Bufo toads. Found in various areas, especially in south Florida. Very poisonous -- it can kill a small dog in a matter of minutes. It burns the mucous membrane of the mouth (gums) which is why they drool and foam, and that's also how it enters the bloodstream. It kills by elevating the heart rate and blood pressure to deadly levels, similar to the effects of chocolate. There is an antidote and the effects can be lessened if you immediately flush the dog's mouth with water before taking it to the vet.

Chocolate, tea, coffee, cola: It is not chocolate itself that is poisonous to dogs, it is the theobromine, a naturally occurring compound found in chocolate. Theobromine causes different reactions to different dogs: dogs with health problems, especially epilepsy, are more affected by theobromine than healthy dogs. Theobromine can trigger epileptic seizures in dogs prone to or at risk of epilepsy. The size of the dog will also be a major factor: the smaller the dog, the more affected it is by the same amount than a larger dog. Therefore, toxicity is described on a mg/Kg basis.

Furthermore, theobromine can cause cardiac irregularity, especially if the dog becomes excited. Cardiac arrhythmia can precipitate a myocardial infarction which can kill the dog.

Theobromine also irritates the GI tract and in some dogs can cause internal bleeding which in some cases kills them a day or so later.

Theobromine is also present in differing amounts in different kinds of chocolate. milk chocolate has 44-66 mg/oz, dark chocolate 450 mg/oz and baking/bitter chocolate or cocoa powder varies as much as 150-600 mg/oz. How much chocolate a dog can survive depends on its weight (and other unknown circumstances). Under 200 mg theobromine per kg body weight no deaths have been observed.

Theobromine will stay in the bloodstream between 14 and 20 hours. It goes back into the bloodstream through the stomach lining and takes a long time for the liver to filter out.

Within two hours of ingestion, try inducing vomiting unless your dog is markedly stimulated, comatose, or has lost the gag reflex. If your dog has eaten a considerable amount of chocolate, or displays any of the above symptoms, take it to the vet without delay.

In the absence of major symptoms, administer activated charcoal. The unabsorbed theobromine will chemically bond to this and be eliminated in the feces. In pinch, burnt (as in thoroughly burnt, crumbling in hand) toast will do.

Nuts: Walnuts are poisonous to dogs and should be avoided. Many nuts are not good for dogs in general, their high phosphorous content is said to possibly lead to bladder stones.

Misc:

Onions, especially raw onions, have been shown to trigger hemolytic anemia in dogs. (Stephen J Ettinger, D.V.M and Edward C. Fieldman, D.V.M. 's book: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine vol. 2 pg 1884.)
 
 
Potato poisonings among people and dogs have occurred. Solanum alkaloids can be found in in green sprouts and green potato skins, which occurs when the tubers are exposed to sunlight during growth or after harvest. The relatively rare occurrence of actual poisoning is due to several factors: solanine is poorly absorbed; it is mostly hydrolyzed into less toxic solanidinel; and the metabolites are quickly eliminated. Note that cooked, mashed potatoes are fine for dogs, actually quite nutritious and digestible.

Turkey skin is currently thought to cause acute pancreatis in dogs.
 

Poisonous Household Items

 

Acetaminophen  AntiFreeze  Aspirin  Bleach  Boric Acid  Brake fluid  Carburetor Cleaner  Christmas Tinsel  Cleaning Fluid  Deodorants/Deodorizers  Detergents  Disinfectants  Drain Cleaner  Dye  Fungicides  Furniture Polish  Gasoline  Hair Colorings  Herbicides  Insecticides  Kerosene

Laxatives  Lye  Matches  Metal Polish  Mineral Spirits  Mothballs  Nail Polish & Remover  Paint & Remover  Perm Solutions  Phenol  Photo Developer  Rat Poison  Rubbing Alcohol  Shoe Polish  Sleeping Pills  Soaps  Suntan Lotions  Tar  Turpentine  Windshield Fluid  Woodstains

 

In assessing the risk to your dog from these plants, you need to consider both the age of your dog and it's propensity to chew on plants. Many of the below toxic plants rarely cause problems because most dogs don't chew them - -- the exceptions being, of course, young puppies who are inclined to explore the world with their mouths, teething dogs who may chew on everything, and older dogs that are simply fond of chewing. Oleander, for example, is rather toxic, but most cases of poisoning involve 1) cattle, other grazing livestock 2) puppies and 3) human babies/toddlers.

Dumb cane is probably the one plant that should always be kept out of reach, since it takes only one nibble to have a potentially fatal situation. (from Carlson & Giffin.)
 
* That give rash after contact with the skin or mouth:      (mums might produce dermatitis)    chrysanthemum        poinsettia           creeping fig
            weeping fig          spider mum           pot mum

   * Irritating (toxic oxalates), especially the mouth gets swollen; tongue
     pain; sore lips; some swell so quickly a tracheotomy is needed before
     asphyxiation:

            arrowhead vine       majesty              boston ivy
            neththytis ivy       colodium             pathos
            emerald duke         red princess         heart leaf (philodendron)
            split leaf (phil.)   saddle leaf (phil.)  marble queen

   * Toxic plants - may contain wide variety of poisons. Most cause
     vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps. Some cause tremors, heart and
     respiratory and/or kidney problems, which are difficult for owner to
     interpret:   amaryllis            elephant ears        pot mum
                     asparagus fern       glocal ivy              ripple ivy
                     azalea                   heart ivy                 spider mum
                     bird of paradise     ivy                        sprangeri fern
                      creeping charlie     jerusalem cherry     umbrella plant
                     crown of thorns      needlepoint ivy

Poisonous outdoor plants

(from Carlson & Giffin.)

   * Produce vomiting and diarrhea in some cases: delphinium           poke weed            indian tobacco
         daffodil             bittersweet woody    wisteria
         castor bean          ground cherry        soap berry
         indian turnip        fox glove            skunk cabbage
         larkspur

   * May produce vomiting, abdominal pain, and in some cases diarrhea

         horse chestnut buckeye   western yew      apricot, almond
         rain tree monkey pod     english holly    peach, cherry
         privet                   wild cherry      mock orange
         japanese plum            american yew     bird of paradise
         balsam pear              english yew      black locust * Varied toxic effect

         rhubarb               buttercup           moonseed
         spinach               nightshade          may apple
         sunburned potatoes    poison hemlock     dutchman's breeches
         tomato vine           jimson weed         mescal bean
         loco weed             pig weed            angel's trumpet
         lupine                water hemlock       jasmine
         dologeton             mushrooms           matrimony vine
         dumb cane

   * Hallucinogens  marijuana             periwinkle          morning glory
         peyote                nutmeg              loco weed

   * Convulsions

         china berry           nux vomica          coriaria
         water hemlock         moon weed

NOTE: Most of the information above has been gleaned from data and
information developed at, and published by, the New York State Department of Health Hematology Laboratory.
 

Contributed by Sandra Fikes-Kalahari Ridgebacks.

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