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Category Archives: Health Risks

 Doggy Spa Day Gone Wrong

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This article is originally published through the Pet Poison Helpline: petpoisonhelpline.com

Boxer Eats Eye Mask Potentially Containing Toxic Ingredient 

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Feb. 25, 2026) – The cooling face mask Kate Vaughan purchased was supposed to help with headaches and maybe those puffy eyes. When her dog Maya decided to eat rather than wear the mask, however, it created a different kind of headache – one that ended in a trip to the pet emergency room. 

“We have four dogs, and two are usually the troublemakers,” explained Vaughan, who lives with her family in Florida. “When I found my face mask chewed up, I actually yelled at the wrong dog. When Maya started vomiting up the gel, however, I realized she was the real culprit.” 

At first, Vaughan wasn’t too concerned. She used to work at a dog training company, and has been around dogs her whole life, so she assumed Maya would simply vomit up the mask contents and be fine. 

“My husband slept on the couch to be close to her, and she vomited throughout the night,” Vaughan added. “The next morning, she started acting wobbly, so I decided I better call a veterinarian. They advised me to call the toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline.” 

“We are finding that some face masks have started to contain a chemical compound called acrylamide, which can be toxic to both pets and people if ingested in a large enough quantity,” said Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, a senior veterinary toxicologist and director of Veterinary Medicine at Pet Poison Helpline. “We have seen an increase in the number of suspected acrylamide poisoning calls we receive from seemingly harmless products. National Poison Prevention Month is coming up in March, so we thought it was timely and important to highlight this case for other pet lovers.” 

When Maya arrived at the Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Central Florida, she was panting and anxious but had stopped vomiting. Pet Poison Helpline advised the hospital medical team that the face mask may have contained acrylamide, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, central nervous system stimulation or depression, ataxia (poor muscle control), tremors, seizures and liver injury. Ingestion of acrylamide is fatal in many instances. They recommended Maya receive an anti-emetic, intravenous fluids and continued monitoring. Due to the risk of kidney and liver damage, bloodwork monitoring was also recommended. Specific medications for tremors, seizures and liver support were discussed to be given based on how Maya’s symptoms progressed. 

“Acrylamide can be found in a wide range of products, including cosmetics and packaging,” Dr. Schmid added. 

Pet Poison Helpline is warning pet lovers about the potential hidden dangers inside products and materials containing acrylamide. Typically, exposure to cold packs and wraps causes mild stomach upset. However, after ingestion of cooling migraine wraps, pets were developing severe neurologic signs including ataxia, body tremors, and seizures. In certain cases, liver and kidney failure were also occurring. These severe signs have been fatal in several cases. 

“While there continues to be testing and research as to why this is happening, we have discovered a common link that may be causing the severe poisonings; acrylamide,” Dr. Schmid confirmed. “Educating the public on the potential risks of these products if ingested by pets is critical in minimizing the number of animals being exposed to this potentially fatal material.” 

“Maya is 13 years old, so I’m astonished she came back so well,” Vaughen added. “She’s acting like a four-year-old again. We spent $4,700 on veterinary bills, but obviously it was 100% worth it.” 

About Pet Poison Helpline 

Pet Poison Helpline®, your trusted source for toxicology and pet health advice in times of potential emergency, is available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Per incident and subscription service options are available. We are an independent, nationally 

recognized animal poison control center triple licensedby the Boards of Veterinary

Medicine, Medicine and Pharmacy providing unmatched professional leadership andexpertise.Our veterinarians andboard-certifiedtoxicologists provide treatment advice forall species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s feeof$89per incident includes follow-up consultations for the duration of the case.The companyalso offers pethelpline(SM)and pethelplinePRO(SM)subscription services directly to pet lovers.Based in Minneapolis,Pet Poison Helpline isavailable in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information, including a chat feature for pet owners, can be found onlineat www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

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How to Lead a Cat to Water AND Make Him Drink it

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Cats who eat a dry diet need more water than those on canned food.

Original Article from:

September 12, 2016

As a general rule, cats and water don’t get along, but did you know that many cats will avoid getting water in them as well as on them? Sometimes, getting water into a cat is as challenging as getting a cat into water.

It seems reasonable to expect that when cats get thirsty they will drink, but cats don’t have that long-standing reputation for being finicky for no reason! Sometimes it seems that along with their inherent aversion to water, cats also seem to have an aversion to doing whatever it is you want them to do, even when it’s in their best interest. You can lead a cat to water but you can’t make him drink.

A 7-pound cat’s minimim water requirement is 5 ounces per day. That assumes that the cat is hanging out in a nice temperate environment, not outside in tremendous heat or being chased up a tree and spending energy and fluids with exercise. This minimum also assumes that it’s a normal, healthy cat, not an old one with kidneys that aren’t up to speed any more. Of course the requirement goes up as the cat gets bigger or more active.  For a normal, healthy, small to medium-sized cat, 5 to 10 ounces of water per day is probably fine.

Cats who eat a primarily dry diet need to drink more than cats who eat mostly wet food, as wet food already contains about 70-80 percent water. If kitty’s diet consists of mostly canned food, she’s likely getting a good portion of her daily water requirement just from eating. For the rest, fresh, clean water should be available at all times.

Since we can’t observe our feline friends’ behavior all day every day, we can’t really be sure how much water is actually ending up inside them. When you consider the potential health issues that can occur if your cat doesn’t drink enough, making some small changes around the house and to your daily routine in order to avoid those issues is more than worth the trouble.

Among the most common health issues that can arise from dehydration are constipation, urinary tract and/or bladder inflammation, and urinary blockage. Blockages occur when enough crystals/stones form to prevent urination. A serious blockage of the urethra, the thin tube that transfers cat pee from the bladder to your favorite rug and your new shoes, can very quickly become life-threatening. Blockages are most common in male cats, as the urethra is narrow and more easily obstructed. If you see blood in kitty’s urine or feces or he seems to be straining to pee or poop, the best thing to do is get him to your veterinarian immediately.

If you have a senior cat, helping her stay adequately hydrated is even more important, as her aging kidneys need all the help they can get to keep functioning properly.

Some cats are especially finicky and need a little extra enticement to bring them to the water bowl. If your cat isn’t into canned food (surprisingly, some prefer dry!) there are several ways you can help encourage your cat to drink more water.

  • Try switching to a mostly canned diet. Cats are creatures of habit, so change can be hard for them to accept. Consult with your veterinarian before you change the diet as they can help you select the best food for your cat and give you tips to make the transition smooth and successful.

  • Wash and refill your cat’s water bowl daily. You wouldn’t want to drink from a glass of water that’s been sitting around on the floor for three days, so your cat probably doesn’t either. He is way more finicky than you about things like that, most likely.

  • Put several water bowls throughout your home in different locations. With their well-earned reputation for being finicky, it’s no surprise that some cats will show a preference for drinking from certain spots in the home over others.

  • Try different kinds of water bowls. Just like with the location of the water bowl, kitty may have a preference for a certain type of bowl. Try rotating between metal, plastic, and ceramic bowls. Cats often prefer wide, shallow bowls because they don’t like sticking their faces down inside a bowl with tall sides.

  • Never keep kitty’s food and water next to or near the litter box. Cats may be animals but chances are high that even they don’t like to eat or drink next to the odor (and possible contamination from) their toilet.

  • Add appetizing flavor to the water. A few drops of tuna juice (from tuna packed in water – not oil!) or chicken broth can make kitty more inclined to drink. Make sure you limit the amount of sodium in whatever you add to your cat’s water.

  • Feed smaller meals, more frequently. Eating triggers thirst so eating more often could lead to drinking more. Be careful not to overfeed, though.

  • Try a water fountain. Many cats are attracted by the moving water and the circulation helps to keep the water fresh. Some cats need time to get used to it though, so if you’re trying it for the first time and kitty doesn’t seem interested, leave it running for a couple of weeks before you give up on it.

You probably don’t need to try all of these ideas to get your cat to drink more water, but implementing just a couple of them could make a huge difference and help keep your cat hydrated, healthy, and happy longer.

Carboxylic Ionophore Toxicity in Small Animals

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By Lynn R. Hovda, RPH, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Director, Veterinary Services

Carboxylic ionophores, a group of antibiotic compounds produced by bacteria in the order Actinomycetales, are used to promote growth and feed efficiency in ruminants and swine and control coccidiosis in several species. They are called ionophores because they bind to and transport ions down the concentration gradient present in the lipid bilayer of cellular membranes. The primary mechanism by which ionophores exert their therapeutic effect is by forming cationic (primarily Na+, K+, or Ca++) complexes that alter normal membrane concentrations and increase their transport across lipid membranes. The ability to transport ions is the underlying characteristic responsible for both the antibacterial and anticoccidial effects. In addition, ionophores also have a direct effect on coccidia (both asexual and sexual forms) development further enhancing the anticoccidial effects.

Carboxylic ionophores are marketed as finished or complete feeds, concentrates for top dressing feeds, premixes, and as a sustained release bolus product. Currently there are seven carboxylic ionophores on the market. Monensin (Coban, Rumensin) and lasalocid (Avatec, Bovatec) were introduced and labeled in the mid 1970s for use in chickens and cattle. Many of the field and case reports of adverse reactions and toxicosis in target (cattle and poultry) and nontarget (i.e. dogs, cats, horses, etc.) species involve these two ionophores simply because they have been present in the market place for so many years. These two were followed in the 1980s by salinomycin (Biocox, Coxistat, Saccox), narasin (Maxiban, Monteban, Skycis), and maduramicin (Cygro) for use in chickens and later in swine and in the 1990s by laidlomycin propionate (Catalyst) for use in cattle and semduramicin (Aviax) for use in chickens. While label use is limited to specific conditions and animal species, carboxylic ionophores have been used off-label to treat other diseases such as bloat and ketosis in dairy cattle and for other conditions in a variety of species such as shrimp, sheep, fish, and cranes.

All the carboxylic ionophores are safe when used according to label instructions for the specific species, although even within this group poisonings may occur with either acute or chronic overdose ingestions. They are not labeled for use in any equine species and reports of acute toxicity and death in horses are well reported and documented. They are also not labeled for use in any small animal species and poisonings are routinely reported when fed to or ingested by small animals. Most of the reports involve dogs and rabbits; clinical reports of toxicosis in cats are rare. This may be due to the fastidious and finicky eating habits of cats or because house and city cats do not routinely have access to these substances.

Small animals may become poisoned by carboxylic ionophores in many ways. Illness and death from pet food contaminated with a specific ionophore was the most likely source in several reported poisonings. In one case involving the sudden onset of clinical signs in a kennel, dog food was prepared by a small feed mill that also manufactured monensin containing cattle and chicken feed. Dogs, largely rural, may ingest food designated for cattle or poultry either by eating a modest amount of a complete animal feed or a smaller amount of a concentrate or premix. This generally occurs when dogs have direct access to feed in cattle troughs or feed bunks or stored bags of feed, concentrates, or premixes. Storage errors such as placing dog or rabbit food in a container previously holding an ionophore or chewing and swallowing an ionophore sustained release bolus have also been reported. Occasionally, dogs or rabbits are poisoned by an unsuspecting owner either intentionally or unintentionally feeding them an ionophore containing product.

This is why we do not feed raccoons!

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Disease emergence in wildlife since the late 1900s has been of unprecedented scope relative to geographic areas of occurrence, wildlife species affected, and the variety of pathogens involved (Friend, 2006; Daszak and others, 2000). This treatise on Baylisascaris larva migrans highlights the recent emergence of a zoonotic disease that over the past 35 years has evolved and progressed as both an animal and human disease. Like many new zoonotic diseases in humans in recent years, the emergence of baylisascariasis is a result of our densely populated, highly mobilized, and environmentally disrupted world. As towns and cities expand, and wildlife populations increase, the wild land-urban interface broadens and human associations with wildlife become increasingly frequent. With geographic distance and isolation no longer meaningful barriers, the opportunities for once isolated diseases to spread have never been greater. Dealing with emerging diseases requires the ability to recognize pathogens when they first appear and to act appropriately. Because outbreaks often are evident in the nonhuman components of the environment before humans are affected, understanding our environment and associated “sentinel” wildlife is a prerequisite to protecting human health.

Read the full report…

H3N2 Canine Influenza Virus

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Statement from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Regarding Canine Influenza H3N2:

UF College of Veterinary Medicine officials have confirmed more than one dozen cases of canine influenza A virus, a.k.a. “dog flu.” The first twelve dogs tested have been confirmed with the strain of influenza A known as H3N2 CIV. Dogs testing positive for the H3N2 strain were either at the Perry, Georgia dog show May 19-21 or the Deland, Florida dog show the following weekend, or were exposed to dogs who were present at these shows. This is the same strain responsible for the severe outbreak of canine influenza in Chicago in 2015.

Veterinarians in central and north Florida are treating many dogs that are suspected to have dog flu. All dogs being treated are in stable condition. Common symptoms of dog flu include sneezing, nasal discharge and frequent coughing. If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, please call your pet’s veterinarian before taking your pet in for treatment.

There is no evidence that H3N2 canine influenza virus infects humans. Information for pet owners and for veterinarians is available on the UF Veterinary Hospitals website at http://hospitals.vetmed.ufl.edu/canine-influenza/.

Pet Owners H3N2 CIV FAQ PDF

Steve Dale: Ticks are here!

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Ticks are everywhere, which means tick disease is everywhere. In fact, veterinary parasitologist Dr. Michael Dryden of Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine calls tick disease an “epidemic.” Tick disease in dogs is a sentinel for people. If your veterinarians report Lyme (and other tick diseases) where you are, then those same diseases are occurring in people too. First step, TEST your dog for tick disease (there is an easy test for Lyme and various other diseases), then talk with your veterinarian about protection, which may include the vaccine for Lyme disease. Remember, if your dog is diagnosed with tick disease, it’s likely a person was on the other end of that leash. It might not be a bad idea to see your doctor, or for children to see a pediatrician.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian — they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Feeding Your Cat: The Basics of Feline Nutrition

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By Lisa A. Pierson, DVM

Diet is the brick and mortar of health.  This web page lays out some often-ignored principles of feline nutrition and explains why cats have a better chance at optimal health if they are fed a canned food diet instead of dry kibble.  Putting a little thought into what you feed your cat(s) can pay big dividends over their lifetime and very possibly help them avoid serious, painful, and costly illnesses.  An increasing number of nutrition-savvy veterinarians, including board-certified veterinary internists, are now strongly recommending the feeding of canned food instead of dry kibble.

Please read more of this informative article by choosing one of the choices below:

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