Poisoning Symptoms in Dogs

Keeping a dog happy is easy. Keeping things away from a dog's mouth is hard! This guide will help you understand and recognise the signs that your dog has been poisoned and will give you expert advice on what to do next.

Experience Matters

While we all hope our dogs never encounter toxins, accidents happen. Having the knowledge to act swiftly can make all the difference between life and death for your pup, and it can make a difference to your vet bill! With this guide, you'll be able to make informed decisions in emergency situations and take action when it matters most.

Common Poisons: Know The Enemy

Here are a few of the most common household toxins your dog could encounter:

Chocolate

Theobromine, a key component of chocolate, is toxic to dogs because they metabolise it much more slowly than humans. As a result, the poison can accumulate to dangerous levels in a dog's body. The type and quantity of chocolate a dog consumes, as well as the dog's sensitivity to theobromine, all affect how severely they react to chocolate. Dark chocolate and cocoa powder contain the most theobromine and hence pose the greatest risk. White chocolate, on the other hand, contains relatively little theobromine and is less hazardous.

Plants

Many of our gardens feature beautiful but potentially hazardous plants. Dogs are poisoned by azaleas, lilies, and oleanders. Indoor plants such as pothos, snake plants, and aloe vera are also common reasons for visits to the vet. Toxic chemicals, alkaloids, and glycosides contained in these plants are to blame.

Foods

While dogs love human food, it doesn't always love them back. Common household ingredients that dogs should avoid include:

Onions

Garlic

Grapes and Raisins

Xylitol (artificial sweetener) 

Alcohol 

Caffeine

Avocado

Macadamia Nuts and Almonds

Chemicals

It may seem obvious that, like us, dogs find many common household cleaning products poisonous. Medications like painkillers and anti-depressants, as well as essential oils, e-cigarette liquid, and laundry detergent, are common poisons.

Tell-Tale Signs of Poisoning

Now that you know what to keep your pup away from, let's talk about the signs that a dog has been poisoned.

Gastrointestinal Distress

Vomiting: Frequent or severe vomiting is often an early sign of poisoning. Take note of the colour and content of the vomit, as these can provide important clues about the source of the poison.

Diarrhoea: Like vomiting, diarrhoea can indicate your dog is experiencing digestive distress caused by the ingestion of a toxic substance.

Neurological Symptoms

Tremors and Seizures: If your dog has never experienced a seizure and seems to suddenly begin convulsing, this is an indication they've consumed something they shouldn't. Not all seizures are the same, and dogs don't always experience convulsions. Loss of consciousness, limb stiffening, and excess drooling are all alternate seizure symptoms to look out for. Your dog may also lose control of their bladder or bowels during a seizure.

Lethargy: If your normally active dog becomes unusually low energy and lethargic, this is a cause for concern too.

Physical Symptoms

Drooling and Pawing at the Mouth: Excessive drooling, foaming, or pawing at the mouth can be a telltale sign that your dog is reacting to eating something they shouldn't.

Difficulty Breathing: Difficulty breathing or rapid panting can indicate that something is wrong. Regardless of whether you think your dog has ingested something harmful if they are struggling to breathe, seek veterinary assistance immediately.

First Aid for Poisoning: What to Do

In the unfortunate event that you suspect your dog has been poisoned, you must act quickly. Every minute counts towards ensuring your dog has the best chance of survival.

Stay Calm

It's normal to feel scared when your dog is reacting to something, but it's important to stay calm. Your dog needs you to take control of the situation.

Contact a Vet

Call your vet or a poison hotline for pets right away. Time is of the essence when it comes to poisoning. Tell them what's going on, what you've noticed from your dog's symptoms (a good time to bring up what you noticed in their vomit!), and what you think they could have come into contact with. Carefully do as they tell you.

Inducing Vomiting

Your vet might advise causing vomiting in some circumstances. However, you should never attempt this without their professional guidance, as you can worsen the situation if you do it improperly.

Maintain Comfort

Try to keep your dog calm and at ease while you wait for help from a professional. Give them water if you've been told to, but avoid feeding them anything else.

Preventing Poisoning

We'd all rather our dog didn't have to go through the trauma of poisoning. Prevention really is the best medicine in this case, and you can take proactive steps to minimise the risk of poisoning.

Dog-Proof Your Home

Secure Toxic Substances: Do some research on the chemicals in your cupboards and in the bathroom. Make sure to lock medicines, cleaning products, and hazardous foods out of reach.

Pet-Proof Your Garden: Double-check that any plants you decide to add to your collection are dog-safe, and have a sweep of your current flora to make sure your dog is safe.

Supervise Your Dog

Always keep a close eye on your dog, especially in new environments. Dogs are naturally curious (and always up for a snack), which can lead them to investigate potentially harmful substances.

Educate Yourself

Being the best dog owner possible means constantly learning the best ways to care for them. By familiarising yourself with expert advice, you can arm yourself with the knowledge that not only is your dog safe, happy, and healthy, but they're also under the care of the best owner.

Enrolling in an animal care course online is one of the simplest methods you can use to improve your understanding of canine ownership, offering you both peace of mind and invaluable skills that could save your dog's life.

Conclusion

There's more to being a responsible dog owner than just loving and caring for your pet. It means getting the education and experience you need to keep your four-legged family member safe.

You can give your dog a long and healthy life by your side if you know how to protect them from common poisons, recognise the signs of poisoning, and respond accordingly. Always do your research, always be on the lookout, and always remember to cherish the wonderful times ahead with your canine companion.