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| Links to the top 10: 1. Ant Baits 2. Silica Gel Packets 3. Toilet Water 4. Birth Control Pills 5. Liquid Potpourri 6. Chocolate 7. Cigarettes 8. Pennies 9. Bread Dough 10. Mothballs 11. Moldy Food |
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7. Cigarettes
Tobacco products contain varying amounts of nicotine with cigarettes containing 13-30 mg and
cigars containing 15-40 mg. Butts contain about 25% of the total nicotine content. The oral
Lethal Dose(LD50) in dogs is 9.2 mg/kg.
Signs often develop quickly (usually within 15-45 minutes) and include excitation, tachypnea,
salivation, emesis, and diarrhea. Muscle weakness, twitching, depression, tachycardia,
shallow respiration, collapse, coma, and cardiac arrest can follow the period of
excitation. Death occurs secondary to respiratory paralysis.
Table of nicotine content of common sources of nicotine.
8. Pennies
Ingestion of coins by pets, especially dogs, is not uncommon. Of the existing US coins currently
in circulation, only pennies pose a significant toxicity hazard. Pennies minted since 1983 contain
99.2% zinc and 0.8% copper, making ingested pennies a rich source of zinc. Other potential
sources of zinc include hardware such as screws, bolts, nuts, etc., all of which may contain
varying amounts of zinc. In the stomach, gastric acids leach the zinc from its source, and the
ionized zinc is readily absorbed into the circulation, where it causes intravascular hemolysis.
The most common clinical signs of penny ingestion are vomiting, depression, anorexia,
hemoglobinuria, diarrhea, weakness, collapse and icterus. Secondarily, acute renal failure
may develop. Clinical laboratory abnormalities will be suggestive of hemolysis (elevated bilirubin,
hemoglobinemia, hemoglobinuria, regenerative anemia) and may also indicate the development
of kidney failure. Serum zinc levels may be obtained—blood should be collected in all plastic
syringes (no rubber grommets) and shipped in Royal blue top vaccutainers to minimize
contamination with exogenous zinc. Radiography of the abdomen may reveal the presence of
coins or other “hardware” within the stomach.
Treatment for recently ingested pennies would include induction of vomiting. Activated charcoal
is not indicated, as it is of little benefit in binding metals. Removal of zinc-containing foreign
bodies via endoscopy or gastrotomy/enterotomy may be required. Treatment for symptomatic
animals should include blood replacement therapy as needed, intravenous fluids, and other
supportive care. The use of chelators may not be necessary in cases where prompt removal of
the zinc source is accomplished. If chelation therapy is instituted, careful monitoring of renal
parameters is important for the duration of therapy.
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