There are many toxins, plants, chemicals, or food that can be poisonous to your dog. Common causes of poisoning in dogs can be found in your bathroom cabinet, in the backyard, in spoiled food scarfed on a walk, and human food that’s stolen off the counter or dropped from the kitchen table.
No matter what the toxin is or where it came from, heres what you need to know to notice potential signs of poisoning and take quick steps to help your dog survive.
Beyond a mangled plant, empty bottle, or missing food, there are many clinical signs that could indicate your dog has eaten a toxic food, chemical, poisonous plant, or spoiled dog food. The following is not a complete list but gives you a general idea of common signs to look for if you suspect your dog has been poisoned, and things your veterinarian can find with proper testing and a complete physical exam.
A dog eating a toxic plant is a common reason for pet owners to call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Centers hotline, according to Tina Wismer, DVM, MS, DABVT, DABT and senior director of the center. The situation can be extremely urgent, depending on the plant.
“Most common signs include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and seizures,” Wismer says. “In severe cases, ingestion of poisonous plants can lead to liver failure, kidney failure, and cardiovascular problems.
What to Do if Your Dog Has Been Poisoned
If you know your dog has eaten something poisonous, heres what to do:
Treatment, whether at home under a veterinarians orders or in a veterinary hospital, will be specific to the poison. Your veterinarian may recommend that you induce vomiting in your dog in some situations, but not in others. Once in the hospital, your veterinarian may give your dog intravenous fluid, flush your dogs stomach, give your dog activated charcoal to absorb the toxin, or perform surgery. Supportive medications may help your dogs kidneys and liver process the poison and heal.
The ASPCA Poison Control estimates that 25 percent of poisoned pets recover within two hours. Even with treatment, one in 100 poisoned pets will die.
What home remedy can I give my dog for poisoning?
A professional may ask you to induce vomiting at home with hydrogen peroxide. For this reason, you should try to always keep an unopened, non-expired bottle of hydrogen peroxide in your home (old hydrogen peroxide will not usually work). You will give the hydrogen peroxide to your dog by mouth.
Cyanide poisoning is a treatable condition, and it can be cured if detected quickly and treatment is started immediately. Most people die because the diagnosis is not made quickly enough, or it is not considered from the start. Cyanide poisoning is rare, so the treating physician should be alerted of the possibility.
Can dogs recover from being poisoned?
About 25% of poisoned pets recover within two hours. Of the pets that take longer to recover, many can be treated at home with the advice of your veterinarian or with advice from the ASPCA Poison Control Center (telephone 1-888-426-4435). Even with treatment, one in 100 poisoned pets dies.
FAQ
What are the signs of cyanide poisoning in dogs?
Can a dog survive cyanide?
How long does it take for a dog to show signs of poisoning?
How do you treat cyanide in dogs at home?
Amyl nitrate and sodium nitrate are effective antidotes of cyanide poisoning. Many times this is one of the first actions the veterinarian takes when a dog is brought in after ingesting cherries or other toxic fruit seeds.