Health & Fitness
ZINC POISONING - Ingested pennies could cost dog dearly, so can the nuts and bolts on animal crates!
Photo Credit: Little Creek Veterinary Clinic
Hello, Patch Pet Lovers!
Ingesting pennies carries a high health cost for dogs, writes veterinarian Lee Pickett, pointing out that the zinc core of pennies made since 1983 is toxic to dogs. Pennies are rapidly dissolved by stomach acid, leading to the release of zinc into the body where it causes life-threatening anemia, vomiting, lethargy and more.
Animal News - Ingested pennies could cost dog dearly
3/7/2014
Ask the vet's pets: Swallowed pennies cause anemia and obstruction
By Dr. Lee Pickett
Dear Daisy Dog: I think our shih tzu, Buddy, ate one or more coins he found wedged between the couch cushions. Should we be concerned?
Daisy responds: Yes. Coins can block the passage of food through the stomach and intestines, particularly in small dogs. Moreover, ingested pennies cause severe anemia, an abnormally low red blood cell count. Even one penny can kill a small dog.
Pennies minted since 1983 are made of a core of zinc coated in copper. Zinc destroys red blood cells, causing hemolytic anemia. ("Hemo" refers to blood, and "lytic" means to break apart.)
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Zinc also is found in the nuts and bolts that hold dog crates together, tacks, zippers, and zinc oxide creams and ointments.
Clinical signs of zinc toxicity, which begin within a few days of ingestion, include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, dark urine and a yellow tinge to the skin, gums and whites of the eyes.
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Ask your veterinarian to X-ray Buddy to see if his stomach or intestines hold any coins. If so, they'll have to be removed.
Stomach acid dissolves pennies quickly, so if an X-ray doesn't detect any coins but Buddy shows signs of hemolytic anemia, your vet may test the zinc level in his blood. Fortunately, prompt treatment is usually successful.
Ask the Vet's Pets appears Friday. The animal authors of the column live with Lee Pickett, V.M.D., who practices companion animal medicine in Berks County, PA. Contact them at www.askthevetspets.com or P.O. Box 302, Bernville, PA 19506-0302.
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