E-cigarettes are sparking heated
debates as lawmakers, medical professionals and industry grapple over
the relative safety of the nicotine-delivering devices. But for pet
owners, there is no debate. Nicotine poses a serious threat of
poisoning to dogs and cats, and e-cigarettes back a powerful punch.
The problem is that many pet owners don’t realize it.
Pet Poison Helpline has encount-cered a
sharp uptick in calls concerning cases of nicotine poisoning in pets
that ingested e-cigarettes or liquid nicotine refill solution. In
fact, over the past six months, cases have more than doubled,
indicating that along with their increased popularity, the
nicotine-delivering devices are becoming a more significant threat to
pets. While dogs account for the majority of cases, nicotine in
e-cigarettes and liquid refill solution is toxic to cats as well.
“We’ve handled cases for pets poisoned by eating traditional cigarettes or tobacco products
containing nicotine for many years,” said Ahna Brutlag, DVM, MS,
DABT, DABVT and associate director of veterinary services at Pet
Poison Helpline. “But, as the use of e-cigarettes has become more
widespread, our call volume for cases involving them has increased
considerably.”
In an effort to educate pet owners
before an accident occurs, Pet Poison Helpline offers this important
safety information.
What are e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are simply another way of delivering nicotine. Designed to resemble traditional cigarettes, the battery operated devices atomize liquid that contains nicotine, turning it into a vapor that can be inhaled. The most recent craze is flavoured e-cigarettes, which are available in an array of flavors from peppermint to banana cream pie, and everything in between.
What makes e-cigarettes toxic to pets?
The aroma of liquid nicotine in
e-cigarettes can be alluring to dogs, and flavoured e-cigarettes could
be even more enticing. The issue is the amount of nicotine in each
cartridge, which is between 6 mg and 24 mg. So, each cartridge
contains the nicotine equivalent of one to two traditional
cigarettes, but purchase packs of five to 100 cartridges multiply
that amount many times over, posing a serious threat to pets who chew
them. For example, if a single cartridge is ingested by a 50-pound
dog, clinical signs of poisoning are likely to occur. But if a dog
that weighs 10 pounds ingests the same amount, death is possible.
Dogs of any weight that ingest multiple e-cigarette cartridges are at
risk for severe poisoning and even death. In addition to the toxicity
of nicotine, the actual e-cigarette casing can result in oral injury
when chewed, and can cause gastrointestinal upset with the risk of a
foreign body obstruction.
Some e-cigarette users buy vials of
liquid nicotine solution for refilling e-cigarette cartridges. The
solution is commonly referred to as “e-liquid” or “e-juice.”
The small bottles hold enough liquid to fill multiple cartridges,
meaning they contain a considerable amount of nicotine. Pet owners
should be very careful to store them out of the reach of pets.
What happens when e-cigarettes are
ingested by pets?
Nicotine poisoning in pets has a rapid
onset of symptoms – generally within 15 to 60 minutes following
ingestion. Symptoms for dogs and cats include vomiting, diarrhea,
agitation, elevations in heart rate and respiration rate, depression,
tremors, ataxia, weakness, seizures, cyanosis, coma, and cardiac
arrest.
What to do if a pet is exposed?
Because nicotine poisoning can happen
so rapidly following ingestion, prompt veterinary care can mean the
difference between life and death for a pet. Home care is not
generally possible with nicotine exposure due to the severity of
poisoning, even in small doses. Take action immediately by contacting
a veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680.
As always, prevention is the bestmedicine. E-cigarettes, cartridges and vials of refilling solution
should always be kept out of the reach of pets and children.
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