Veterinary Poisons Information Service and Animal PoisonLine

13/06/2025

We are aware of a few videos circulating social media at the moment regarding ibuprofen ingestion in dogs.

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is commonly used in people for the relief of pain and inflammation associated with aches and pains, headache, cramps and for the relief of mild fever.

Ibuprofen is a very widely available over-the-counter painkiller. Although well tolerated in people, dogs are very sensitive to ibuprofen and ingestion of even a relatively low dose can cause adverse effects on the gut and the kidneys. A very large overdose can even cause very rapid onset features including convulsions.

☎️Owners can call Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 if they are concerned about their pet.

We do not recommend the administration of any human medications without prior consultation with your veterinary surgeon.

12/06/2025

We are at BVA Live in Birmingham today and tomorrow. Come and see us on stand J16 for a chance to win a toxic hamper!😆

12/06/2025

Mouldy foods and mouldy plant material (including compost) may contain toxins known as tremorgenic mycotoxins. These toxins are produced by moulds found in mouldy foods and organic materials. Animals that raid rubbish bins containing food waste are especially at risk of exposure to tremorgenic mycotoxins.

If your pet eats mouldy food or plant material containing tremorgenic mycotoxins it may become ill very quickly, often within one hour. Common signs that are seen include vomiting, wobbliness, tremors, agitation and hyperactivity, a high body temperature and panting. In severe cases there may be seizures. Effects could possibly last for several days, and fatalities have occurred. Prompt veterinary treatment is essential. The sooner they are treated, the better the outcome.

To minimise the chances of your pet accessing mouldy material, our advice to pet owners is:
• Dispose of unwanted and mouldy food promptly and carefully
• Ensure used rubbish bags are securely stored away from pets and that dustbins are firmly closed
• Consider a bin with a lockable lid if your pet is prone to scavenging!
• Prevent access by pets to compost heaps.

☎️ Pet owners can call Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000
🤳 Veterinary professionals can call VPIS on 0207 305 5055

08/06/2025

We are exhibiting at London Pet Show Live in September, and would love to meet you!

For an exclusive 20% discount on tickets, please enter code: PET106 at checkout! https://londonpetshowlive.com/buy-tickets/

Children under 16 go free when accompanied by an adult.

04/06/2025

We tend to see a peak in enquiries about slug baits during the summer months. The most common ingredient in slug bait is ferric phosphate, but we do also receive enquiries regarding metaldehyde and methiocarb-based products.

Ferric phosphate is a relatively insoluble iron salt and is available in slug baits in 1% (amateur products) and 3% (professional products). The remainder comprises filler such as bran and wheat. As a result iron poisoning is not common from ingestion of ferric phosphate slug baits but gastrointestinal signs occur.

As of April 1st 2022, metaldehyde was banned in the United Kingdom due to the risk that it poses to wildlife and the environment. Despite this ban, many owners still have domestic products containing it in their homes that were purchased before the ban was implemented. Metaldehyde is usually found as blue-green pellets but sometimes may be found in liquid preparations. Clinical signs are usually very rapid in onset after exposure and may initially start as gastrointestinal signs before progressing to more complicated and severe neurological signs including prolonged seizure activity.

Methiocarb, is a carbamate and causes rapid onset signs with diarrhoea, bronchial hyper-secretion, constricted pupils, vomiting, twitching, tremors and in severe cases, bradycardia (slow heart rate), seizures, respiratory depression and coma.

If you are concerned that your pet has ingested slug bait, owners can call our Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000. Vets can call us for treatment advice on 02073 055 055

02/06/2025

Last week, Nick Edwards, Nicola Bates, Savannah Ali and Shannon Butler attended The European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (EAPCCT) annual congress in Glasgow on behalf of the VPIS.

Our abstracts (including collaborations) were:
• 34. Adder bites reported to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service between 2011 and 2024: a retrospective study
• 131. Spathiphyllum species (peace lily) toxicosis in dogs and cats: a retrospective case series
• 201. Animal-related enquiries, a pleasure or burden for human-based Poison Information Centres?
• 202. Caffeine toxicosis in dogs
• 203. Grayanotoxicosis in ruminants

All abstracts can be viewed in full via the link below:
https://eapcct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/45th-International-Congress-of-the-European-Association-of-Poisons-Centres-and-Clinical-Toxicologists-EAPCCT-27-30-May-2025-Glasgow-Scotland.pdf

12/05/2025

Rhododendrons are medium to large evergreen shrubs with spectacular flowers. They are very popular garden plants.

To date, we have helped with 880 cases of rhododendron ingestion including 601 dogs, 93 cats, 40 rabbits, 59 goats, 36 sheep, 5 alpacas and a llama!

All parts of these plants contain grayanotoxins. These toxins can cause gastrointestinal upset, weakness , tremors and effects on heart rate. In severe cases there may be further neurological signs and blood pressure disturbances.

f you have a case of rhododendron ingestion we recommend calling us for advice.

☎️ Pet owners can call Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000
🤳 Veterinary professionals can call VPIS on 0207 305 5055

09/05/2025

After many owners asking us what plants are safe for pets, our research lead Nicola Bates has worked hard to produce a list of pet "safe" plants to help pet owners buy and grow plants while keeping their pets safe🐾

❗Be careful with plant names❗
Be aware that common names (that is, non-scientific names) may be shared by different plants. For example, the common name ‘elephant ears’ applies to several different species of plant. This is also the case with ‘money plant’ and ‘umbrella plant’. Scientific plant names may also change as more refined techniques are used to establish the relationships of plants species and families.

❗Allergic reactions❗
Many plants can cause allergic reactions in people, but this usually occurs in those with repeated contact with plants such as florists, gardeners, plant nursery workers and horticulturists. Reports of allergic reactions to plants in pets are uncommon.

This list can be seen here:

PET SAFE PLANTS This is a list of plants that are considered safe for households with pets. Note, however, that ingestion of any plant material may cause mild gastrointestinal upset. If your pet repeatedly chews plants and has gastrointestinal upset, it is recommended that plants are removed from th...

07/05/2025

Nicola Bates, the research lead and a senior information scientist here at the VPIS/APL recently published an Editorial with colleagues titled 'Emerging challenges in companion animal toxicology' for Frontiers in Veterinary Science. The Editorial with links to the articles in this topic are free to view, and can be accessed here:

This Research Topic "Emerging Challenges in Companion Animal Toxicology" presents eight manuscripts that improve our knowledge and understanding of...

03/05/2025

At this time of year, we start to notice lots of posts circulating social media regarding rapeseed; these posts are shared extensively and can understandably worry many dog owners. The posts usually state that rapeseed is highly poisonous to dogs, and can cause signs including haemolytic anaemia, blindness, damaged nervous system, digestive disorders and breathing problems.
These posts are misinformation.

The signs mentioned are typically only seen in grazing animals, and most dogs actually remain asymptomatic after exposure to rapeseed. Dogs can develop gastrointestinal upset if they have ingested some of the plant, and there have been reports of skin reactions which resemble burns, but this is extremely rare and does not happen to every dog which comes into contact with it.

30/04/2025

We are looking for a new cover photo for the month of May, and we need your help!

We want to see your photos of your pet! Please comment below for a chance to feature for the month!

The winner for the month will be selected tomorrow (1st May!)