inside a dog’s warm stomach, the yeast in the bread dough metabolizes the flour and sugar from the dough. Yeast metabolism produces ethanol and carbon dioxide. Ethanol intoxication, or alcohol poisoning, can cause coma and death. Production of carbon dioxide gas inflates the stomach like a balloon. The recently admitted dog came to AMC because her family noticed a distended abdomen, and she seemed weak. The x-ray below shows her distended stomach in the middle of the x-ray. Her stomach got pumped to relieve the distension and she was discharged from the hospital a day later.
Other Common Pet Poisons
Other common poisonings we treat at AMC include:
By staying informed about these common and emerging toxins, you can take proactive steps to keep your pets safe from accidental poisoning.
If you think your pet has ingested something toxic:
- Call your veterinarian OR
- Go to your nearest emergency veterinary hospital OR
- Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 (fee applies) or Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680 (fee applies).
Tags:
pet poison, poison, poison prevention, Poison Prevention Week,
