Whether getting into a batch of chewing tobacco or accidentally ingesting some cigarette butts casually found on the ground, the harmful effects of nicotine may affect dogs as well. Indeed, nicotine toxicity is a condition not unheard of in veterinary medicine, and one that can lead to serious illness and even death.
-
Identification
-
Nicotine derives from the tobacco plant. Nicotine is a poison derived from the tobacco plant. It is an alkaloid substance commonly found in a variety of products such as cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco, nicotine gum, nicotine and nicotine patches.
Toxicity
-
The toxic dose of nicotine in dogs is 1/2 to one milligram of nicotine per pound of body weight. The lethal dose is four milligrams per pound of body weight, according to VeterinaryPartner.com.
Considerations
-
A cigarette may be enough to cause serious illness in your dog. A cigarette generally contains nine to 30 mg of nicotine, while a cigarette butt may contain as much as 25 percent of the nicotine contained in the original cigarette. A 40-pound dogs would therefore get very sick from eating one cigarette, and may die if it ingests about 11, according to Wendy C. Brooks, DVM.
Symptoms
-
Symptoms suggesting nicotine toxicity can present as early as an hour following ingestion and are as follows: tremors, weakness, lack of coordination, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, hallucinations, trouble breathing, seizures, collapse and even death.
Treatment
-
Supportive care is given after emptying the stomach. Initial treatment for nicotine poisoning consists of inducing vomiting or performing a gastric lavage followed by the administration of activated charcoal and fluids. Supportive care is given as needed to control seizures and help breathing.
-