Diagnosis of Gasoline Poisoning in Dogs
If your dog has any of the symptoms of gasoline poisoning, or if you suspect your dog has gotten into this chemical, it is important to immediately call your veterinarian. Once you have arrived at the veterinarian’s clinic, he will immediately assess the dog, looking at all clinical signs. He will ask questions about the dog’s history and the probability of him ingesting or inhaling gasoline. The dog may also have gasoline odor around his muzzle area or on his paws
The veterinarian will perform tests on the contents of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, liver, and lungs and will perform a chemical analysis on the samples to identify any hydrocarbons in the tissues. The identification of the hydrocarbon, or gasoline, in addition to the clinical signs the dog is showing will lead the veterinarian to a definitive diagnosis of gasoline poisoning.
Causes of Gasoline Poisoning in Dogs
The cause of gasoline poisoning begins with the dog consuming or inhaling gasoline. Once in the dog’s system, gasoline:
Overview of Canine Gasoline and Petroleum Toxicity
Gasoline and other petroleum products are not among the top animal poisons, but they can cause illness if ingested or exposed to the skin. The most common petroleum products associated with illness in dogs include motor oil, gasoline, kerosene, propane and diesel.
Toxicity caused by petroleum products is based on the thinness and lightness of the product. Due to the ease of absorption, the thin, light products, such as gasoline, are more toxic than the thick, heavy products, such as motor oil.
Most petroleum products are readily absorbed from the skin and stomach. These products are irritants and cause redness and inflammation to the skin and stomach lining. If inhaled, they also cause irritation to the airways. The primary toxic agents in petroleum products are hydrocarbons, organic compounds that contain hydrogen and carbon only. The more hydrocarbons that are present, the lighter and thinner is the product.
The most common illness associated with petroleum product ingestion is burning of the mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach. This burning sensation can cause vomiting in some animals. As the animal vomits some of the petroleum can be inhaled into the airways, resulting in aspiration pneumonia. For this reason, inducing vomiting at home is not recommended. Animals that vomit on their own should be monitored closely for breathing problems. A few animals may develop serious neurologic signs including seizures, coma and death. It is possible that some of the hydrocarbons can be absorbed from the stomach into the airways, causing serious lung damage.
The amount of petroleum that needs to be ingested before signs of illness develop varies from product to product. For diesel fuel, about 18 mls (a little over 1 tablespoon) of fuel per pound of body weight needs to be ingested before the signs of diarrhea, vomiting and gastrointestinal upset are seen. For gasoline, 35 mls per pound needs to be ingested. For kerosene, 112 mls per pound needs to be ingested to reach toxic levels. After ingestion, most petroleum products are cleared from the body within 24 to 48 hours.
Signs of gasoline and petroleum toxicity in dogs may include:
Timeline: What If You Only Drink Gasoline
Without constant supervision, dogs can find themselves getting into trouble, such as rolling around in gasoline that has dripped onto the floor of your garage or driveway. If your dog gets in gasoline, you need to act quickly to avoid damage to his fur and skin.
Do not allow your dog to lick the gasoline off his fur. Ingesting gas can cause difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions or even death. Immediately apply vegetable oil or mineral oil onto your dogs fur where it is coated in gasoline. Thoroughly rub the oil in, coating the fur and getting down to the skin. Wash your dog with mild soap, such as Dawn dish soap, then rinse him down with water.
After rinsing the gasoline off of your dog, get him inside your home in a safe, confined area, and contact your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may request that you to bring him in to make sure that he did not ingest any gasoline and that his coat and skin are OK. If you know your dog ingested gasoline, do not induce vomiting, as the gas may further irritate his throat. Contact your veterinarian right away.
Amanda Williams has been writing since 2009 on various writing websites and blogging since 2003. She enjoys writing about health, medicine, education and home and garden topics. Williams earned a Bachelor of Science in biology at East Stroudsburg University in May 2013. Williams is also a certified emergency medical technician.