Dog consumes fatal human cancer cream

Items left on the counter top can be harmful to curious dogs. Though family pet owners are typically anxious about their furry friend entering food, medications neglected can likewise position a hazard, which is the subject of the latest Toxin Tails installation from the Pet Poison Helpline.¹

Carson Gilchrist, who resides in Basalt, Colorado, shared that her mama had prescription skin cream to treat cancer they believed was empty, so they left it on the kitchen area counter by the phone as a tip to buy more. However, while they ran out your house, their dog Josephine pulled the container off the counter and chewed it up. Gilchrist explained, in the release, “At first, we didn’t consider the contents because there was no warning on the container and we thought it was empty, but later that night she started vomiting and we realized something was wrong.”¹ They called the vet, who advised them to call Pet Poison Helpline.

“We receive countless calls including family pets who have actually taken medication off a counter when their human isn’t looking, however this kind of medication can be especially fatal, even in percentages,” said Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, a senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline.¹ Josie had actually consumed a cancer treatment consisting of medication called Fluorouracil (5-FU) and calcipotriene, 2 of the most harmful topical toxic substances to dogs and cats.¹ It is utilized to treat human skin cancers (eg, shallow basal cell cancer and actinic keratosis).

“While the intravenous form of 5-FU might be utilized in dogs for particular cancers, the topical variation is really harmful when consumed by dogs or cats,” said Schmid.¹ She included that even percentages of it can trigger severe intestinal indications (eg, throwing up, diarrhea), main nerve system indications (eg, tremblings, seizures, and so on), and bone marrow suppression. “5-FU is quickly taken in from the intestinal system, and scientific indications can typically be seen within thirty minutes to 6 hours with deaths reported as early as 7 hours after consumption. Immediate treatment is needed, and the diagnosis with 5-FU consumption is typically severe, specifically in cats as they are a lot more conscious poisoning from the medication,” Schmid continued. Meanwhile calcipotriene is a vitamin D analog with a narrow margin of safety and consumption can trigger raised calcium levels that can lead to tissue mineralization and kidney damage resulting in kidney failure and death.¹

“The toxicology specialists at Pet Poison Helpline informed us that based upon the kind of mediation and quantity possibly consumed, we required to take Josie to the medical facility instantly,” Gilchrist said.¹ “The opening night at Valley Emergency Pet Care, it didn’t appear to be too severe. They were treating her with medical grade triggered charcoal and had her on intravenous fluids. We took her to our routine vet the next day and she began having severe seizures they could not manage. Things got gradually even worse.”

Josephine was then given Grand Valley Veterinary Emergency Care, a bigger medical facility 2 hours from home. The family likewise considered taking her to Colorado State University Veterinary Hospital, however their vet was fretted about Josephine having unmanageable seizures throughout a 5-hour drive. Josie continued to have seizures when she came to the medical facility the vet provided her a poor to severe diagnosis. “The medical professional alerted us it might not be a good result, and informed us to get ready for the worst,” Gilchrist shared.

“Throughout this entire procedure, each vet was talking with the Pet Poison Helpline group to help identify the very best course of treatment,” Gilchrist said. “The folks in Grand Junction had the ability to get her seizures under control, however there were still a great deal of other concerns like low leukocyte counts. Josephine remained in the medical facility 3 more days, getting extensive care with laboratory work tracking, intravenous fluids, filgrastim for the low leukocyte count, levetiracetam for seizures, prescription antibiotics, and liver protectants, and after that we took her home. She was on numerous medications after she was launched, and we took her in to our regional medical facility every 3 days for blood tests. As signs enhanced, we altered to when a week.”¹

Josephine even more showed positive indications, and began to come off her medications. After over a month, she went back to complete health.

“We might not be more grateful to Pet Poison Helpline, and all the vets who dealt with Josephine,” Gilchrist said. “The something we have actually gained from this experience is to take prospective poisonings a lot more seriously. I want there had actually been more specific instructions on the cream bottle that explained it is so poisonous to family pets. Apparently, it can even be fatal if a dog merely licks it off your skin.”¹

“Since most human medications do not include cautions about the impacts on animals, we advise that you keep all your medications out of reach, including your family pet’s medications,” Schmid said.¹ “Even drugs particularly recommended for family pets can be harmful if consumed in the incorrect quantity, or by the incorrect family pet.”

Reference

Counter-surfing dog almost passes away after consuming cancer treatment cream. News release. Pet Poison Helpline. July 12, 2023. Accessed July 12, 2023.