Signs & Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning in Animals

There are over 20,000 pesticides on the market. Pesticides are used on lawns, gardens, fields and animals. They're used to control pests that damage crops and that carry diseases to humans and animals. Pesticides are active poisons. If used properly, pesticides are effective and useful. Misuse of pesticides can be deadly. Some pesticides can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, eaten or transmitted by secondary exposure. Effects of pesticide poisoning range from slight to severe.

Ant and Pest

Some animals will exhibit different signs and symptoms, depending on the amount of pesticide they've been exposed to or if the poisoning is in the early stages. Organophosphates are ingredients in garden-pest, wasp and ant killer. A mild poisoning of organophosphate will cause excessive salivation, sweating, tremors and constriction of pupils. Moderate poisoning symptoms include vomiting, slow pulse and uncontrollable tremors. Severe poisoning of organophophate causes unconsciousness, coma, loss of reflexes and death. Arsenic is an ingredient in ant and roach killers. Symptoms of arsenic poisoning are bloody diarrhea, stomach pains, coma, shock and death.

Baits

Metaldehyde is used in rat, slug and snail bait. Exposure to metaldehyde-based products can result in anxiety, twitching muscles and eyes, and behaviors similar to drunkenness. It can cause panting, drooling, seizures and death. Coumarin and warfarin are anti-coagulants also used in rat bait. They cause bleeding gums, bloody noses and death. Boric acid is used in ant and roach killers. Ingestion can cause drooling, blood in urine, coma, abdominal pain and death.

Flea Products and Dips

Permethrin is used in over-the-counter flea preventives and collars. Permethrin poisoning includes twitching, lack of appetite, sweating, salivation and death. Rotenone is an ingredient in flea dips, ear mite drops and powders. Symptoms of rotenone poisoning are seizures, vomiting, respiratory failure, lethargy and death.

Miticide

Dicofol is a miticide, or mite-killer, and contains low levels of DDT. Symptoms of ingestion or inhalation include dizziness, weakness, vomiting, convulsions, coma and death. Lindane is used in treating lice. It can cause seizures, convulsions and death.

Avoid Problems

Pesticide poisoning can happen suddenly or over time, with symptoms presenting as acute or chronic. Pesticides can affect the central nervous system, the immune system and the genes. Damage may take generations to appear. You can avoid many of the problems associated with pesticides by following the directions on the label. Store pesticides carefully and always in their own bottle. Keep animals away newly treated areas, and be careful when using baits. Take care when applying flea drops or dips to your pets.

Treatment

Treatment for pesticide poisoning will depend on the kind of pesticide used and how quickly you act. If you notice any unusual behavior in an animal, call the animal control center closest to you. If you need immediate attention, call your veterinarian or the National Animal Control Center at 1-888-426-4435. There may be a fee.