Insecticide Poisonings

Home ] Up ] Acne ] Allergic Rhinitis ] Anal Gland Troubles ] Anesthesia and Isoflurane ] Antifreeze Poisoning (Ethylene Glycol) ] Atopy ] Bathing ] Breathing Difficulty ] Breed Description ] Breeding ] Burns ] Canine Parvovirus ] Care ] Care Sheet for Puppies ] Character of the Pug ] Chewing ] Chocolate Poisoning ] Collars Notes On ] Common Drug Poisonings ] Common Skin Problems ] Corneal Ulcers ] Corrosives Poisoning ] CPR ] Creating a home for your puppy ] Curly Tails ] Definition of a Pug ] Demodex ] Diabetes Mellitus ] Dog Parks ] Dog Quotes ] Dog Philosophy ] Dogs Top Ten Pet Peeves about Humans ] Drug Toxicities, Poisonings and Treatment ] Dogs Welcome ] Ears ] Elongated Soft Palate ] Epilepsy in Animals ] Eyes ] Feeding ] Flatulence(gas) ] Flea and Tick Control ] Grieving the Loss of Your Pug ] Hair ] Heat Stroke ] Health ] Hereditary Problems ] Hips, Backs, Joints ] Hip Dysplasia ] History ] House Training ] House Training for Puppies ] Hypothermia ] [ Insecticide Poisonings ] Insect Stings ] Itchy Skin ] Kennel Cough ] Legg - Calves - Perthes Disorder ] Lumps & Bumps ] Myths About Breeders ] Nail Clipping ] Nails ] Names ] Nose ] Nutrition and Diet ] Obesity ] Odors ] Onions ] Origin of a Pug ] Parasites ] Patellar Luxation ] Pigmentary Keratitis ] Poisons ] Poisonous Plants ] Preparing for the new puppy ] Pug Dog Encephalitis ] Pulmonary Disease ] Reindeer Facts ] Rodent Poisoning ] Seizures ] Shock ] Skin Irritations ] Socialing Your New Dog ] Standard The Pug Breed ] Surgery ] Steriods ] Teeth ] The Dog and Cat Diaries ] Thought for the day ] Trachea ] Transporting an Injured Dog ] Trust ] Vaccination Schedule ] Vaccinations ] Vaccine Reactions ] Veterinarians ] Where do pets come from? ] What about a Pug? ] Wounds ] You wouldn't do it to a dog...would you! ]

 


Insecticide Poisonings
There are many products on the market nowadays that are used to kill ants, termites, wasps, garden pests and other insects. Most of them contain organophosphates and carbamates as their active ingredients. At one time these compounds were added to most sprays, powders and dips used to control fleas and ticks on dogs. With the advent of pyrethrin insecticides which are equally effective, but much less toxic, organophosphates and carbamates are being phased out in topical preparations.


Organophosphates and Carbamates
Organophosphates
Examples:
Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, Phosmet, Fenthion, Cythioate, and Tetrachlorvinphos
Signs and Symptoms:
Usually poisoning with these 2 groups of insecticides is caused by ingesting poison bait. Exposure to high concentrations of the chemicals in sprays and dusts can also occur.
Treatment:
If your suspect that your dog has ingested an insecticide poison, immediately induce vomiting and notify your veterinarian. With any signs of toxicity, the first priority is to get your dog to the veterinarian as quickly as possible.
Since the specific antidote for organophosphate poisoning is different than carbamate poisoning it is important to give your vet the name of the insecticide that was ingested.

Carbamates
Examples:
Carbyl, and Propexur


Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
Examples:
Lindane, Mythoxychlor, and Toxaphene

Signs and Symptoms:
These chemicals are usually added to sprays and dusts. The usual mode of exposure is by being inhaled. It is easily absorbed through the skin. Toxicity can occur from repeated or excessive exposure.

Signs of toxicity occur rapidly.
They include:

  • Hyperexcitability with twitching of the face
  • Followed by muscle tremors beginning at the head
  • Progressing to the neck, shoulder, trunk and rear legs
  • Seizures and Convulsions followed by respiratory paralysis and death.

Treatment:
This includes supporting life functions, removing the ingested poison from the stomach and controlling seizures.

For assistance with CPR, Click here.

If the poison was ingested, induce vomiting. To help with inducing vomiting, Click here.

Controlling seizures will have to be done by your vet or your nearest veterinary hospital.

**There is no specific antidote for chlorinated hydrocarbons.


Pyrethrin/Pyrethroids
Pyrethrin/Pyrethroids
Examples:
Permethrin, Allethrin, Fenvalerate, Resmethrin, and Sumethrin

Signs and Symptoms:

  • Drooling
  • Depression
  • Muscle Tremors
  • Staggering
  • Vomiting
  • Rapid Labored Breathing

Toxicity occurs primarily in small dogs. Death is rare. Simultaneous exposure to organophosphates increases the toxicity of pyrethroids.

Treatment:
For ingestion, check the product to see if it contains a petroleum base. If so Do Not Induce Vomiting.

If it does not, induce vomiting within 2 hours of ingestion. With signs of toxicity, proceed immediately to the veterinary clinic.

For topical exposure, remove residual insecticide by bathing the dog in lukewarm water and rinse thoroughly. Bathing in hot or cold water may actually increase the rate of absorption or cause hypothermia, which increases toxicity. After bathing, keep the dog warm.

Prevention: Since most cases of poisonings with this category of insecticide is caused by improper application of flea control products. This might happen because the product is being used more often than the instructions call for, or is being used in combination with another flea control product. Follow all instructions carefully.


Arsenic
Pyrethrin/Pyrethroids
Examples:
Sodium arsenate
Potassium arsenate

Signs and Symptoms:

  • Thirst
  • Drooling
  • Vomiting
  • Staggering
  • Intense abdominal pain
  • Cramps
  • Diarrhea
  • Paralysis
  • Death

Treatment:
Proceed at once to the nearest emergency veterinary facility.

It is imperative that you inform the vet on duty that your pet ingested arsenic so that treatment can be initiated as soon as you arrive.

Since Arsenic's actions are rapid, it is extremely important to get your pet to an emergency veterinary hospital immediately.

Prevention:
If it is at all possible, use insecticides which do NOT contain Arsenic in them.
If you must use them, place them well out ouf the way of pets and children.


This was an excerpt from the book, "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" 3rd Edition by James M. Giffin MD & Liisa D. Carlson, DVM.


Pug Dogs Home