Dog poisoning : What should you do when your dog is poisoned
Basanta Nongmaithem *
It is every pet owner’s worst nightmare to find their dog poisoned and can’t do anything about it. Dogs are curious creatures and like to investigate and it may sometimes lead to problems including fatal ones.
Dogs are poisonous to a wide range of substances including household items and plants such as alcoholic beverage, ammonia, bleach, chocolate, detergents, grapes, aloevera, avocado, etc. So, as responsible pet owner it is your duty to keep them away from these substances.
Some signs of possible poisoning include excessive drooling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, seizure, trembling, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, irregular heartbeat, chemical odour on the body, etc. If your dog is suffering from one or more of these signs, you need to get help immediately.
First aid for poisoned dogs.
- Firstly, you should contact a vet immediately for their guidance.
- Try to rinse or wipe out the mouth with a damp towel and do not give anything to eat or drink before speaking with a vet.
- Try to gather information on what the dog may have been exposed to. Try to look around as this will greatly help in the treatment.
- Do not induce vomiting unless instructed by a veterinarian as in some case it may be harmful. Keep 3% hydrogen peroxide if we may need to induce vomiting in case an emergency arises.
- Keep the dog calm and confined to a safe area as this help to prevent further exposure and minimize stress.
- Check the dog’s vital sign such as breathing rate and heart rate regularly.
- If the poisoning is on the skin, rinse or bathe the skin and paws with soap and water.
- As soon as possible the dog should be transferred to a nearest clinic or call a vet at home.
Aftercare for poisoned dogs
It takes a very long road to recover from dog poisoning and the duration of the recovery is linked to what poison affected them. Poison affects two vital organs, the liver, and the kidney mostly.
So, in this case the dog may need to be on a very bland, easily digestible diet for some time to give a liver and kidney a chance to rest and recuperate. Avoid feeding the dogs fat and proteins as these two organs are responsible for processing them.
In some situation anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals or nutritional supplements is given to assist the dog’s body in recovery.
The best scenario for any pet parents is never to have their dogs experience poisoning. Prevention is the best cure possible, so do everything that you can to dog proof your home and keep all poisonous substances out of the dog’s reach.
Though some poisonings can be fatal, most are not fatal except in cases of incredibly toxic substances or ingested in large quantities. A veterinarian can guide us on the treatment and it is best practice to have a professional evaluate your pet after completing treatment at home.
Poisoning can be a scary event for both the pet and the pet owner. But taking steps to learn first aid skills helps to keep your pet safe.
* Basanta Nongmaithem wrote this article for The Sangai Express
The Writer is BVSc 3rd year
This article was webcasted on 31 October 2023.
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