Lacy's Mom | 05-20-2006 03:11 PM | PET HEALTH ALERT: IS SILICA POTENTIALLY POISONOUS?
Ever wonder about those little packets of silica gel you find in medications, leather goods, vitamins and even pasta products? They may carry the ominous warning, “DESSICANT—DO NOT EAT,” but according to experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, they’re not as dangerous to our pets as they may sound.
Silica gel is used to absorb moisture in many different products, and is usually packaged in plastic cylinders or paper packets. It is also used in certain cat litters for the same purpose. “While it is indeed true that silica is not meant for consumption, silica gel ingestions most often produce only mild stomach upset in animal companions, which typically resolves with minimal to no treatment,” says the APCC’s Dana Farbman, CVT.
However, if very large quantities are eaten—such as multiple packets or mouthfuls of kitty litter that contains silica—intestinal obstruction is a possibility. “Especially,” adds Farbman, “in very small animals.”
If you suspect that your pet may have ingested a large quantity of silica—or any other potentially poisonous substance—call your veterinarian or the APCC's emergency hotline at (888) 426-4435 for round-the-clock telephone assistance. For more information on poison prevention, visit APCC online. |