Poisons
Because you love your dog, you’ll want to keep him safe, and this includes protecting him from chemicals, cleaning agents, garden products, lubricants, petrochemicals, drugs, and even some toiletries. Once you become a dog owner, you learn to keep these things out of reach. If your dog ingests any of the following toxins, you should telephone your vet immediately.
Because you love your dog, you’ll want to keep him safe, and this includes protecting him from chemicals, cleaning agents, garden products, lubricants, petrochemicals, drugs, and even some toiletries. Once you become a dog owner, you learn to keep these things out of reach. If your dog ingests any of the following toxins, you should telephone your vet immediately.
When you read the following information, you would be forgiven for thinking that this is a scary world, full of stuff lurking round the corner waiting to kill you and your dogs. But – in actual fact – most of us manage to live life to the full, for a considerable length of time, despite all this. So although you might want to be aware and ready for any eventuality, take my advice and also trust life to be good!
Making your dog sick
In some instances, it can save your dog’s life if you know how to make him throw up. In other cases, it would be counter-productive. Vomiting should never be induced in a dog who has swallowed caustic (corrosive or burning) substances such as bleach or drain cleaner, or any petroleum products, as these will simply burn the dog again as the substance comes back up. Neither should you make your dog vomit if he has swallowed a solid object. There’s no point making your dog sick if he swallowed the substance more than two hours ago, as it has already passed through his stomach.
As a general rule, pet owners should only make their dog vomit after taking advice from a vet. So the first thing to do if your dog has ingested a poison, or shows symptoms of ingesting poison, is to phone your vet.
It would be appropriate to deliberately make your dog vomit if he has eaten antifreeze, toxic food, medication or a toxic plant within the past two hours. If you do decide to induce vomiting, the dog should be conscious, breathing without difficulty, and free from seizures.
In the first instance, feed your dog blackened (burnt) toast or some crackers. This will help to neutralise some of the toxins and, with food in the stomach, it will be easier to make him sick.
The following is one of the most common and effective methods for inducing vomiting in a pet at home:
1. Pour some three percent hydrogen peroxide from the bottle into a glass bowl or jug. If you’ve done your homework, this will be in your dog first aid kit.
2. Using a syringe from the kit, draw up about 3 ccs for every 20 pounds (9 kg) of your dog's weight.
3. Open his mouth and insert the end of the syringe. Steadily squirt the hydrogen peroxide towards the back of his mouth; he will naturally swallow.
4. If he hasn't started to vomit within 10 minutes, syringe the same amount of hydrogen peroxide into the back of his mouth. You can repeat this for a maximum of three times.
5. Get your dog to the vet as quickly as possible.
If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide, vomiting can be induced by placing a half or whole teaspoon of salt at the back of the dog’s tongue.
Common poisonous plants include:
See also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WndJLJD8R9k
Amaryllis - stomach upset, lethargy, shock and death
Crocus - stomach upset, liver failure, lethargy, shock, death
Buttercup – stomach upset
Chrysanthemum – skin irritation
Daffodil bulb - stomach upset, shaking, seizures, lethargy, heart failure, death
Foxglove - stomach upset, shaking, seizures, lethargy, heart failure, death
Iris root – stomach upset
Narcissus - stomach upset, staggering, shaking, seizures, heart failure, death
Poinsettia - stomach upset, mouth irritation
Tulip - vomiting, depression, diarrhoea, excessive salivation. Highest concentration of toxin in bulb.
Berries that are commonly found in gardens may be poisonous to dogs. These include Mistletoe, Holly and Laburnum.
Whilst in the garden, we should also consider toad poisoning. There are no poisonous toads in the UK although, elsewhere in the world, there are twelve species of toads who secrete a toxin which affect the heart and circulation of dogs, causing death in as short a time as fifteen minutes.
All toads taste horrible, so dogs who pick them up in their mouths will slobber, spit and drool. If your dog has picked a toad up in his mouth, it’s worth checking out whether toxic toads exist in your country. You can do this by asking your vet, or by looking it up on the internet. If poisonous toads do exist somewhere near you, wash your dog’s mouth out (maybe with a garden hose!) and induce vomiting. Then call the vet straight away. You may need to give artificial respiration.
Poisonous foods:
Grapes and raisins can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys, possibly resulting in death. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, decreased urine production and drunken gait. Don’t give dogs grapes and raisins, and keep them out of reach.
Onions can cause Heinz body anaemia in dogs. This causes destruction of red blood cells and can lead to kidney damage. Signs include pale gums, rapid heart rate, weakness and lethargy. Vomiting, diarrhoea and bloody urine are also possible. Do not feed table scraps containing onions. Although garlic is a member of the onion family, garlic toxicity in dogs has never been recorded by the British Veterinary Poison Unit.
Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromide which can damage a dog’s heart, lungs, kidney and central nervous system. Pure baking chocolate is the most toxic. Cacao bean mulch (used in the garden) can also be toxic. Signs include excitement, tremors, seizures, vomiting, diarrhoea, abnormal heart rate, drunken gait, very high temperature, and coma.
Caffeine can also damage a dog’s heart, lungs, kidneys and central nervous system. Signs include restlessness, hyperactivity and vomiting. These can be followed by panting, weakness, drunken gait, increased heart rate, muscle spasms and convulsions.
Macadamia nuts can induce vomiting, weakness, depression, drunken gait, joint and muscle pain, and joint swelling. The effects are not considered to be fatal.
Xylitol, a sweetener found in chewing gum and sweets, produces low blood sugar in dogs and can cause severe liver damage. Signs of toxicity include weakness, drunken gait, collapse and seizures. Liver damage can be permanent, although many dogs will recover if treated quickly.
Dairy products, whilst not toxic, may be difficult for a dog to digest.
Cooked bones should never be fed to dogs as they can splinter and break.
Toxic chemicals and things around the house and garden
Case-Control Study of Canine Malignant Lymphoma: Positive Association With Dog Owner's Use of 2,4 Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Herbicides
by Howard M. Hayes,* Robert E. Tarone, Kenneth P. Cantor, Carl R. Jessen, Dennis M. McCurnin, Ralph C. Richardson
Summary:
A hospital-based case-control study of companion dogs examined the risk of developing canine malignant lymphoma associated with the use of chemicals in and about the home. Information from a self-administered owner questionnaire and/or a telephone interview of about 491 cases, 466 nontumour controls, and 479 tumour controls indicated that owners in households with dogs that developed malignant lymphoma applied 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) herbicides to their lawn and/or employed commercial lawn care companies to treat their yard significantly more frequently than control owners (odds ratio=1.3).
In addition, the risk of canine malignant lymphoma rose to a twofold excess with four or more yearly owner applications of 2,4-D. The findings in this study are consistent with occupational studies in humans, which have reported modest associations between agricultural exposure to 2,4-D and increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the history and epidemiology of which are similar to those of canine malignant lymphoma.
The present study suggests that human health implications of 2,4-D) exposure in the home environment should receive further investigation.
Further info see - J Natl. Cancer Inst. 83:1226-1231, 1991
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol) is a common problem for dogs because it has a pleasant sweet taste for dogs. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, uncoordinated gait, weakness, mental depression, coma and death within twelve to thirty-six hours. Dogs who recover may have kidney damage and proceed to kidney failure. If your dog has eaten antifreeze, induce vomiting and call the vet immediately.
Arsenic is used with metaldehyde in slug and snail baits, and may also be ant poison and weed killers and insecticides. Signs of arsenic poisoning include thirst, drooling, vomiting, staggering, intense abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhoea, paralysis and death. Sometimes the dog will die before any symptoms are seen. If symptoms arise, induce vomiting and call the vet immediately.
Cigars and cigarettes can be toxic to dogs if they eat them, which some dogs – believe it or not – will do. Keep cigarettes and butts away from your dogs.
Cooking oil and fat may poison dogs if they consume it.
Corrosives (acid and alkali) are used in household cleaners, drain decloggers, and commercial solvents. They cause burns in the mouth, oesophagus and stomach. If your dog ingests acid, rinse your dog’s mouth and give an antacid such as Milk of Magnesia or Pepto-Bismol. If he swallows an alkali, use vinegar or lemon juice. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING but call the vet.
Detergents and disinfectants can contain chemicals that will destroy tissues on contact, and be absorbed into the bloodstream to attack various bodily systems. Keep out of reach.
Some flea control products can cause excessive dribbling, vomiting and diarrhoea, loss of appetite and depression. There are other ways to control fleas.
Lead is used in insecticides and many paints. Don’t allow puppies to chew the paintwork! Lead is also used in linoleum, batteries, plumbing materials, putty, solder, golf balls and roofing materials. Initial signs of toxicity include abdominal colic and vomiting. Fits, uncoordinated gait, excitation, barking, hysteria, weakness, stupor and blindness can follow. If you catch the dog early, induce vomiting and call the vet.
Human medicines can be dangerous to dogs. Aspirin and Paracetamol, if given in excess, can be fatal to dogs. Keep medicines out of reach.
Metaldehyde is used in rat, snail and slug baits. The signs of toxicity are excitation, drooling and slobbering, uncoordinated gait, muscle tremors and weakness. Within a few hours, the dog will be unable to stand. If your dog eats this poison, induce vomiting immediately and call the vet.
Organophosphates and Carbamates have been used for flea control in dogs. They include dichlorvos, ectoral an sevin, and are also used in garden sprays and some worming products. These toxins can be absorbed through the skin and affect the central nervous system.
Petrol products such as gasoline, kerosene and turpentine can cause pneumonia if inhaled. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, difficult breathing, tremors, convulsions and coma. Death can be caused through respiratory failure. Do not induce vomiting, but call the vet immediately.
Phosphorus is found in rat and roach poisons, matches and matchboxes, and in fireworks. A garlic odour may be smelt on the breath. The dog will initially vomit and have diarrhoea, and later have further vomiting, cramps, fits, and coma. The vet must be called immediately.
Sodium Fluroacetate is used as a rat poison. It can kill cats and dogs who eat the dead rodent. Signs of poisoning come on quickly, beginning with vomiting and followed by excitation, staggering gait, fits, and collapse. If you believe your dog has swallowed this chemical, induce vomiting and call the vet immediately.
Warfarin, another rat and mouse poison, causes blood in the stool or urine, bleeding from the nose, and haemorrhages beneath the gums and skin. A dog may be found dead with no apparent cause. If you know your dog has eaten Warfarin, induce vomiting and call the vet immediately.
Zinc Phosphide is also found in rat poisons. It will effect the central nervous system and cause depression, laboured breathing, vomiting (often bloody), weakness, convulsions and death. Call the vet immediately.
Back to:
Ill-Health & Disease
Diet
Adverse Reactions
A to Z