Over winter, the Animal Poisons Helpline has been contacted frequently about pets ingesting nasal decongestants. Decongestants are used to provide short-term relief from blocked or stuffy noses and are available in many forms including tablets, oral liquids and nasal sprays. Nasal spray decongestants containing imidazoline compounds (such as xylometazoline and oxymetazoline) are widely used in Australia and can result in significant poisoning in pets when ingested. Similar ingredients are also often found in eye drops that are designed to remove redness from the eye.

Companion animals are extremely sensitive to the effects of imidazolines with even small ingestions potentially affecting the heart, circulation and nervous system. Most frequently, poisoning occurs in dogs that have chewed on a decongestant nasal spray or eye dropper bottle. Imidazolines are rapidly absorbed following ingestion with signs of poisoning sometimes occurring within 15 minutes of the exposure. Early signs of poisoning may include vomiting, unsteadiness on the feet and drowsiness. As the poisoning progresses, a reduction in the heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate may occur.

To keep your pet safe, please keep all medications sealed and stored securely, out of your pet’s reach. Do not store medications on your nightstand or other benchtops which can be easily accessed by pets. When medications are no longer needed, it is important to dispose of them safely.

The Animal Poisons Helpline provides free advice to pet owners in Australia and can be reached on ☎️ 1300 869 738 (AU)
,0800 869 738 (NZ), 3106 4216 (SG), (917) 722-5958 (US) or +1917-722-5958 (CA) . If you don’t yet follow the Animal Poisons Helpline Facebook page, follow now to receive live pet poison alerts. If you are a member of a veterinary team in Australia or New Zealand, you can join the Animal Poisons Centre For Vets Facebook group which is regularly updated with toxicology tidbits and poisoning trends. We thank the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development for supporting this post.