Dog Poisoning: Signs and Treatment

Poisoning is a disorder of the body caused by the ingestion of a poison or toxin into the gastrointestinal tract or bloodstream. Since all members of the canine family are very picky eaters and are capable of tasting anything that seems edible, cases of food poisoning are much more common among them.

Acute toxicosis develops quickly, is severe, and poses a serious threat to the animal's life. Therefore, every dog ​​owner must have a first aid kit with essential medications, know the main signs of poisoning, and be able to provide emergency care.

Symptoms

There are several common signs of poisoning that dog owners should be aware of. As intoxication progresses, the animal may experience:

• shortness of breath, tachycardia (increased heart rate);
• impaired coordination of movements;
• poor spatial orientation;
• muscle twitching, convulsions;
• vomit;
• indigestion;
• lethargy, apathy, drowsiness;
• excessive salivation;
• loss of appetite up to complete refusal to eat.

If you notice several of the symptoms described above in your pet, try to quickly determine what poisoning they may have received so you can provide appropriate first aid immediately. Each type of poison, in addition to the general ones, causes specific symptoms that both your veterinarian and you can identify.

Inhalation of toxic fumes

Animals' nervous systems are highly sensitive to toxic organics. Exposure to gasoline, turpentine, acetone, chlorine, and other household liquids can cause vomiting, tremors, and limb convulsions within minutes.

Poisonous plants

Many plants found in flower beds or growing in gardens are poisonous to animals. For example, aloe and hyacinth can cause vomiting, tremors, and depression; heart problems and stomach upset can be caused by narcissus and lily of the valley. Stomach pain and bloody vomiting can also occur if a dog has tasted iris, belladonna, or henbane.

Medicines

Many medications intended for humans act as toxins in animals. For example, diphenhydramine can cause tachycardia and seizures in dogs; aspirin, analgin, or paracetamol can cause respiratory distress and uncontrolled muscle contractions. Cardiac medications (glycosides) can cause a slow pulse, arrhythmia, vomiting, and stomach upset. Sulfonamides (sulfazole or sulfadimezine) can cause renal colic and urinary dysfunction.

Food products

Some foods that are safe and even beneficial for humans can also be toxic to animals. Dogs should absolutely not be given the following:

• Chocolate - contains the purine alkaloid theobromine, which can cause toxicosis, so even a small piece of this delicacy can lead to an upset stomach, cramps, or a heart attack;
• natural sweetener xylitol (wood sugar) - it can cause seizures and a drop in blood sugar levels;
• avocado - this fruit causes vomiting and diarrhea;
• Grapes and raisins - even if grown without pesticides, grapes can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, upset stomach, and kidney problems.

Arsenic

Arsenic compounds are highly potent entero- and neurotoxins. Symptoms of poisoning develop very quickly, within 0.5 hours of ingestion. These include severe weakness, vomiting and bloody diarrhea, thirst, convulsions, constricted pupils, irregular heartbeat, and irritation of the oral mucosa, causing the dog to constantly rub its face with its paws. In cases of acute toxicosis, death occurs from asphyxia (respiratory distress).

Rat poison

The active ingredient in most rat poisons is warfarin (zoocoumarin), a potent poison that disrupts blood clotting. Symptoms of poisoning in dogs with this poison most often include tachycardia (increased heart rate), bloody diarrhea and vomiting, blood in the urine, nosebleeds, a fever up to 40°C (104°F), and pale mucous membranes. If treatment is delayed for 2-3 hours, the animal will die.

Isoniazid (Tubazid)

This anti-tuberculosis drug is nontoxic to most mammals. However, canines lack the enzyme that breaks down isonicotinic acid, making tubazid a serious hazard for them. Isoniazid poisoning of pets is often intentional: this drug is commonly used by dog ​​exterminators.

Tubazid poisoning causes confusion, erratic movement, and impaired coordination and orientation. This is followed by bloody vomiting, muscle twitching, respiratory distress, and drowsiness. If the toxicity is not immediately treated, coma occurs and the animal dies.

First aid

If your dog is poisoned, you should immediately contact a veterinarian. Until the doctor arrives, first aid is essential, primarily aimed at removing the poison:

• If a toxic substance comes into contact with your skin, wash it off immediately and thoroughly with warm water.
• If toxic fumes enter the animal's respiratory tract, provide it with fresh air and give it 30-5 g of sunflower or olive oil.
• If the toxin has been ingested, vomiting should be induced using an isotonic solution (a spoonful of salt in a glass of water) or diluted hydrogen peroxide to flush it from the stomach. The dog should then be given activated charcoal; white clay (kaolin) or raw egg white can also be used as an adsorbent.

Important! If the poisoning is caused by an acid or alkali, do not induce vomiting. In this case, it is recommended to administer a laxative and an antidote, which will be prescribed by the veterinarian who responds to the call.

After providing first aid, it's advisable to give the dog milk or strong tea and create a calm environment. Further treatment will be prescribed by a veterinarian.

Treatment and rehabilitation

Even if first aid is provided in a timely manner, it is often not possible to completely remove the intoxication from the body earlier than after 2 weeks, especially if we are talking about rat poisoning poison, arsenic or isoniazid.

Typically, the veterinarian will perform an additional gastric lavage through a tube, and if several hours have passed since the toxic substance entered the body, a cleansing enema with an isotonic solution (a teaspoon of table salt per glass of water).

The animal is also given an antidote: pyridoxine (vitamin B6) for isoniazid, phylloquinone (vitamin K) for rat poison, and the detoxifying drug dimercaprol (INN) for arsenic. Cardiac medications, diuretics, and intravenous glucose or isotonic saline solutions (Trisol and Ringer-Locke) may also be prescribed.

If symptoms of urinary tract problems occur, your pet may need to be hospitalized, where he or she will be given intravenous or intravenous infusions of medications to relieve renal failure and stimulate urine production.

The dog shouldn't be fed for 24 hours after the poisoning, but it should be given water or tea. On the second day, with your veterinarian's approval, you can give it a small amount of strong, low-fat broth. This diet will eliminate most of the toxins from the body, and the mucous membranes of the digestive system will be able to recover from the damage.

Then you can gradually include the following into your diet:

• liquid porridges;
• lean minced meat, liver;
• cottage cheese;
• boiled vegetables;
• eggs.

If your dog is constipated, you can give it half a glass of carrot juice daily. For at least a month afterward, your pet should eat easily digestible and quickly absorbed food.

Prevention

A dog will be less likely to seek out something "tasty" on the street or in a trash bin if it is provided with proper and high-quality food that contains all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals necessary for the animal's body.

If you've acquired a puppy, train it from infancy to accept food only from its owner's hand. Walk it on a short leash so you can monitor its behavior. If it still has the habit of foraging for food outside the home, muzzle it during walks.

You can also ask our website's staff veterinarian a question, who will answer them as quickly as possible in the comments box below.

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