Pesticide Poisoning in Pets

Thousands of poisonings are reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) each year. Many of those reports lack vital information, making it difficult to identify the cause of the problem. The National Pesticide Information Center strives to collect and document pesticide incidents in such a way that regulators can make informed decisions.

• If you know or suspect your animal was exposed to a pesticide, call NPIC to discuss the incident and learn about the potential risk to your pet.
• Emergencies: Contact a veterinarian or one of our animal emergency resources. After your pet has received medical attention, contact NPIC to discuss the incident.
• If a veterinarian treated your pet, ask him or her to report the incident to the EPA through our Veterinary Incident Reporting Portal.

When used according to the label directions, pesticides used around the home or on pets should pose little risk. However, even careful use of a pesticide product can cause harm to a sensitive, ill, or injured animal.

Pet Poison Control Centers:

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center - 888-426-4435 A consultation fee may apply.
• Pet Poison Helpline - 855-764-7661 A consultation fee may apply.

If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email at npic@ace.orst.edu.

Toxicology Resources:

Rodenticides

• Anticoagulant rodenticides: Deadly for pests, dangerous for pets - ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• Zinc Phosphide - Michigan Department of Natural Resources
• Zinc Phosphide Fact Sheet: Information for Homeowners - Michigan Department of Community Health
• Toxicology Brief -- Bromethalin: The Other Rodenticide - ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• Treating Bromethalin Toxicosis - ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• Toxicology Brief: Cholecalciferol Poisoning - ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• Rodenticide Poisoning - Merck Veterinary Manual
• Rodenticide and Your Pet: What You Need to Know - ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• Long-Acting Anticoagulant Rodenticides - Iowa Poison Control Center
• Rodenticide Ingredients - Alanwood.net
• Restrictions on Rodenticide Products - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Rodenticide Toxicity - Cornell Wildlife Health Lab

Insecticides

• Permethrin Spot-On Toxicosis in Cats - ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• Toxicology Brief: Disulfoton: A Deadly Threat in Pets - ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• Carbamate Insecticides - Merck Veterinary Manual
• Insecticides Derived from Plants - Merck Veterinary Manual
• Organophosphate Insecticides - Merck Veterinary Manual
• Mothballs - Pet Poison Helpline
• Don’t DEET That Dog! - ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

Herbicides

• Toxicology Brief: Helping Animals Exposed To the Herbicide Paraquat - ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• Herbicide Poisoning - Merck Veterinary Manual

Other Pesticides

• Poison List: What did your pet ingest? - Pet Poison Helpline
• Taking the Bait: Metaldehyde Toxicosis - ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• Toxicology Brief: Metaldehyde Toxicosis - ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
• Chlorine Bleaches - Merck Veterinary Manual
• Toxicology Brief: The Toxicity of Iron, An Essential Element - ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center