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This might surprise you, but some of the things you have around the house may be fatal to your dog. Most of these compounds are harmless to you, but they may pose a health risk for your furry friend.
Dogs can get food poisoning even from stolen off-the-counter food or dropped from the kitchen table.
And even if it comes to poisoning, be it chemical or food, as a responsible dog owner, you should recognize dog poisoning symptoms. If you notice any of these signs, you should react, and in a severe case, take your pet to the vet or call emergency help.
Common Signs of Dog Poisoning
Symptoms of dog poisoning can vary from subtle to obvious. It doesn’t matter where the toxin came from, you have to pay attention to your dog’s body language and behavior. The symptoms can vary depending on the harmful substance, but also on the amount ingested. You cannot diagnose food poisoning or chemical poisoning from a single sign. But if your dog shows many symptoms, you have to react to the situation.
The following symptoms show dog poisoning:
- Diarrhea or bright red blood in the stool.
- Vomiting and loss of appetite.
- Changes in behavior.
- Bruising or bleeding.
- Tremors and shaking.
- Agitation.
- Seizures, dogs begin to drool.
- Abnormal heartbeat.
- Inability to urinate.
We have to note that these poisoning symptoms can vary depending on which type your dog has encountered. For example, pets that have inhaled a toxic substance will show difficulty breathing or lose consciousness.
Poisons that touch the skin cause pain and irritation. Swallowed toxins result in symptoms like diarrhea, sickness, and agitation.
Poisonous Substances
Often, dog poisoning is a result of dogs getting into substances around the house. Be careful not to leave possible toxins unattended and close for dogs to reach. Let’s take a look at the list of possible risks for your furry friend.
Medications
Common medications that you can find in most homes, for example, ibuprofen and Tylenol. While common medications in most homes, these are poisonous to dogs. We also have to put herbal and nutraceutical products on the list, along with prescription medications. While these are beneficial to humans, they pose a health risk for dogs.
Human Food
It is best that you do not feed your dog human food. If you feed them human food, consult with a veterinarian or dog nutrition specialist about raw food diets. Dogs have a different metabolism than us. Some of our favorite foods, including chocolate, can be fatal for dogs. The list also includes two of the most popular spices, garlic and onions.
Common Household Items
Your home may be full of toxic items that can cause problems for your furry friend. You should try to keep these substances out of your pet’s reach.
The list includes laundry detergent, drain cleaners, acorns, furniture polish, oven cleaners, tobacco, bleach, xylitol, alcohol, fungi, antidepressants, and similar medications.
Rat Poison
Rodenticides and insecticides can be fatal for your dog. They are as harmful to dogs as they are to the creatures they were designed to eliminate. Do not let your dog come close to rat poison, snail poison, rodent poison, or slug poison.
Veterinary Products
As a responsible dog owner, you should know how to administer veterinary products. This includes flea and tick treatments. If dogs consume flea or tick treatments, they can experience severe symptoms of dog poisoning.
Plants
Every home needs some greenery. Plants purify the air and make our home more beautiful. But, if you decide to get a pet, you should stay away from beautiful plants like azaleas, tulips, rhododendrons, daffodils, aloe vera, sago palm, oleander, lily, and more.
How to React in Case of an Emergency
While diarrhea and vomiting are common symptoms of many dog issues, they are also the first symptoms of dog poisoning. Regardless, pay attention to other symptoms or contact your vet to make a proper diagnosis. You can also monitor how your dog interacts with the environment. Here are some pet care tips in case of poisoning:
- Make sure he is breathing right.
- Keep your dog away from the poisoning source.
- Note the source of pet poisoning.
- Bathe your dog thoroughly for skin poisoning.
- Do not try to induce vomiting without the vet’s advice.
- Collect the remaining poison or the packaging.
- Follow your vet’s directions completely.
Should You Induce Vomiting?
Yes, there are circumstances when you should try to induce vomiting. But only after a consultation with a veterinarian. Your vet may recommend vomiting if your dog has consumed poisonous products. You should have 3% hydrogen peroxide on hand for a potential situation.
There are three main situations when you should not try to induce vomiting:
- Your dog is semi-conscious, convulsing, or unconscious.
- Your dog has ingested a cleaning product, a petroleum product, bleach, or a strong acid.
- Your dog swallowed the poison four hours ago or more.
When to Seek Professional Help
The best option for a positive outcome is to take your dog to the vet. If it is after-hours, try to contact the nearest medical facility.
Do not try to administer first aid before consulting with a vet.
Get your pet to the veterinary office and allow professionals to provide appropriate treatment. Share as much information as possible, including which harmful substance caused the poisoning.
See also
Pet Poison Hotlines
You never know when your dog might ingest something poisonous. Sometimes, it happens when vet clinics are closed. In such cases, turn your attention to emergency hotlines.
One of the first options is the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, available 24 hours a day all year long. You can check their website for a contact number. Another reliable option is the AKC vet line, where you can talk with a trained pet care professional.
The Road to Recovery
Taking care of a dog that has gone through poisoning requires extra attention. The more attention and care you provide, the quicker your dog will get better. Yet, we have to note that the duration of recovery depends on the poison.
For example, for skin rashes, you can apply topical vet-approved products. But, if your dog has ingested something, the road to recovery will be trickier.
In the case your dog’s kidneys and liver are affected, your dog will have to follow a bland diet for several days.
What About Intentional Poisoning?
It is difficult to prosecute intentional poisoning. You need hard evidence to prove that someone poisoned your pet on purpose.
Yet, if you suspect such a case, contact your veterinarian and the police. Your vet will arrange testing to detect toxins.
If your pet dies, a veterinary lab will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. With proper evidence, you can contact the police and prosecute intentional poisoning.
How to Prevent Dog Poisoning
The best possible care for any illness is prevention. As a responsible pet owner, you should do everything to dog-proof your home and keep dangerous substances away. Here are some tips:
- Secure cabinet doors that contain dangerous products.
- Clean any spills of cleaning products and toxic materials.
- Switch from pesticides and insecticides to pet-safe products.
- Replace toxic houseplants with pet-safe plants.
- Store medications out of your dog’s reach.
- Use pet-safe salt during the winter snow season.
- Do not leave cigarette butts out in ashtrays or within reach.
Final Words
Dogs have a nasty habit of getting into what they should not. Often, that can be the cause of pet poisoning. As a pet parent, this might be your worst nightmare.
Yet, sometimes, even with your best efforts, you cannot provide 100% protection. In the case of dog poisoning, it is vital to recognize the signs and take immediate action.
