Sit, stay, heel… but what about, “Don’t touch that! It might be poisonous!”? Long summer days mean more time for everyone to spend outside—including our furry, fluffy and curious canine companions. With summer comes unique situations that might cause your dog harm. We turned to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) for their guidance on potential toxins our furry friends might come into contact with this time of year. Read on to help prevent your pooch from harm!

Cookout Lookouts:

Summer is prime grilling season. The smell of burgers sizzling on the grill can draw anyone to the flame, including the family dog. Beware, though, because this outdoor activity can pose a few challenges for dogs, including:

• Fatty foods and dripped oils: Both can cause pancreatitis in dogs. In addition, if either substance lands on something like a rock under the grill, your dog might go for it and end up consuming the rock as well. In this case, there’s the potential for your dog to experience a gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction.
• Charcoal briquettes: While the risk of toxicity risk is low, if your dog swallows big chunks, they could be at risk of GI obstruction. If the briquettes were still hot while ingested, it can also lead to burns in your pet’s mouth and GI tract.
• Lighter fluid:
  • Dogs and other pets may develop weakness, lethargy or slowed reflexes if they inhale lighter fluid in a confined space. If your dog ingests lighter fluid, do not induce vomiting. ASPCA veterinarians tell us it’s safer for the lighter fluid to stay in the dog’s stomach than to bring it back up. It’s often best to feed the dog a small meal to help absorb the fluid and/or give the dog some milk to dilute it. Note: If your dog vomits after ingesting lighter fluid, there is a risk of breathing the fluid into the lungs as it goes down the wrong way into the pet’s airway.

Firework Flare-Ups:

If ingested, fireworks can be hazardous to our canine friends.  

• A small exposure may cause mild GI upset.
• With larger exposures there can be concern for GI obstruction. In addition, dogs may develop a condition called methemoglobinemia, in which red blood cells don’t carry oxygen properly, which can be very serious. This can be characterized by a brownish color to the gums or tongue and is similar to what APCC sees with acetaminophen toxicity.
• And, of course, there are concerns of burn injury from coming in contact with a live firework. If you call APCC because your pet ingested fireworks, it’s helpful to know what kind, if possible, and whether or not the fireworks were previously used (i.e. exploded/spent) or new.

As a side note, ASPCA tells us more dogs get loose on the 4th of July than any other day of the year because of fireworks. Make sure your pet is secure in the yard or home when fireworks are going off. Also be sure they have an ID tag and/or microchip with up-to-date information if they run loose in the neighborhood. 

Chemical Concerns:

The products we use when spending more time outdoors can be harmful to our canine companions:

• Sunscreen: Lotions and sprays can contain one or more of a group of compounds called salicylates. If your dog ingests sunscreen, the concentration of salicylates is generally low enough to only result in mild GI upset. It is worth noting that some dogs can be particularly sensitive to salicylates and may develop more severe signs.
• Insecticide/Pesticide (citronella, DEET or other pesticides): When it comes to these products, the active ingredient and concentration are major factors in determining the severity of exposure for your dog. In many cases, citronella oil results in GI upset. Depending on the product formulation, it may also carry an aspiration risk if vomiting occurs. Most canine exposures to DEET, commonly used to prevent bug bites, usually result in mild GI upset. However, larger ingestions can have neurologic side effects, including tremors or seizures. These signs have a fairly rapid onset, usually within a few hours of ingestion.

Swim Safety:

As the temperature goes up, so do the number of days spent in the water—dogs included. Watch for potential toxins your pup may encounter in the water:

• Blue-Green Algae: Depending on your location, Blue-Green Algae is a summer hazard found in lakes and ponds. It appears as a bluish-green “slick” on top of the water, often along the shoreline. A couple common varieties of this organism could cause symptoms in dogs ranging from neurologic signs to liver failure. Symptoms can come on very rapidly after exposure, sometimes before your pet has even gotten out of the water. Always check for water conditions in your area (posted signs or on local community websites) before you or your dog go in the water. It’s possible for the organism to be present before the “slick” is seen.
• Pool Chemicals: As a general rule, if a treated pool is safe for you or your kids to swim in, it’s safe for your dog. It’s not uncommon, however, for dogs to get into pool chemical containers and drink the solution or eat the tablets. Symptoms of these exposures vary widely depending on the chemical and its acidity. Potential symptoms include: digestive upset, burns or ulceration, and skin or eye problems. Always store pool chemicals where they can’t be knocked over or reached by your pets.

ASPCA Poison Control Center Additional Tips and Resources:

How to keep your pets safe during flea and tick season

Poisonous Household Products

Poisonous Plants

How to safely treat your house with insecticides

Special thanks to our friends at ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) for providing this information as well as their hotline service. If you believe your pet may have ingested a potentially toxic substance, contact the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435 immediately or your veterinarian. APCC is your best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A consultation fee may apply. Any fee will be discussed and approved by you prior to consultation. In most cases, pet insurance will cover the cost.

For a potentially harmful substance impacting humans, don’t hesitate to call the national Poison Center’s free, confidential 1-800-222-1222 helpline. Trained specialists are available around the clock to answer your questions and/or provide treatment recommendations. Click here for more summer safety tips or here for a free Safety Packet (contains a sticker, magnet and first aid tips for a poisoning).

P.S. Coming Soon: Our feline friends and potential toxins