0
0
Do you ever think about your dog getting poisoned? What would you do if that happened? Do you know? Having a dog means being aware of certain risks and knowing what to do in dangerous situations.
It is vital for you to know what potential dangers may be lurking around in your home and you may not even realize that certain products are poisonous for your dog.
Knowing the risks of products that could poison your dog and the steps to take if it happens may help save your dog’s life.
If you even suspect your dog may have been poisoned, the first thing you always need to do is contact your vet. If YOUR vet is unavailable, contact any vet as time is essential.
Here are some products that dogs can get poisoned from and some suggestions of what to do in case that happens WHILE you are contacting your vet:
Acid Poisoning and/or Burns
Dogs can get burned or poisoned from acid from batteries or household cleaners. They can digest it or it can be absorbed through their skin. If they have digested it, they could have abdominal pain, they could vomit up blood or they may have burns on or around their mouth. If they have digested the acid, do not make them vomit- if your dog vomits, the acid could burn them a second time on the way out of their body. Offer your dog regular milk or maybe try milk of magnesia (1 tsp. per 5 pounds of weight). If your dog has burns on his skin, flush the burns with a mixture of baking soda and water. Call your vet!!
Alphachoralose Poisoning (Rat/Rodent Poisoning)
This poisoning is very common with dogs. Your dog could get this type of poisoning from eating a rodent that has been contaminated with poison. Symptoms of this type of poisoning are chills, lethargy and depression. If the poisoning is severe, it could cause kidney damage, a coma or convulsions. If you even suspect that your dog has been poisoned in this manner, wrap him in a blanket and get him to a vet ASAP.
Chocolate
Chocolate is poison for dogs because it contains an ingredient called theobromine. It’s easy to leave chocolate lie around… especially at holiday time. If you see empty wrappers lying around on the floor, and your dog is experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, abnormal gait, increased urination, muscle tremors, convulsions or is in a coma, you need to get him to vet immediately. An an emergency procedure, you can give your dog several tablets of activated charcoal (which should be in your dog’s first-aid kit). Your dog may need to stay at the vet clinic for several days after ingesting chocolate because theobromine is eliminated from the body very slowly. The main precaution for avoiding this situation is NOT to leave chocolate lying around. DON’T put it in dishes out on your coffee table because dog’s are curious and they will investigate.
Barbiturate Poisoning
Is there someone in your house that is on seizure medication? How about migraine medication or even meds for gastrointestinal disorder?? These medications contain barbiturates, which can be fatal to a dog. Symptoms include: depression, sleepiness and loss of consciousness, followed by a coma. If your dog is awake, give him 1 tsp. of syrup of ipecac or 1 tbsp.of a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. Keep your dog moving and call your vet ASAP!!
Aspirin Poisoning
Aspirin is safe for dogs when a veterinarian has prescribed it in certain doses. However, if your dog gets a hold of an aspirin bottle and chews it open, the results can be very serious. Symptoms may include: lack of coordination, vomit that may have blood in it, hypersensitivity and loss of appetite. If you think your dog might have eaten several aspirin, try to make him vomit by giving 1 tsp. syrup of ipecac or 1 tbsp. of a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. After the mixture to make him vomit, give him milk and a activated charcoal tablet and get your dog to the vet.
Arsenic Poisoning
Your dog can get Arsenic poisoning by ingesting paint, herbicides, insecticides and rat poisons. Signs of this type of poisoning are restlessness, abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. If you think your dog has Arsenic poisoning, make him vomit by giving 1 tsp. syrup of ipecac or 1 tbsp. of a 1:1 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. After he vomits, give him milk to coat his stomach and call your vet immediately- your vet can give an anecdote.
Anti-freeze Poisoning
Anti-freeze poisoning can be extremely fatal if not treated right away. Dogs love the taste because it has a sweet taste. Often, it’s left outside in an open container after a person has worked on a vehicle. Anti-freeze forms crystal deposits on the brain and kidneys and can cause extreme kidney damage and kidney failure. Symptoms are: depression, convulsions and a coma. If you think your dog might have ingested some anti-freeze, time is of the essence. After a couple of hours untreated, a dog that has ingested anti-freeze will die. Contact your vet immediately. And… always keep anti-freeze in an area that is inaccessible to your pets.
Anti-depressant Poisoning
Does someone in your home take Anti-depressant medications (like valium or diazepam)? Dogs are nosy. They will be curious about anything that has fallen or been dropped. If you drop a pill and can’t find it, DON’T leave it!! Your dog will probably find it and eat it. Sweep the floor if you cannot find the pill… until you do. Prescription medications can and will make your dog very sick if eaten. Symptoms of this type of poisoning are: depression, loss of consciousness and a coma. If you think your dog has eaten a subscription medicine pill, try to get him to vomit by giving 1 tsp. syrup of ipecac or 1 tbsp. of a 1:1 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water and call your vet ASAP. If your dog loses consciousness, immediately take him to the vet.
Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol poisoning can come from items that you use on a daily basis: items like alcoholic drinks, perfumes, aftershaves, and even rubbing alcohol. Symptoms include: vomiting, collapse, dehydration, coma and death. If you think your dog has ingested items with alcohol and he is still conscious, make him vomit by giving 1 tsp. syrup of ipecac or 1 tbsp. of a 1:1 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. Follow the vomiting with a crushed tablet of activated charcoal to help absorb the remaining toxins and call your vet ASAP. If your dog is unconscious, immediately transport them to your vet. Alcohol is especially toxic to dogs so keep out of reach and make sure anyone living in your home knows the dangers of alcohol to your dog also.
Alkaline Poisoning — Cleaners/Solvents
Alkaline poisoning can come from drain cleaners and solvents. Symptoms include: severe burning of the skin or around the mouth, abdominal pain, blood tinged vomiting and mouth burns. If you suspect your dog might have Alkaline poisoning, flush the skin/ mouth with water, followed by a solution of vinegar and water to neutralize the alkali. DO NOT induce vomiting- the vomiting will cause additional burns when the poison comes back up. Give your dog evaporated milk with 50% lemon juice or vinegar to neutralize the alkali and call your vet immediately.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
A dog can accidentally get Carbon Monoxide poisoning by getting locked in a garage where a car or small engine is running. Carbon Monoxide poisoning can happen quickly. Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning are bright red gums and distressed breathing. If you think your dog might have Carbon Monoxide poisoning, take him immediately out of the garage and to an open area where he can get lots of fresh air and encourage your dog to keep moving to increase blood circulation. If your dog loses consciousness, give him artificial respiration (Pull your dog’s tongue forward so it’s not blocking his throat. Pull the neck and head forward and close the dog’s mouth. Apply a dog muzzle or wrap a strip of material around the nose, tie under the chin and tie ends behind the dog’s head). Inhale and put your mouth over the dog’s nose, forming an airtight seal. Exhale. Remove your mouth and allow the dog’s chest to deflate. Repeat this process 10-15 times per minute while calling your vet.
Grapes/Raisins
Grapes and Raisins are toxic to your dog because of toxins produced by fungus on the skin. They cause kidney failure by causing the tubular cells to die in the drainage system of the kidneys. There is no known toxic dose. It depends on the size of the dog. Symptoms include: vomiting, diarrhea, depression and lethargy. Your dog might show signs of excess thirst or dehydration. If not treated right away, additional symptoms could be foul-smelling breath, ulcers in your dog’s mouth and shortness of breath. Seizures are also possible. Dogs CAN be treated for poisoning if they have digested grapes or raisins, but time is of the essence. If you get your dog to the vet within two hours of ingestion, your vet will get rid of the toxins by making him vomit. Giving your dog activated charcoal may also help. If your dog has ingested a lot of grapes or raisins or it’s been longer than two hours, additional treatments may be necessary to save his life.
Xylitol
What is Xylitol, what products contain it and why is it toxic to my dog? Xylitol is a sugar substitute often used in sugarless candies, mints, breath fresheners, chewable vitamins, toothpaste, nicotine gums, and baked goods. While it is fine for people to eat, it can be fatal for dogs. Every year, there are more products on the market that have Xylitol in them. Xylitol is poisonous to dogs because after digesting it, a dog will rapidly produce insulin (within 30 minutes), which causes his blood sugar to drop to dangerous levels. When a dog’s blood sugar gets too low, hypoglycemia sets in, which leads to shock.
One piece of unchewed gum with Xylitol is a potentially toxic amount for a 10-pound dog because an average piece of gum or breath mint may contain anywhere between 0.22 to 1.0 grams of Xylitol. If you think your dog might have ingested something with Xylitol, keep the wrapper to give to your vet. While trying to get ahold of your vet, it might be helpful to try to bring his glucose levels up. Give him a snack or rub a teaspoon of pancake syrup or honey directly into his mouth and gums. The symptoms of Xylitol poisoning are: vomiting, lethargy, weakness, tremors, loss of coordination, seizures, pale gums, dark red blood spots on the gums, shock, and collapse. Even if your dog doesn’t show these symptoms right away, still consult your vet. Sometimes, symptoms don’t show up right away. If your dog ate sugared bubble gum, it is not toxic- it’s the sugarless gum with Xylitol that you need to worry about. Time is of the essence with this poisoning. Contact your vet immediately!!
(Note: It’s especially important to watch that your dog doesn’t ingest Xylitol during the holidays when Christmas stockings are filled with goodies and are sometimes accessible to dogs). Make your children aware of the dangers of these products!!
Keep all of these poisons out of reach of your dog!!
Until next time,
Hugs and Pug Kisses,
Candy
