Foodstuffs toxic to dogs: macadamia nuts and onions

Među najčešća otrovanja kućnih ljubimaca spadaju otrovanja humanim lijekovima i onima koji se izdaju bez recepta, veterinarskim lijekovima, insekticidima, rodenticidima, kemikalijama koje se koriste u kućanstvima, gnojivom i kućnim biljkama, a vrlo važna su i otrovanja hranom za ljude koja može biti otrovna za pse i mačke. Različita hrana koja nije štetna za ljude ili je štetna samo u velikim količinama, može prouzročiti teška otrovanja ili čak uginuće životinja. Vlasnici životinja često nisu svjesni te činjenice i nehotice ih mogu hraniti potencijalno toksičnim tvarima, vjerujući da ono što nije štetno za njih ne može biti štetno niti za njihove ljubimce. Važan izvor informacija o otrovanjima pasa i mačaka su periodična izvješća centara za hitnu pomoć pri otrovanju kućnih ljubimaca, iz brojnih zemalja. Nastavno prethodnom radu u kojem su opisana otrovanja čokoladom, kavom, grožđem i grožđicama, koja su najčešća otrovanja hranom, u ovom radu opisana su otrovanja pasa i mačaka oraščićima makadamije, lukom i češnjakom, tj. biljkama iz roda Allium, koji se isto tako ubrajaju u 10 najznačajnijih namirnica toksičnih za kućne ljubimce. Osim mogućih izvora otrovanja, opisani su mehanizmi toksičnog djelovanja i toksične doze, znaci otrovanja te preporučeni postupci s otrovanom životinjom. Znaci otrovanja pasa oriščićima makadamije javljaju se do 12 sati nakon ingestije, a karakterističan simptom otrovanja je slabost i nemoć koja je jače izražena u stražnjim nogama. Otrovane životinje se uglavnom potpuno oporave za dva dana bez liječenja. Klinički znaci otrovanja pasa i mačaka lukom razviju se 24 sata od ingestije ili nekoliko dana kasnije, ovisno o količini pojedenog luka. Najčešći klinički znaci najprije su povraćanje, proljev, bol u trbuhu, gubitak apetita i depresija te razvoj anemije posljedica koje su blijede sluznice, slabost, ubrzano disanje, ubrzan rad srca. Žutica i tamna mokraća (crvenkasta ili smeđa posljedica su methemoglobinemije i hemoglobinurije. Cilj ovog rada je informirati veterinare i vlasnike životinja o potencijalno toksičnim tvarima za kućne ljubimce kako bi mogli djelovati preventivno i izbjeći rizik od otrovanja uklanjanjem tih tvari iz prehrane i spremanjem na mjesta koja im nisu dostupna.
Pet poisoning is most common with human drugs and over-the-counter drugs, veterinary drugs, insecticides, rodenticides, household chemicals, fertilizers and houseplants. Another important source is poisoning with human foods that may be toxic for dogs and cats. Different foods that are not harmful to humans or that are harmful only in large quantities can cause severe poisoning or even death of animals. Animal owners are often unaware of this fact and inadvertently may keep potentially toxic substances, believing that what is not harmful to them cannot be harmful to their pets. Important sources of information on poisoning of dogs and cats are the periodical reports of emergency centres for pet poisoning from many countries. As a follow-up to a previous study that described poisoning with chocolate, coffee, grapes and raisins, as the most common sources of food poisoning, this paper describes the poisoning of dogs and cats with macadamia nuts, onions and garlic, i.e. plants of the genus Allium, which are among the 10 most toxic foods for pets. Apart from possible sources of poisoning, we describe the mechanisms of toxicity and the toxic dose, signs of poisoning, and recommended treatment of the poisoned animals. Signs of poisoning with macadamia nuts in may occur up to 12 hours after ingestion, and a characteristic symptom is weakness which is more pronounced in the hind legs. Poisoned animals generally recover completely within two days without treatment. Clinical signs of poisoning with onions in dogs and cats develops within 24 hours of ingestion or a few days later, depending on the amount eaten. The most common clinical signs are vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and depression, as well as the development of anaemia resulting in pale mucous membranes, weakness, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat. Jaundice and dark urine (reddish or brown) are the result of methemoglobinemia and haemoglobinuria. The aim of this paper is to raise awareness about potentially toxic substances for pets among veterinarians and animal owners, so they can act preventively, by avoiding their consumption or storage in places accessible to pets.