A playful dog plays ball with a potentially deadly chlorine tablet
MINNEAPOLIS, June 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Like most dogs, Thunder likes to play catch. So when he saw Amy Chaplin throw a big chlorine tablet into the family backyard pool, he thought it was gone.
“Out of nowhere, Thunder leapt up and ripped the chlorine tablet out of the air,” said Chaplin, who lives in Manhattan, Kansas. “Thunder is always excited around the pool and loves chasing frogs around. He knows I’m throwing pills in the deep end, so as soon as he sees the chlorine can, he goes crazy.
Once Thunder grabbed the tablet, he started running around the yard with the tablet still in his mouth, thinking it was a game. By the time Chaplin was able to grab it, he was missing about a quarter of the Tablet.
“I knew straight away that chlorine was dangerous,” Chaplin added. “I ran into the house and told my kids to get in the car because we had to take Thunder to the pet hospital. Before we even left the house, he started vomiting. Luckily, the nearest pet emergency hospital was at Kansas State University (K-State) Veterinary Health Center, just minutes away.
“When I got to K-State, they didn’t have a toxicologist on call at the time and told me to call the Pet Poison Helpline,” Chaplin said. Chaplin explained what type of chlorine tablet Thunder ingested, when the exposure occurred, and how much Thunder was exposed to.
“The K-State vet then worked with the Pet Poison Helpline vet to determine the best treatment for Thunder,” Chaplin said. “If I had treated Thunder on my own, I would have given him something to make him vomit more, and that would have been the worst thing I could do. It would have caused more damage. Talking to Pet Poison Helpline practically saved his life.
“Thunder was lucky to have such a respected veterinary teaching hospital so close to home,” said Dr. Renee Schmid, senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline. “Once at the K-State Veterinary Health Center, the veterinary team treated Thunder with an antiemetic to prevent vomiting any potentially corrosives and administered subcutaneous fluids to aid in hydration. Thunder was also prescribed gastrointestinal protectors, including omeprazole and sucralfate suspension, to treat any potential ulcers that may develop in the mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestines. Having access to a veterinary facility available to see patients around the clock certainly helped minimize the risk of major injuries.
“Thunder was lucky he didn’t swallow the pill whole,” said Dr. Stefanie Durbin, the emergency vet who treated Thunder at K-State. “If he had, it would have been a whole different story.”
“We really appreciate having access to Pet Poison Helpline as our toxicologists are not available outside of business hours,” Dr. Durbin added. “Students can talk and learn from experienced clinical toxicologists, and one of the things I like the most is that our team can call back multiple times about the case. Pet Poison Helpline charges a one-time fee, and the pet owner and veterinary staff can speak with a toxicologist as many times as needed to successfully treat the patient.
“With the onset of summer and the July 4 holiday fast approaching, animal lovers should be aware of the multiple dangers animals face around swimming pools,” Dr. Schmid added. “In addition to chlorine, sunscreens can contain several potentially toxic chemicals. Last summer, for example, we received a call about a dog named Arlo who ate half a tube of sunscreen containing two aspirin derivatives, homosalate and octisalate. Aspirin at this level can be toxic to pets, causing gastrointestinal irritation and bleeding, larger ingestions can cause respiratory, metabolic and organ abnormalities. Like Thunder, Aldo was also treated with gastrointestinal protectants.
“Other sunscreens may contain chemicals such as zinc oxide, which can cause gastrointestinal irritation such as vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite,” Dr. Schmid continued. “An additional danger that pets face during the 4th of July holiday is fireworks. Not only can pets ingest toxic materials contained in fireworks, but they can also be terrified by the sound of fireworks and attempt to escape.
According to AKC Reunite, more animals go missing during Independence Day weekend than at any other time of year. Pet Poison Helpline has partnered with AKC meets, the nation’s largest non-profit pet recovery service, offers its toxicology expertise 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as an optional, unlimited benefit that its members can add to the lifetime protection of their animal. AKC Reunite Offers recommendations on how to help your dog deal with fireworks.
“You would think he would have learned the lesson, but after bringing him home from the hospital he tried to do the same thing the next day,” Chaplin added. “He’s quite a character and we’re watching him very closely now.”
The thunder is that of June Toxin Tails case of the month. Creation of a pet poison helpline Toxin Tails to educate the veterinary community and pet lovers about the many types of poisoning dangers that pets face, both in the home and outdoors. All animals featured in Toxin Tails were successfully treated for the poisoning and fully recovered.
About the Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline®, your trusted source for toxicology and animal health advice in potential emergencies, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who need assistance in treating a potentially poisoned animal. We are an independent, nationally recognized Animal Poison Center, triple accredited by the Boards of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Pharmacy, offering unparalleled professional leadership and expertise. Our board-certified veterinarians and toxicologists provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for pet poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline charges from $85 per incident includes follow-up consultations throughout the duration of the case. Situated at MinneapolisPet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.