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Insecticide Poisoning in Dogs
Written By hannah hollinger
Published: 09/30/2015Updated: 10/23/2024
Veterinary reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon, MVB MRCVS
What is Insecticide Poisoning?
Insecticides are commonly used to keep pests away from plants, as well as to repel fleas and ticks from pets. Though insecticides are safe when used correctly, an incorrect usage or accidental consumption can lead to poisoning. It's imperative to remove your dog from any area that may be toxic. The effects of insecticide poisoning can be severe enough to be fatal, which is why it is vital that you bring your dog to the veterinarian for decontamination as soon as possible.
Insecticide poisoning can be caused by any insecticide and results in symptoms that range from mild to severe. Treatment is focused on decontamination and on flushing the insecticide out of the system, whether through vomiting or by emptying the bowels. If there is any chance that your dog may have insecticide poisoning, bring them to the veterinarian immediately, as delays in treatment and supportive care may lead to death.Insecticide Poisoning Average Cost
From 45 quotes ranging from $300 - $3,000
Average Cost
$1,600
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Symptoms of Insecticide Poisoning in Dogs
The clinical signs for insecticide poisoning vary depending on the source and are nonspecific to the condition. Potential symptoms include:
Causes of Insecticide Poisoning in Dogs
Insecticide poisoning is caused by the direct application or by accidental consumption of the insecticide. There are many types of insecticides, including:
- Carbamate insecticides - The easiest way to identify poisoning caused by carbamate insecticides is through the acronym SLUD (salivation, lacrimation, urination, and diarrhea).
- d-Limonene - A 5x-10x increase in d-Limonene treatment will induce muscle tremors, mild hypothermia, and hypersalivation.
- Methoxychlor - Although one of the safest insecticides, it has known negative reproductive effects and is not safe to use on animals that produce milk.
- Pyrethrins or pyrethroids - Pyrethrins have been used as a popular insecticide for years; it's effective by attacking the sodium channel as well as the chloride and calcium channels. This effect exacerbates the impact when reaching toxic levels in dogs. Cats are especially sensitive to pyrethrins and applying a pyrethrin product meant for a dog to a cat can prove fatal.
Insecticides are often used to help prevent fleas and ticks on dogs. Though these can usually be applied topically without harming your dog, they may still be dangerous if an adverse reaction occurs or if your dog ingests the insecticide. A residual insecticide applied to plants or feed may also harm your dog if eaten or otherwise absorbed through the skin.
Diagnosis of Insecticide Poisoning in Dogs
A diagnosis for insecticide poisoning is typically made based on history and clinical findings. If you know or suspect that your dog has insecticide poisoning, bring a sample of the insecticide with you so that your veterinarian can prescribe the appropriate treatment. Let your veterinarian know what symptoms your dog has exhibited, as well as their duration and severity.
Treatment is usually provided before confirmation of the diagnosis, as insecticide poisoning can be quickly fatal. However, with certain insecticides, the diagnosis can be confirmed with laboratory testing of the blood or urine. If cholinesterase levels in the blood are less than 25 percent, your veterinarian will confirm a positive case. If you are not sure that your dog has been in contact with an insecticide, and if clinical signs do not ease following treatment, insecticide poisoning may not be the cause of your dog’s symptoms.
Treatment of Insecticide Poisoning in Dogs
Treatment for insecticide poisoning depends on whether the insecticide was applied or ingested, though the goal in both cases is decontamination and symptom management. If the insecticide was applied, simply bathing your dog with dishwashing detergent before the product has been absorbed may be enough to decontaminate them.
In cases where the insecticide was ingested, it will need to be flushed out of your dog’s stomach. In most cases, this can be accomplished by inducing vomiting and/or through emptying the bowels. With certain insecticides, vomiting is not recommended, in which case your veterinarian may administer activated charcoal to bind toxins and prevent them from getting absorbed, or they will perform a gastric lavage.
IV fluid therapy may be necessary to flush the patient through, while anti-seizure medication may be given to address convulsions, and a respirator or oxygen cage used to aid with breathing. As the insecticide is flushed out of your dog’s system, your veterinarian will focus on managing their symptoms. Hospitalization may be required for treatment, monitoring, and supportive care.
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Recovery of Insecticide Poisoning in Dogs
As with any recovery, it's imperative to provide your dog with a safe, quiet place to rest once they are home again and make sure they have easy access to fresh water. Monitor your dog for returning or additional symptoms, and let your veterinarian know immediately if you notice any new clinical signs.
It is easier to prevent insecticide poisoning than it is to treat it. Before applying any tick or flea medication on your pet, be sure to read the instructions carefully, and use only the amount that is recommended for their size. Keep all insecticides in a place they cannot reach, and store them according to instructions. If your furry friend enjoys rolling around in the grass or playing in fields, try to take them to a place where you know insecticides are not used. Otherwise, with a possible exposure, you can give your dog a foot bath when you get back home, as residual insecticide may linger on footpads and fur.
Insecticide poisoning can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your dog is at risk of insecticide poisoning, start searching for pet insurance today. Wag!’s pet insurance comparison tool lets you compare plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Embrace. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!
Cost of Insecticide Poisoning in Dogs
The cost to treat insecticide poisoning can vary depending on how serious the condition is. Pet parents can expect to spend $300 to $500 if vomiting is induced, and between $600 to $1,700 if a short hospitalization is required.
Got more questions about insecticide poisoning in dogs? Chat with a vet professional today to get answers.
Insecticide Poisoning Average Cost
From 45 quotes ranging from $300 - $3,000
Average Cost
$1,600
Top
Insecticide Poisoning Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Golden Retriever
Six Years
19 found this helpful
19 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Redness
my dog licked up foam wasp spray which had dripped into the ground. She was licking her lips so we looked outside and figured out what had happened. It could not have been much. She went outside and vomited. Her vet said to call the poison hotline. She is eating her food.. We want to be safe.
Sept. 28, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
19 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
Without knowing the product that she ate, unfortunately, I don't know if it is a problem or not. It would be best to call a Pet Poison Control Hotline, and give them the name of the product so that they can see if a small amount might be a problem. There should also be a warning on the side of the canister that tells what to do in case of accidental ingestion.
I hope that all goes well for her and she is okay.
Oct. 4, 2020
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Long Haired Dotson
Three Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None
My dog licked Raid off the wall after it was sprayed. Is he OK or is there something we should do????
Sept. 25, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay, this venue is not set up for urgent emails.
I hope that your pet is okay. If they are still having any problems, It would be best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get any testing or treatment taken care of that might be needed.
Oct. 20, 2020
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Chihuahua
Five Years
27 found this helpful
27 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None
My dog ate a fry covered in floor cleaner and bug killer, I’m not sure how much she ingested but what should I do to ensure she doesn’t get sick
Aug. 5, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
27 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. You can't do anything to make her not get sick after eating that, all you can do is watch her and get treatment for her if she does get sick. She may be fine, but it would be best to monitor her for signs of vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or loss of appetite, and if any of those things happen, have her seen by a veterinarian for treatment right away.
I hope that all goes well for her!
Aug. 5, 2020
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Australian Shepherd or Mini or Toy Australian Shepherd
Four Months
9 found this helpful
9 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Tarry Stool
My puppy is having very runny stools.
Aug. 5, 2020
Answered by Jessica N. DVM
9 Recommendations
Hello-
Thank you for reaching out. I’m sorry your pet isn’t feeling well. Diarrhea in puppies can have many causes. Common causes in puppies are parasites, food/treat change or if not vaccinated infectious causes such a parvovirus. Other possibilities include generalized colitis, stress or toxin ingestion. I would recommend having your puppy seen by a veterinarian and having a stool sample checked and they can get him some medication to help treat the stool.
Aug. 5, 2020
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Mixed breed
10 months
15 found this helpful
15 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None`
Our apartment was sprayed this morning for pests and when we returned we realized we left our dogs water bowl out. The spraying occurred approximately 4 hours before he drank from the water bowl and after realizing it was out we emptied and cleaned it. Just concerned about any residual spray that could've gotten into his water bowl- could he have ingested it?
Aug. 3, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
15 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. Most sprays for pesticides are not toxic to dogs, and it would take a fair amount of concentrated ingestion to cause a toxicity. If there is only a possibility that a little bit got in the water and you may have drank a little bit of that, he should be okay. It would be best to clean out the water bowl, obviously, and give him new water, and monitor for signs like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or loss of appetite. If any of those signs happen, it would be best to have him seen by a veterinarian, but I think he will be okay.
Aug. 3, 2020
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French Bulldog
Tia
10 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Collapse
Lethargy
Vomiting
I took my puppy outside for 10 minutes, watched her go potty and she never was further than 3 ft from me. Then upon taking her inside she starting vomiting and collapsed. I rushed her to the Vet 4 minutes away, we then rushed her to critical care after 10 hours working on her, blood transfusion, epi, the list goes on, she passed. The only thing different that day was I had a new bug guy who used Cyonara 9.7 that morning. She was let outside 4 hours and 40 minutes after he left. I'm at a loss looking for answers as to what and why this happened. I had my last bug guy for 5 years, who retired, and never an issue. It was the only thing different. Any advice or reasoning could help.
Read more at: https://wagwalking.com/condition/insecticide-poisoning
Pit bull
Jack
Eight Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
I sprayed Mycodex on the door steps. and my dog licked it once before I stopped him. He seems ok. I wondered what are the side effects on dogs of licking it that I should watch for.
Mini Australian Shepterrier
Chloe and Annie
7 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Mild Shaking
Infrequent Nausea Diarhea
Mild Shaking Before Vomitting
Mild Shaking Before Vomiting
Initial Coughing Yesterday
My daughter moved into an apartment 3 months ago. Her mini Australian Shepherd has been getting sick about every two weeks with nausea and gold colored running poop that sometimes has mucus in it. I’ve taken her dog to the vet twice only to be told they don’t know what’s really wrong with her. I took my own mini Aussie puppy there yesterday, and now she has the same symptoms, and she’s never been sick. I know the property management had the apartment exterminated two weeks before my daughter moved in, and at the time I questioned the safeness of the dog being in there and if cleaning up the baseboards was needed, and was told no. My dog started coughing there yesterday, and then this morning she is sick. Either something inside or outside that property is making our dogs sick. Both are UTD on all their vaccines and heartworm prevention. Please help.
German Shepherd
Rose
6 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
We treat tour 6 month old gsd with deltamethrin 1.25 with 0.6ml in one litre bottle.after that we washed him with 2 dog shampoos for ticks and flees after that night he started to do little watery Diarrhea not too watery and he vomited once in morning vomit was white consist of hair and a little blood like blood clot.i want to know is it becoz of deltamethrin?.Coz before he can lick it we washed him using shampoos.
Insecticide Poisoning Average Cost
From 45 quotes ranging from $300 - $3,000
Average Cost
$1,600
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
