1. Contact your veterinarian immediately and take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
  2. Your veterinarian may instruct you to induce vomiting, however, do not induce vomiting unless instructed to.

TOXICITY

SEVERE

CLINICAL SIGNS

Clinical signs usually appear within 90 minutes of ingestion.

  • Vomiting
  • Hypersalivation
  • Increased defecation
  • Initially high heart rate and respiratory rate followed by a reduced heart rate and reduced respiratory rate.
  • Excitement
  • Tremors
  • Uncoordinated gait (ataxia)
  • Possible convulsions/seizures
  • Depression
  • Coma
  • Death

EFFECTS OF TOXICITY

Nicotine acts like one of the body’s neurotransmitters, stimulating the nervous system and muscle plusit also causes some animals to vomit. At high doses it can cause nervous system depression.

TREATMENT

In severe cases, activated charcoal may be administered to decrease further absorption of the toxins.Veterinary care may involve intravenous fluid, oxygen and monitoring in hospital.

REFERENCES

Plumlee KH (2006) Nicotine. In: Small Animal Toxicology. 2nd Ed. ed. Peterson ME & Talcott PA. USA: Elsevier Saunders.