| Human Foods |
| Toxin |
Symptoms (may include some or all) |
| Chocolate |
Vomiting, diarrhoea, excitability, twitching, tremors, fits |
| Onion Family (including leeks, shallots, garlic and chives) |
Lethargy, stomach problems, rapid breathing, discoloured urine. May take a few days for symptoms to show. |
| Grapes, Currants, Raisins and Sultanas |
Stomach problems, kidney problems – look out for signs of increased thirst |
| Xylitol (found in many sugar-free items and nicotine replacement products) |
Weakness, lethargy, collapse, fitting, liver problems. |
| Other poisonous items include alcohol, blue cheese, raw bread dough, macadamia nuts and mouldy food |
| Household products |
| Chlorine based bleaches |
corrosive injury to mouth and gut. Excess salivation and stomach problems if diluted – eg bleached water drunk from toilet bowl. |
| Detergents |
Vomiting, breathing problems, dehydration if ingested. Eye irritation through direct contact. |
| Oven/Drain Cleaners |
Tissue damage, salivation, stomach problems, ulceration, chemical burns, breathing difficulties, difficulty swallowing. |
| Other toxic household items include dishwasher tablets and salts, kettle descalers and metal polishes |
| Medicines |
| Ibuprofen and NSAIDS (non steriodal anti-inflamatory drugs) |
Severe tummy upset, blood in their stools, ulceration, vomiting, increased thirst, inappropriate urination and kidney failure. |
| Oral Contraceptives |
Mild stomach upsets and disruption to oestrus in bitches |
| Paracetamol |
vomiting, brown gums, increased heart rate, changes to breathing, swelling to face and paws and delayed liver failure |
| Psoriasis creams (contain vitamin D derivatives) |
Weakness, profuse vomiting, diarrhoea, increased thirst, muscle spasms, fits, heart problems, kidney failure and calcification of the lungs and gut. |
| Other toxic medicines include antidepressants, aspirin, blood pressure medications, diabetes medications, heart medications and sleeping aids |
| In the garden |
| Fungi |
Stomach upset, blood in the stools or urine, hallucinations, fits, kidney or liver failure |
| Daffodils / Tulips / Crocus bulbs |
Vomiting, stomach upsets, excess salivation, fits, increases to blood pressure, heart rate and temperature, |
| Toads |
irritation to and pain in the mouth, disorientation, increased breathing, heart rate changes and fits |
| Other garden toxins include acorns, compost, foxgloves, conkers, apple seeds, fruit stones (plums, cherries), yew trees |
| In the shed |
| Antifreeze |
Vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, drunken appearance, kidney failure |
| Herbicides |
Vomiting, dehydration, blood in the stools or vomit, mouth ulcers, breathing problems, heart problems, kidney and liver failure |
| Rat and mouse poison |
Internal bleeding, weakness, lethargy, lameness, bruising, vomiting, excitability, changes in temperature, fits |
| Slug pellets |
Tremors, twitching, fits |
| Other toxins found in sheds and garages include creosote, teak oil, fertilisers, fuel, gloss paints, insecticides, white spirit and water proofing sprays |
