1. Rinse your pet’s mouth and any areas of skin that may have had contact with the product.
  2. Contact your veterinarian.
  3. Your veterinarian may instruct you to induce vomiting, however, do not induce vomiting unless instructed to.

OTHER NAMES

Sodium borate, boric acid

TOXICITY

MILD

CLINICAL SIGNS

Clinical signs occur in 30 minutes to two hours.

  • Hypersalivation
  • Pain in the oral cavity
  • Lethargy
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Shivering
  • Tremors
  • Uncoordinated gait (ataxia)
  • Redness of the skin if the product contacts the skin

In severe cases (rare), liver and kidney failure can occur.

EFFECTS OF TOXICITY

The mechanism of toxicity is unknown, but it seems to irritate mucous membranes, leading to gastrointestinal upsets.

TREATMENT

Veterinary care involves intravenous fluids, and – in animals with tremors – sedatives or anti-convulsants. Kidney and liver function should be monitored with blood and urine tests. If the concentration of sodium borate in the product is more than 10 per cent, gut decontamination (i.e. gastric lavage) is warranted.

REFERENCES

Campbell A & Chapman M (2000) Borax. In: Handbook of Poisoning in Dogs and Cats. Oxford: Blackwell Science, pp86-89.