11/03/2023
❓ Did you know that carelessly discarded cigarette butts can pose a health risk to dogs, and particularly puppies? It makes sense, because as we all know, curious puppies will take almost anything in their mouths. In extreme cases, animals have died from ingesting this unwelcome form of litter, which is why we're sharing this news release from the Pet Poison Helpline. It's also why we have these signs installed in our parking lot. If you're inclined to be a litterbug, please at least think of the pets you could be hurting when you throw a cigarette butt on the ground where a dog could eat it.
Thank you!
Playful Puppy Nearly Dies After Ingesting Cigarette
During The Great American Smokeout®, People Should Also Protect Their Pets
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Nov. 1, 2023) – Arizona dust storms can be dangerous, but one recent gust carried something deadly into Corinna Lopez’s backyard – a half-smoked cigarette and butt. Yes, we know ci******es can be deadly to humans, but in this case the victim was canine. After her four-pound Shih Tzu puppy named Gizmo ingested part of the cigarette, he lost full control of his body movements, vomited and had a seizure.
“One of the neighbors’ discarded ci******es must have blown into the back yard during a recent dust storm,” Lopez said. “We were training Gizmo to go outside to p*e, but when I went to bring him in, I noticed a cigarette butt stuck to his fur. I didn’t see him eat any of it, but after about an hour he became very lethargic and started having a seizure. We rushed him to the veterinarian, who told us that if we hadn’t gotten Gizmo to the hospital right away, he probably wouldn’t have made it. We had no idea that a cigarette butt could be so dangerous to pets.”
It’s November, and once again the Great American Smokeout campaign is reminding people of the dangers of to***co. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 34 million Americans still smoke ci******es or use ni****ne-infused products, so the toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline are reminding pet owners that ni****ne and other smoking-related products can also be deadly to animals.
“Gizmo’s potentially deadly cigarette was blown into his back yard during a storm, but many pets encounter to***co and other ni****ne products on a regular basis,” said Renee Schmid,
DVM, DABT, DABVT, a senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline. “With so many ni****ne products on the market, including ci******es, ci**rs, e-ci******es, gums, smokeless to***co, transdermal patches and insecticidal dusts and sprays, there are many ways our pets can become exposed.”
Signs of poisoning include vomiting, ataxia (the loss of full control of body movements), agitation, lethargy, tremors, tachycardia (fast heart rate), reflex bradycardia (slowed heart rate), hypertension, hypotension, tachypnea (rapid breathing), CNS depression and seizures.
“Very young or very old pets, or those with underlying heart or kidney disease, are more likely to develop clinical signs. Gizmo’s very small size and young age made the risk of poisoning
high even with only one half of a cigarette ingested,” Dr. Schmid explained. “Initially, the ni****ne will act as a stimulant, but then leads to CNS depression. Another concern is products containing xylitol, like ni****ne gum, which can cause hypoglycemia or liver injury.”
Once Gizmo arrived at the Arizona Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Center in Peoria, Ariz., the medical team collaborated with the toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline to determine that he was suffering from ni****ne exposure. Gizmo was unresponsive when he
arrived and in need of immediate life-saving care. They placed him on IV fluids, antiemetics, anticonvulsants if additional seizures occurred and methocarbamol for his tremors. After a night of intensive therapy and close observation, Gizmo was able to go home to his family, and is now back to full health.
“If you smoke, please, please, please properly dispose of your cigarette butts,” Lopez added. “And if your pet encounters any to***co products, call Pet Poison Helpline or get them to
the veterinarian immediately. It can save their life.”
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. We are an independent, nationally recognized animal poison control center triple licensed by the Boards of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Pharmacy providing unmatched professional leadership and expertise. Our veterinarians and board-certified 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 animal
poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $85 per incident includes follow-up consultations for the duration of the case. Based in Minneapolis, Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found
online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.
