Understanding Poisoning In Dogs
Your dog is at risk of poisoning from common household cleaners, petroleum products, pest control poisons, antifreeze, and some foods such as chocolate. If you witness your dog ingesting a poisonous substance or fear they may have, take them to your vet immediately as some poisons can be fatal or cause kidney failure. Here's what you need to know about poisoning in dogs:
Symptoms
Symptoms will vary depending on the ingested substance, but can include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Confusion
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Difficulty breathing
- Excessive salivation
- Stiff muscles
- Seizures
- Loss of balance and co-ordination
Diagnosis
Your vet will take a detailed account of your dog's symptoms and health history. If possible, take the substance you think your dog may have ingested and a sample of their vomit to your vet's surgery. This can speed up their diagnosis and potentially save your dog's life. The vet will want to take blood samples from your dog to test for the presence of common poisons, but may start a broad poisoning treatment regimen while they wait for the test results.
Treatment
The aim of treatment is to either remove the poisonous substance from your dog's body or neutralise it before further absorption occurs. Certain poisons can be neutralised with an antidote, but if no antidote is available your vet will try one of the following techniques for purging the poison from your dog's body:
Enemas - When enemas are inserted into your dog's rear end they stimulate their bowel and encourage intestinal emptying. This option can be a little messy, but it's a quick way of cleaning out your dog's digestive system. Your dog will remain in the vet's surgery until blood work shows no evidence of poison in their system.
Activated charcoal - This remedy is given as a drink and can be administered through a nasogastric tube if your dog is unable to drink it on their own. Activated charcoal works by absorbing the poisonous substance, which is then removed from your dog's body along with the charcoal when they have a bowel movement.
Gastric lavage - This involves washing out your dog's stomach by inserting a small tube and flushing their gastrointestinal system with water. Diuretic drugs are often administered alongside gastric lavage to encourage the secretion of the extra water and poison through your dog's urinary tract.
Additionally, if your dog is dehydrated from vomiting, your vet will give them intravenous fluids to balance their electrolyte levels. Once your dog has been treated, your vet will want to keep an eye on them to ensure they haven't experienced any long-term damage such as kidney failure.
Don't assume because you're a responsible pet owner your dog will be safe from the risk of ingesting poison. Unfortunately, your dog can get hold of bait left out by irresponsible neighbours or ingest a poisoned dead animal that may have found its way into your garden. Stay vigilant at all times, and if your dog experiences any of the symptoms of poisoning schedule and urgent appointment with your vet at clinics such as Warnbro Veterinary Hospital.
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