If you have identified the symptoms of poisoning in your dog, you have applied first aid but you are not sure what could be the cause of the poisoning, on our site we tell youwhat to give a poisoned dog according to the reason, detailing the symptoms of each type of poisoning and its treatment.
Above all we want to remember the great importance of the action of a veterinarian in these cases, because no matter how much we can act and help With remedies for a poisoned dog at the moment, a specialist must review the he alth of our furry dog and proceed as necessary in each case.
If you own a dog you will be interested in this article to learn how to save a poisoned dog in the event of an accident. Here we give you information on the necessary treatments for poisoning produced by different substances toxic to dogs and some advice on how to administer medications and the necessary doses in each case.
How to treat a poisoned dog according to the cause
In this section we discuss a series of treatments and first aid for the most common causes of poisoning in dogs, which we will only perform if our veterinarian tells us or if we have no other option. It is always better that how to treat a poisoned dog be done by a professional than by us.
Medicines for humans
The vast majority of human medications are toxic and even fatal to dogs. The truth is that these not only intoxicate themselves by mistakenly ingesting these drugs, but sometimes, due to ignorance, we administer some to lower their fever or calm other symptoms. It is a big mistake, since most of these medicines are not made for dogs and, even if we administer the minimum dose or the one indicated for children, we will be causing intoxication. Never medicate your pet without consulting your veterinarian. If our dog ingests any of these medicines for people, we should make him vomit and call the vet. These are the most common ones that can damage our dog's he alth seriously and even cause death:
- Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin): it is a very common analgesic and antipyretic for people, but in dogs it produces a disastrous effect, causing vomiting (sometimes bloody), hyperthermia, rapid breathing, depression, and even death.
- Paracetamol (Gelocatil): it is an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic widely used by people, but it is also very harmful to the dogs. It damages their liver, darkens their gums, causes salivation, rapid breathing, depression, dark urine, and can lead to death.
- Vitamin A: many people have vitamin complexes at home to prevent colds and other common illnesses. Vitamin A is included in them. In addition, this vitamin is present in some food supplements and in foods such as raw liver, which we sometimes like to give our dog. Hypervitaminosis A gives symptoms such as drowsiness, anorexia, neck and joint stiffness, constipation, weight loss, as well as somewhat strange positions, such as sitting on the hind legs but raising the front legs or lying down leaving all the weight on the front legs. limbs without ever relaxing.
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D is also found in vitamin complexes, as well as in rodenticides and in some foods. Hypervitaminosis D produces anorexia, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, polydipsia (extreme thirst) and polyuria (very frequent and abundant urination). This is due to kidney damage and bleeding in the digestive and respiratory systems.
Arsenic
Arsenic is present in insecticides, pesticides, and some poisons. The most common symptoms of poisoning are acute diarrhoea, sometimes with some blood, weak pulse, general weakness, depression and cardiovascular collapse. This is due to the acute inflammation it causes in various organs, such as the liver and kidneys. In this case, if the poison has been ingested less than two hours ago, the emergency treatment is induction of vomiting, followed by oral administration of activated charcoal and, after one or two hours, gastric protectors such as pectin or kaolin, which can only be given by the veterinarian at a dose of 1-2 g per kg of body weight every 6 hours for 5-7 days.
Cyanide
This substance is found mainly in plants, in some poisons and in fertilizers. In dogs, poisoning occurs more frequently due to the ingestion of plants that contain cyanide compounds, such as reeds, apple leaves, corn, flax, sorghum or eucalyptus. Another very common way for dogs to ingest this poison is by eating a rodent or other animal killed by rodenticides and other pest poisons. Symptoms usually appear 10-15 minutes after ingestion, with an increase in excitability that quickly turns into breathing difficulties that can end in suffocation. The treatment to be followed is the responsibility of the veterinarian and consists of the immediate administration of sodium nitrite, specifically 10 g in 100 ml of distilled water or isotonic saline solution. The dose is 20 mg per kg of body weight.
Ethylene glycol
Used as antifreeze in the cooling circuits of internal combustion engines. The taste of this compound is sweet, which attracts more than one animal, especially dogs, and leads them to consume it. The symptoms appear quite quickly after ingestion and convey the feeling that our dog is drunk. The symptoms are vomiting, neurological signs, stupor, loss of balance and ataxia (difficulty with coordination due to neurological problems). What should be done in this case is to induce vomiting and give activated charcoal followed by sodium sulfate 1-2 hours after the poison is ingested.
Shampoo, soap or detergent
Intoxication by these substances causes a series of mild symptoms that are easy to treat. Many of these products may contain caustic soda and other corrosive substances, so we will never induce vomiting. Symptoms are usually dizziness, excessive salivation, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea. If a large quantity has been ingested, the situation worsens and convulsions, shock and coma can occur. If the amount ingested is small and the vet does not tell us otherwise, a good way to help the dog is to give it plain milk or a 50% mixture of milk and water, as it will bind to the poison ingested, preventing more serious damage. The dose is 10-15 ml per kg of body weight or as much as the dog is capable of consuming. We can give these liquids with a syringe. To do this, we will introduce it, without a needle, on the side of the mouth, specifically in the hole behind the fang. The liquid must be administered slowly, little by little and waiting for the dog to swallow it. We will never give it all at once. Fabric softeners are highly toxic, so we must quickly call the veterinary emergency room and act as soon as possible.
Chlorine and bleaches
The vast majority of cleaning products that we have at home contain bleach and, therefore, chlorine. Many dogs like to chew on the bottles of these products, drink the water from the scrubbing bucket and freshly treated swimming pools, as well as bathe in them. The first symptoms of this poisoning are dizziness, salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia and depression. As first aid we will administer milk or milk with water, helping us with a syringe. This will cause the milk to bind to the chlorine, preventing further damage. We should never induce vomiting, as he will be vomiting as a result of the poisoning and causing more vomiting will only make him weaker and further damage his digestive tract. Remember that bleach, chlorine and stomach acids are corrosive. In this case it is not necessary to administer activated carbon, since it will not have any effect. If the poisoning does not occur by ingestion, but by contact with the skin, we must immediately bathe our friend with a mild shampoo for dogs, such as one for puppies, and rinse it with warm and abundant water so as not to leave any residue. After the bath we will go to the vet to make sure there is no damage and see what else we need to do.
Fluorine
This substance is found in human oral hygiene products, rat poisons, and environmental acaricides. Because fluoride is toxic to dogs, we should never use our toothpaste to wash their mouths. In fact, special toothpastes are sold for them with different flavors and without fluoride. The symptoms are nervous, gastroenteritis, increased heart rate and, depending on the level of poisoning, death. In case of severe poisoning, the animal should be immediately given calcium gluconate intravenously or magnesium hydroxide or milk orally so that these substances bind with the fluoride ions.
Coal Pitch
This toxic substance is made up of various products such as cresols, creosote, phenols and pitch. They are found, for example, in household cleaning products. This type of poisoning causes stimulation of the nervous system, weakening of the heart and damage to the liver, the most visual symptoms being weakness, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes due to increased bilirubin), loss of coordination, excessive rest lying down and even coma and, depending on the level of poisoning, death. There is no specific treatment, but if it has been recently ingested, saline and charcoal solutions can be given, followed by egg whites to soften the corrosive effects of the poison.
Insecticides
Include products containing chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds, permethrins or pyrethroids, carbamates and organophosphates, all of which are toxic to dogs. Symptoms are frequent urination, excessive salivation, colic, ataxia, shortness of breath, and seizures. First aid will be the induction of vomiting with 3% hydrogen peroxide, which we can buy at the pharmacy or make at home. It is administered to the dog with a syringe. Never use hydrogen peroxide in higher concentrations, as it would be harmful to the animal. The proper dose is 5 ml or one teaspoon per 2.25 kg of body weight. We can repeat the dose every 10 minutes up to a maximum of three times. We will then administer activated charcoal. The dose is 1 g of dry powder for every half kg of body weight. This powder dissolves in as little water as possible to form a thick paste, which can be administered by syringe. It can be repeated every 2-3 hours, up to a total of four times. For severe poisoning, the dose changes, being from 2 to 8 g per kilo of body weight every 6-8 hours for 3-5 days. This dose can be mixed with water and given by syringe or stomach tube. Activated carbon is also bought in liquid format or in pills that can be diluted. In any case, it is best to call the veterinarian urgently so that the intoxicated dog can be administered the specific antidote for the active ingredient of the insecticide.
Cantarids and other insects
The sand fly is an insect called Lytta vesicatoria, also known as the “Spanish fly”. It is metallic green. This insect contains a toxic chemical called “cantarida”. It is a very irritating substance that causes vesicles on the skin and mucous membranes. Small amounts, for example 4-6 g, are known to be toxic to cats, so for an average dog more grams are needed, but not too many, to cause poisoning. Symptoms are depression, abdominal pain, darkening of the mucous membranes, anorexia, and irritation of the digestive and urinary tracts. There is no specific treatment, but if we detect poisoning early, activated charcoal can help. We must know that there are more insects that can cause poisoning and allergies in our dogs.
Alcohol
In the case of alcohol poisoning, the most common are ethanol (alcoholic beverages, rubbing alcohol, fermenting dough, and elixirs), methanol (cleaning products such as windshield wipers), and isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol and alcohol-based flea sprays). The toxic dose is between 4-8 ml per kg of weight. Isopropyl alcohol is twice as toxic as ethanol. Intoxication by this type of alcohol is more common in dogs by skin absorption than by ingestion. Symptoms occur between the first half hour and one hour after poisoning. Diarrhea, tremors, loss of coordination, vomiting, disorientation, difficulty breathing and, in the worst cases, death from respiratory failure are observed. As first aid we must promote ventilation, moving the dog outside, but without direct sunlight. If the ingestion has been recent, vomiting will be induced. We will not administer activated carbon, since in this case it would not be of any use. Then we will call or go to the vet to make sure that the danger has passed.
Mothballs
They are very toxic to dogs if eaten. The substances they contain affect the liver and the central nervous system. The main symptoms are seizures and vomiting. That is why you should not induce vomiting and call the veterinary emergency room.
Treatments and home remedies for dogs poisoned by food and plants
There are foods that people usually eat very often, but which are also the the most toxic foods for our furry ones. Next we explain how to cure a dog poisoned by any of them:
Chocolate
Chocolate contains a chemical belonging to the methylxanthines, specifically theobromine. This substance in humans does not cause any harm since we have enzymes that can metabolize it and convert it into other safer elements. But, dogs and cats do not have these enzymes, so with a small amount of chocolate they can already be intoxicated. Therefore, it is a human food that we can love and that is why many times we give our pets a few pieces of chocolate as a reward and this is a huge mistake.
We should know that in pet stores and veterinary clinics they sell some very sweet treats for our furry ones, which are substitutes for chocolate but do not contain theobromine, so they are specially designed for them. The more cocoa the chocolate that our dog has eaten contains, the more theobromine there will be in that chocolate and the more intoxicated the dog will be.
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning usually occur six to twelve hours after eating the chocolate. The main symptoms and signs are vomiting, salivation, insatiable thirst, diarrhoea, restlessness and a swollen belly. After a short time, the symptoms progress and there is hyperactivity, frequent urination, bradycardia, tachycardia, respiratory distress, tremors, heart and respiratory failure. The first aid treatment in this case is that as soon as we realize that our dog has ingested chocolate, we induce vomiting and administer activated charcoal orally. If the ingestion of chocolate has already been two hours or more, vomiting will not be very useful since the process of stomach digestion will have already been done. Therefore, we must take our poisoned pet directly to the veterinary emergency room so that the symptoms can be treated immediately with the appropriate material.
Raisins and grapes
Both grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs and fatal if consumed in large quantities. In dogs, the toxic dose is known to be 32 g of raisins per kg of body weight and 11 to 30 mg per kg of body weight in the case of grapes. Poisoning by these fruits develops acute kidney failure leading to death. Symptoms include vomiting, extreme thirst, dehydration, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, inability to produce urine, and eventually kidney failure. What we must do in case of suspicion of ingestion of grapes or raisins by our dog, especially if it is a significant amount, is to call the veterinarian quickly and induce vomiting in our dog as soon as possible. At the vet, in addition to other necessary things, urination will be induced through intravenous fluid therapy.
Wild mushrooms
It is necessary to find out what type of fungus our dog has ingested to know for sure if it is toxic to him. There are countless mushrooms and many can be highly toxic to our pets. One of the mushrooms that produces the most poisoning in our dogs is Amanita phalloides, which is extremely toxic. The symptoms that occur are vomiting, mild diarrhea, other digestive problems, neurological disorders and liver problems. As soon as we see that our furry companion eats a wild fungus that is toxic to him, we will have to induce vomiting and then we will give him activated charcoal.
Onion
Onions contain a poison called thiosulfate. Dogs that are usually poisoned by this component of the onion is because they usually eat onions regularly in their diet or have ingested a large amount at once. This poisoning produces hemolytic anemia, which is a dangerous condition since blood cells are lost through vomiting and diarrhea that occur. Therefore, if we detect symptoms such as diarrhea and bloody vomiting in our dog that has normally or casually ingested a large quantity of onion, we must immediately take it to the veterinarian where tests will be carried out and the most appropriate treatment will be applied, along with anti-inflammatory therapy. fluids.
Garlic
Garlic contains the same toxin as onion, ie it contains thiosulfate. Instead it is good to use a little garlic in very small amounts from time to time as a natural repellent against fleas. In any case, we must be very careful and in case of detecting the symptoms, either by garlic or onion, we will act as we have explained before.
Floors
There are many plants that are toxic to our dogs in addition to those mentioned above that contain cyanide. The symptoms are very varied as they will depend on the plant ingested and the amount. But, generally, there are vomiting and problems in the central nervous system. Depending on the type of plant and its toxin, depending on the amount ingested by our pet, comatose states and death may occur.
This is a list of the most common plants that produce poisoning in our dogs: tomato, spinach, azalea, autumn crocus, avocado and its leaves, oleander, actea, nightshade, nightshade, foxglove, hemlock and its aquatic version, yew, flax of the valleys, lily, castor, philodendron, daffodils, ivy, rhubarb, poinsettia, mistletoe, holly berries, alfalfa, aloe vera (ingested), amaryllis, apple seed, apricot, fern asparagus, croco saffron, bird of paradise, caladium, water lily, chaste bean, ceriman, cherry (seeds and leaves), black hellebore, cineraria, clematis, cordatum, corn plant, crouton, Cuban laurel, cyclamen, dieffenbachia, dracaena, dragon tree, elephant ears, emerald fern, geranium, Indian rubber plant, kalanchoe, lily of the valley, lillies, mother in law's tongue, marijuana, mistletoe, morning glory vine, nephytis, nightshade, onion, peach, pencil cactus, plumose fern, poinsettia, poison sumac, poison oak, potato plant, cowslip, rhododendron, Swiss cheese plant (type of Philodendron), weeping fig, visteria.
Recovery time for a poisoned dog
In view of the number of substances that are potentially toxic, the recovery period of a poisoned dog will depend, first of all, on what has been ingested. But not only, since the severity of the clinical picture and, therefore, the time necessary for the dog's recovery depends, also, on whether the poisoning has been by contact and not by ingestion, the amount of the poison to which the dog has been exposed, the size of the animal or the speed with which it receives veterinary assistance.
In any case, we must always follow the instructions of the veterinarian. For example, in rodenticide poisoning containing long-acting anticoagulants, the dog will need up to a month of treatment. On the other hand, a dog that has required hospital admission and has affected organs will take longer to recover than one that has suffered mild intoxication, which may recover in 1-2 days
In some cases the damage, unfortunately, is irreversible, so that the dog, even if it overcomes the intoxication, is likely to require a treatment for lifeAn example is kidney failure that can result from, for example, ethylene glycol poisoning. Finally, we cannot forget that some poisoned dogs, not even receiving veterinary attention, manage to recover and end up dying.
