dvm360 podcast revisits persistent myths around toxic ingestions

A new Vet Blast Podcast episode from dvm360 is putting the spotlight on a problem veterinary teams know well: toxic ingestions are common, but the public, and sometimes even clinicians, still carry misconceptions about what counts as an emergency and what the first response should be. Published March 3, 2026, the episode features Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, who discusses myths surrounding veterinary toxicology and how they can affect care decisions. (dvm360.com)

The topic isn’t new, but it remains timely because toxicology cases continue to be shaped by changing products, changing formulations, and persistent folklore. Schmid has previously told dvm360 that one of the most common misconceptions is the belief that if an animal eats something it shouldn’t, making it vomit is automatically the right move. In reality, the decision depends on the substance involved, the time since exposure, species, airway risk, neurologic status, and whether the material is caustic or hydrocarbon-based. (dvm360.com)

That matters in a landscape where exposure volume remains high. ASPCA Poison Control said in a 2025 milestone announcement that it had reached 5 million assisted animal exposure cases since the service began, with more than 400,000 calls annually handled by its toxicology team. Its current surveillance also shows that the most common exposures are often not exotic poisons, but familiar household and clinic-adjacent risks: human over-the-counter medications, human prescription drugs, chocolate, veterinary products, plants and fungi, rodenticides, household cleaners, and insecticides. Veterinary products ranked fifth on ASPCA’s 2025 list, with many cases tied to flavored chewables and soft chews that pets consumed in large amounts. (aspca.org)

That trend helps explain why toxicology messaging is shifting from simple “danger lists” to more nuanced risk communication. One example is oclacitinib: ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline materials both point to increasing concern about accidental overdoses after the introduction of palatable chewable formulations. A 2025 retrospective study indexed in PubMed described multisystemic consequences after overdose ingestion in dogs and cats, while Pet Poison Helpline’s 2025 report card said accidental overdoses of Apoquel and other JAK inhibitors increased as these flavored products became more common in homes. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

The same nuance applies to long-standing “classic” toxicants. ASPCA’s poison control team highlighted that grapes and raisins remain frequent reasons for calls, but also noted that toxicologists may assess exposure risk based on the amount ingested and the individual patient. More broadly, current veterinary references increasingly point to tartaric acid and potassium bitartrate as the most likely toxic principles behind grape and raisin toxicity in dogs, replacing older uncertainty with a more specific mechanistic explanation, even though case-by-case risk assessment is still essential. (aspca.org)

Industry reaction continues to emphasize the value of specialist backup. In earlier dvm360 coverage tied to a Pet Poison Helpline release, Schmid noted that there are only a small number of active board-certified veterinary toxicologists relative to the broader veterinary workforce, and emergency clinicians described poison control consultation as a way to speed treatment planning and reassure pet parents. That doesn’t eliminate the need for clinical judgment, but it reinforces how often frontline teams rely on external toxicology support when history is incomplete or the toxicant is unfamiliar. (dvm360.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this story is really about triage quality and client communication. Misconceptions around hydrogen peroxide, “wait and see” advice, internet toxin lists, and blanket recommendations to induce vomiting can delay care or worsen outcomes. In practice, the most useful response is often a structured one: get a precise exposure history, identify the product and formulation, estimate dose, assess timing, and decide quickly whether decontamination, monitoring, referral, or poison control consultation is warranted. As more exposures involve flavored medications, supplements, and everyday household items, teams may need to revisit how they counsel pet parents on storage, packaging, and what to do before they call the clinic. (dvm360.com)

What to watch: Expect more toxicology education aimed at both clinics and pet parents, especially around decontamination decisions, palatable prescription products, and the continued use of poison control data to identify emerging risks. dvm360 has already been giving the topic recurring coverage, and poison control organizations are likely to keep publishing trend data that shape how practices triage these cases. (dvm360.com)