Iron Poisoning in Dogs

There are four stages of iron toxicosis, which your dog goes through in the first few hours until six weeks later. The first stage occurs in the first 6 hours, in which your dog goes through gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea. The second stage occurs between 6 and 24 hours when your dog seems to be completely better. Between 12 and 96 hours, stage 3 occurs. This is when the worst of the clinical symptoms occur, such as muscle tremors, bloody diarrhea, rapid heart rate, jaundice, hypotension, seizures, organ damage, shock, and possibly death if it is not treated right away. Up to six weeks later, your dog can develop intestinal strictures and blockages. Even if your dog only shows mild gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea or vomiting), your dog can develop these strictures, so even if your dog shows no signs of distress, it is important to see the veterinarian if you suspect he has ingested a toxic amount of iron.

Although iron is the most common trace mineral in your dog’s body, it is incredibly toxic to the tissues when there is too much in the blood. Iron poisoning is a common occurrence in dogs, and can be fatal if not treated right away. Iron toxicity is not always caused by medication but is also in heating pads, pesticides, fertilizer, and even oxygen absorbers that are found in dried or dehydrated foods. The level of toxicity from iron depends on how much is already in your dog’s blood at the time and how much is ingested. The iron is corrosive to the stomach and intestinal lining, causing bleeding and possibly abdominal perforation.

The iron attacks the liver, nervous system, heart, gastrointestinal and metabolic system because animals are not able to rid the body of excess iron. Your dog’s symptoms vary according to the amount of iron they ingested and how long it has been since ingestion. There are four stages in which the symptoms change:

Stage One (first 6 hours)

• Diarrhea and vomiting
• Pain and swelling in the abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Agitation
• Fast heartbeat
• Low blood pressure
• Extreme tiredness
• Shock
• Seizure

 Stage Two (6 to24 hours)

• Symptoms disappear

 Stage Three (12 to 36 hours)

• Depression
• Fever
• Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
• Bloody diarrhea
• Muscle tremors
• Rapid heart rate
• Appetite and weight loss
• Seizures
• Abdominal pain
• Organ damage
• Collapse
• Death

 Stage Four (4 to 6 weeks)

• Intestinal blockages from strictures
• Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
• Bloody diarrhea
• Liver damage

There are many ways that your dog can get iron toxicity, but the most common are from multivitamins with iron because they are usually coated with a sugary substance that dogs like. Some of the other common causes are:

• Prenatal vitamins
• Fertilizer
• Oxygen absorbers (little packets inside dried foods and some medications)
• Hand warmers

The veterinarian will need to know what kind of iron your dog ingested and how much. Give him as much information about your dog as possible, including medical history, vaccination records, previous injuries or illnesses, and changes in behavior or appetite. Your veterinarian will do a complete physical examination, which includes height, weight, body temperature, reflexes, heart rate, and blood pressure. The veterinarian will also do some tests, such as complete blood count (CBC), activated clotting time (ACT), fecal flotation, biochemical blood analysis, and urinalysis. He may also do a radiograph (x-rays), CT scan, and ultrasound.

The veterinarian will give your dog IV fluids, oxygen therapy, and try to induce vomiting. They may also do a gastric lavage, which is done by pumping saline solution into your dog’s stomach to wash away the iron that has not been absorbed yet. Chelation therapy will also be done with a drug that sticks to the iron and helps it pass through the kidneys with the urine. The veterinarian will probably want to keep your dog for 24 hours for observation to monitor your dog’s kidney and liver function.

If your dog does not have any symptoms, and you get treatment right away, the prognosis is good. If signs of toxicity are apparent, and you get treatment within the first 12 hours, your dog’s prognosis is guarded, but it is essential to watch for any further symptoms. As a matter of fact, you have to monitor your dog’s health carefully for the next few months because intestinal stricture and blockages are possible even if your dog did not have any symptoms at all. To prevent this from happening again, you should keep all medications and other materials that can be toxic out of the reach of your dog. This includes certain foods, plants, flowers, cleaning products, and many other items.