Desitin & Dogs
Desitin can be toxic to dogs; however, in most cases, the dog would have to either eat a large amount or eat the ointment on a regular basis to have a toxic reaction. Having said that, it’s still possible a dog could experience some digestive tract issues from eating Desitin.
Another danger is that if a dog does eat the ointment, he could vomit. If the vomit is aspirated into the lungs, this can cause a life-threatening condition called aspiration pneumonia.
One more concern is whether or not the dog has eaten the product’s packaging. If so, it’s possible the dog could develop an intestinal obstruction if the packaging becomes lodged somewhere in the intestines.
Diapers and Wipes – For reasons we humans probably will never understand some dogs will eat dirty (or clean) diapers and/or wipes. While this may gross us out, the up side is that these events are usually not a concern for toxicity but rather a concern for GI upset and possibly an obstruction in the GI tract.
Teething Gels (Orajel, etc.) – Many of these teething gels contain benzocaine, a local anesthetic. Some may also contain xylitol, a sugar-free sweetener. Benzocaine can cause multiple problems, including vomiting, depression, heart arrhythmias, difficulty breathing, and methemoglobinemia (a problem where the blood cannot release enough oxygen to the tissues). Since the benzocaine is an oral anesthetic it can numb the throat, leading to an increased risk of aspiration if the pet vomits. Xylitol can cause a life-threatening drop of blood sugar as well as liver failure.
Sunscreen – Both child and adult sunscreens often contain one or more ingredients that are related to aspirin. Depending on the amount ingested, signs can range from mild stomach upset all the way up to life-threatening signs or even death. Organ systems that can be affected by aspirin include the GI tract, the respiratory system, the kidneys, and the central nervous system. Some sunscreens contain zinc oxide which, as mentioned above, can be very irritating to the GI tract. As with the diaper rash creams, there is also a risk of aspiration if vomiting occurs.
Welcoming a new baby into the home is a very exciting and stressful time – for you and your pet. Along with the new baby comes a whole host of new and exciting potential “chew toys” for your pet (no matter how careful you may be to keep them out of Buddy’s reach). Here are some common baby items and the concerns we have if pets ingest them.
Diaper Rash Ointment (Desitin, A&D, etc) – Dogs seem to enjoy chewing on tubes of ointments. Many diaper rash creams contain zinc oxide, others contains vitamins. Typically the big concern with these creams is that can be very irritating to the GI tract. The creams can be aspirated (get in the lungs) if dogs vomit them up, leading to serious or even life-threatening aspiration pneumonia.
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Diaper rash creams contain 10% to 40% zinc oxide. Zinc oxide can also be found in sunscreens (1% to 25%), powders, ointments, medicated bandages, dental cements, and calamine products. When used in diaper rash ointments, zinc oxide is often combined with other ingredients such as vitamins A, D, and E; cod liver oil; lanolin; petrolatum; mineral oil; dimethicone; methylparaben; and butylated hydroxyanisole. When administered topically, zinc oxide acts as an astringent and also has bactericidal properties.1
Zinc is an essential trace mineral required in all species, and feed-grade zinc oxide is often found in premixed rations fed to poultry, livestock, and fish. Zinc oxide is also found in most commercial dog and cat foods. The absorption of zinc depends on many variables, including the form of zinc salt, how much calcium is in an animals diet (high-calcium diets may reduce zinc absorption), the concentrations of other minerals ingested along with the zinc, and whether or not phytate (a plant protein that may bind to zinc, decreasing absorption) is present in the animals diet. On average, about 10% of dietary zinc is absorbed systemically. In animals that eat diets containing high amounts of plant proteins, this amount may decrease. However, animals that eat diets containing high amounts of animal proteins, in the absence of high calcium concentrations, may increase their zinc absorption to 25%.2
Toxicity
Dogs and cats that ingest metallic zinc sources, such as U.S. pennies minted after 1982 (containing 97.5% metallic zinc) or galvanized metal objects, are at significant risk for developing systemic zinc intoxication. Clinical signs of systemic zinc toxicosis include vomiting, inappetence, and abdominal pain. Pale mucous membranes and tachycardia secondary to hemolytic anemia can be seen in addition to elevations in liver and renal values and pancreatic enzyme activities. Hemoglobinuria and bilirubinuria are also common in symptomatic patients.1
The exact mechanism of action for zinc toxicosis is unknown. The red blood cells, liver, kidneys, and pancreas are most commonly affected. It is thought that there may be oxidative damage and inhibition of red blood cell enzymes and direct injury to the red blood cell membrane, leading to intravascular hemolysis, but that has not been proven. Excess zinc will accumulate within the liver, kidneys, and pancreas in dogs and cats.3
Zinc oxide ointments are irritating to the GI mucosa, but absorption of zinc from the GI tract is poor. As a result, dogs and cats often vomit and self-decontaminate, decreasing the risk of systemic toxicosis. Prolonged or repeated exposure to zinc oxide ointments, such as when an owner applies zinc oxide topically and the animal repeatedly licks the ointment off its skin, may lead to systemic zinc toxicosis.4
The other ingredients in zinc oxide ointments, such as cod liver oil, petrolatum, and mineral oil, result in a laxative effect but do not cause systemic toxicosis. Occasionally, some dogs will develop facial swelling and hives after ingesting zinc oxide ointments. The cause of this hypersensitivity reaction is not clear, but it is speculated to be from the parabens that are used as preservatives in these products.1
Differential diagnosis
There are numerous causes for GI upset. Other rule-outs may include foreign body obstruction, viral or bacterial gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, or any other condition that may cause vomiting.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosing zinc oxide toxicosis can be difficult since the signs can be nondescript; however, often, there is evidence of the ointment in the vomitus or the exposure was witnessed. The owner may also find the chewed tube in the house if the exposure was not observed.
According to the ASPCA APCC database, the most common clinical sign is vomiting. Vomiting is often seen shortly after ingestion, and the vomitus may contain white, frothy material (ASPCA APCC, Urbana, Ill: Unpublished data, 2012). The ASPCA APCC database also suggests that if vomiting does not occur there is an increased risk that diarrhea will develop (ASPCA APCC, Urbana, Ill: Unpublished data, 2012).
If the ingestion occurred within the past two hours and vomiting has not occurred, advise owners to give the dog milk or a small meal to help demulsify the zinc oxide ointment. There is some evidence that calcium can decrease the absorption of zinc.2
Vomiting typically manifests within four hours of ingestion.5 If vomiting does occur, advise owners to withhold food and water for at least an hour, then gradually reintroduce water and then food. If pieces of the tube are ingested, monitor the patient for a foreign body obstruction (vomiting more than 24 hours after the ingestion, anorexia, depression, inability to hold down food or water) and consider bulking the diet with whole wheat or whole grain bread, plain canned pumpkin, or cooked brown rice to facilitate passage of the foreign material.
If vomiting persists, the owner should bring the pet in to the clinic for evaluation. If there are signs of an obstruction, the pet should be evaluated as well. Other signs could include depression if the vomiting has resulted in dehydration. Persistent vomiting can be treated with maropitant (Cerenia—Zoetis; 1 mg/kg subcutaneously once a day).6 Monitor for electrolyte abnormalities, and provide intravenous fluids if needed.
My Dog Ate a Diaper, What Should I Do? | Wag!
Has your dog eaten Desitin? Are you worried the Desitin will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We know it can be scary when your dog eats something he shouldn’t.
In this article, we’ll take a look at Desitin and whether or not it can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!