Tornado (the dog) touches down at the emergency department

People often name their pets after their personalities, and when Susan Carney of New Port Richey, Florida, named her newborn Cocker Spaniel Tornado, she had no idea how accurate she would be. According to Carney, who was present for his birth, Tornado was the biggest puppy of the litter and has lived up to his name ever since.

That initial burst of exuberance was just a taste of things to come. Carney's significant other, Graham, had just filled a prescription for 60 minoxidil tablets and set the bottle on the table before heading outside while Carney took a nap.

"While we weren't looking, Tornado snatched the prescription bottle and took it out the doggy door," Carney said in an organizational release from Pet Poison Helpline.¹ "Fortunately, Tornado's mom, Miss Spitfire, came into my room and jumped on my stomach to wake me. She wanted to alert me that Tornado was doing something naughty."

When Carney went looking for Tornado, she found him on the back porch with remnants of the chewed-up prescription bottle. Because she could only find 1 pill, she knew Tornado could be in trouble and immediately called the toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline.

"Tornado season may be winding down, but it is the perfect time to remind people to keep their medications out of reach for pets and children," said Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, a senior veterinary toxicologist and director of veterinary medicine at Pet Poison Helpline.¹ "In Tornado's case, getting him to treatment immediately for the toxic exposure was critical."

Carney first took Tornado to their regular veterinarian at Animal Hospital of Regency Park, where the team induced vomiting. Because he needed continued care, he was then transferred to BluePearl Pet Hospital Clearwater. Once there, the medical team was concerned that the exposure could lead to dangerous cardiovascular signs. Minoxidil can cause significant changes in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as structural damage to the heart. In cats, exposure can also lead to pulmonary edema and pleural effusion.

Because of these risks, the toxicology experts recommended inducing vomiting and administering medical-grade activated charcoal to help minimize absorption of the minoxidil. Close monitoring of Tornado's heart rate, blood pressure, and rhythm was recommended, along with intravenous fluids and specific medication for cardiovascular abnormalities.

Tornado developed significant tachycardia that required treatment. Fortunately, the condition was caught early, and the veterinarians and staff at BluePearl Pet Hospital Clearwater were able to quickly treat Tornado before more severe signs developed.

"When we got there, he was acting like a tornado; running around barking, happy and here for everybody," Carney said.¹ "The medication can affect the heart, but fortunately the cardiologist said we caught it early enough for us to successfully treat him. This was really scary for me. I was like a mom with her kid."

Tornado was kept at the clinic overnight for observation and then released the next day. According to Carney, Tornado is still creating loveable storms.

Reference

1. Dog Called Tornado Lives Up to His Name. News release. Pet Poison Helpline. July 15, 2026. Accessed July 20, 2026.