Aspirin toxicity in pets

substance: Acetylsalicylic acid

categories:

Drugs

symptoms:

Abdominal pain / Dehydration / Diarrhea / Melena / Seizures / Vomiting

# Description

Aspirin, a common OTC pain reliever and anti-inflammatory for humans, can be dangerous to pets. Cats are especially sensitive to aspirin due to their slower ability to metabolize it. Even small amounts can be toxic, leading to vomiting, breathing difficulties, or organ damage.

# Toxicity

cat

GI 20-50 mg/kg
Severe poisoning 50-100 mg/kg
Can be lethal 100< mg/kg

dog

GI 30-100 mg/kg
Severe poisoning 100-500 mg/kg
Can be lethal 500< mg/kg

# How it works

Non selective COX inhibitor. COX-1 is present in most tissues and helps protect the stomach lining, regulate blood flow, and support kidney function. By inhibiting both COX, Aspirin reduces inflammation, pain, and fever but may also lead to side effects like stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal issues, platelet aggregation and therefore altered hemostasis, diarupted renal głów and therefore renal failure.

# Symptoms

Onset: Symptoms typically appear within a few hours, but some, such as septic peritonitis from GI perforation, may not become apparent for several days.
Gastrointestinal: Vomiting (which may contain blood), diarrhea, melena (black, tarry stools), and gastrointestinal ulcers or erosions.
Metabolic: Anemia caused by GI bleeding, bone marrow suppression, or Heinz body formation (in cats). Hepatopathy (liver damage) can occur at high doses, especially in cats.
Renal: Kidney failure, including anuria (inability to produce urine).
Respiratory: Respiratory depression, which can result from muscle weakness due to hypokalemia (low potassium) and CNS depression. Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) may also occur.
Neurological: CNS depression, seizures, cerebral edema (brain swelling), coma, and potentially death.

# Treatment

Emesis: if ingestion occurred within a few hours and the patient is asymptomatic and can protect their airway.
Gastric Lavage: if emesis is ineffective or unsafe and high-dose ingestion occurred within the last 1–2 hours.
Activated Charcoal with a Cathartic: for massive overdoses or sustained-release/enteric-coated tablets, regardless of emesis or lavage success. Administer repeated doses of activated charcoal (without a cathartic) orally every 6–8 hours for 24 hours to prevent enterohepatic recirculation.
GI protectans e.g., sucralfate
Proton pump inhibitors (e.g., pantoprazole, omeprazole)
Secure and protect airway, supply oxygen.
Agressive IV fluids to prevent dehydration, promote renal and GI perfu
sion, and vasodilate renal vessel.

# Prognosis

Urgent veterinary visit necessary.

Symptoms

Poisons