Nicotine is a fast acting toxin that is even used as a pesticide. The feeling that people get when they smoke cigarettes is a mild form of nicotine poisoning. For dogs, 5mg per pound can be toxic. Each cigarette has 15-20mg of nicotine within it. Nicotine patches have 8-144mg per patch. An e-cigarette cartridge contains 6-24mg per cartridge. A cigar can have 15-40mg of nicotine. Chewing tobacco has 6-8mg per gram. Snuff will contain between 12-17mg per gram. Severity of toxicity will depend on both the amount ingested as well as total body weight of the animal. Symptoms can include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abnormal Heart Rate
- Lack of Coordination
- Hyperactivity
- Rapid Breathing
- Dilated Pupils
- Depression
- Weakness
- Tremors
- Collapse