7 signs of heavy metal poisoning in dogs and cats

Published 10/30/2020

You've probably heard about heavy metals and their harm to human health, but did you know that these substances can also harm your pets? Dogs, cats and other pets can also fall victim to this poisoning, which can lead to health problems and even death.

 

When we talk about heavy metal poisoning, we refer both to the absorption of chemical elements such as lead and mercury, which have no function whatsoever in the animals' bodies and only cause disease, and to the accumulation of substances such as cobalt, iron, manganese and zinc, which are essential nutrients, but in excessive amounts cause damage to cells and tissues, which causes a variety of damaging effects to the bodies of humans and animals.

Be alert for symptoms of contamination!

It is very important to be aware of your pets' behaviors and take them to the vet if something is wrong, because the earlier a disease is identified, the better the chances of a cure. Heavy metal poisoning can cause a variety of symptoms, see below for the most common ones:

1. High thirst

One of the symptoms of contamination is polydipsia, or excessive thirst. If you notice that your animals are drinking more water than usual, even if the day is not especially hot, it could be a sign of poisoning.

2. Vomiting and diarrhea

Heavy metal poisoning often mistreats the digestive system of animals, which influences the processing of ingested food. Vomiting is a common symptom of gastrointestinal problems, and diarrhea is an important sign of mercury contamination.

But beware! Constipation, or difficulty pooping, can be a sign that your dog is contaminated, but for lead. Keep an eye out for any changes regarding your pet's stool.

3. Weight loss

In addition to affecting digestion, contamination can cause irritability in the throat and mouth of animals, so chewing and swallowing food can be painful and difficult. This situation, along with vomiting and diarrhea, causes the animal to lose weight and become weaker, or even malnourished. 

4. Difficulty breathing

One of the systems affected by contamination by different metals is the respiratory system, which can cause the animal to tire more quickly and exhibit heavy breathing, often trying to breathe through the mouth and gasping for air.

5. Salivation

Observing your pets' salivation, or "drooling," is very important and can help identify diseases before they get worse. In the case of lead and mercury contamination, it is common for animals to produce more saliva than usual, or to start foaming at the mouth.

6. Wealth

Heavy metal poisoning causes animals to become weak, despondent, and listless. If your pet is cheerful, rowdy, barks a lot, and suddenly starts oversleeping or just lying around as if nothing is happening around him, it may be a sign.

7. Strange behaviors

Mercury contamination causes neurological problems, and one sign of these problems are repetitive and unusual behaviors. If your cat is running around in circles nonstop or your dog has spasms and seizures, see a responsible veterinarian.

 

What causes contamination in dogs and cats?

Heavy metal poisoning is caused by improper exposure to these substances, by ingestion through food, by inhaling particles, in breathing, or even by contact with the animals' skin in some cases. If water is contaminated, for example, animals will come into contact with the substance when drinking it, during baths, etc.

The main cause of water, soil and air contamination is human action, especially large industrial activities. Environmental accidents, such as dam bursts, release a large volume of toxic elements into nature all at once, which can expose plants, animals and humans to these substances in a much higher concentration than normal.

Due to the "Córrego do Feijão" mine environmental disaster in January 2019, many substances reached the Paraopeba River, causing a series of consequences over a long territorial extent, especially in the river basin. 

With the aim of helping to understand the impacts of the accident on the region, the lives of citizens and the health of animals, professors, veterinarians and researchers linked to the Brumadinho UFMG Project will collect biological samples from various animals, including dogs and cats, for toxicological analysis.

The team from subproject 07, coordinated by Professor Antônio Último de Carvalho, will be collecting non-lethal samples, i.e., taken from live animals, in the coming months. Among the materials collected are: hair samples, blood, urine and feces, and the whole procedure will be done carefully and safely.

If you live within 1 km of the Paraopeba River channel, between the municipalities of Brumadinho and Pompeu, and you own a cat, dog, or other domestic animal, you can help with this survey! Just register your animals for voluntary collection through (phone? e-mail? form?). Otherwise, help us by getting to know and publicizing the actions of the Brumadinho UFMG Project.

The success of this process depends on the support of the population!