Symptoms of Dog Poisoning

Dogs are curious animals by nature and they tend to eat anything that they find interesting. A dog owner should keep watch on the dog while it is eating anything, as such indiscriminate eating habits can lead to poisoning. You can identify dog poisoning by knowing its symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, lethargy, muscle tremor and rigidity, heart failure, etc.

Dog Poisoning

Generally, most dogs have a tendency to hunt for different things. This habit can put them in direct contact with dead animals, insects and toxic plants. Dog poisoning can be caused by gas inhale, ingestion, or absorption through the skin by direct contact with certain types of substances. Dog owners also can be unknowingly responsible for dog poisoning by giving them unsuitable foods, leaving various chemical products, or inappropriate use of medications and topical applications to kill fleas. Some of the substances that are poisonous to dogs are alcohol, chocolate, cleansers, caffeine, avocado, mothballs, fish, raisins, garlic, grapes, insecticides, onions, rat poison, tick products, zinc, etc. Most poisons are ingested, while some are inhaled or absorbed by the body.

A chocolate consists of a poisonous substance known as theobromine. It can give rise to some symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, seizure and heart problems. In some rare cases, it can lead to death. Some plants such as oleander, mistletoe, Easter lily and azalea are extremely toxic to dogs, causing the symptoms such as vomiting, rash and kidney problems. If a dog ingests the bleaching agents, it causes vomiting, drooling and abdominal problems.

Symptoms of Dog Poisoning

The effects of poisoning in dogs are not always immediately apparent. Although most symptoms of poisoning appear within three days, the toxic substances may not cause any illness for several days, months or even years. The prognosis depends upon a type and amount of poisonous substance and duration of exposure. Poisoning causes a wide range of symptoms such as skin rash, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth irritation, lethargy, lack of appetite, drooling, staggering, breathing difficulty, hallucination causing over-reaction to light or sound, bleeding disorders, seizure, muscle tremor and rigidity, liver or kidney problems, heart failure, coma and death.

Generally, the time required to appear the symptoms depends upon the quantity of chemical substances ingested and duration that these substances remained in the body before starting the treatment. You need to start the treatment as early as possible in order to prevent serious illness in the dog. Some types of poisoning can cause a permanent damage and even death, if immediate treatment is not given.

Dog Poisoning Treatment

If the dog exhibits the symptoms of poisoning, then you should immediately take your dog to a veterinarian. The best way to eliminate the poison from the dog’s intestine is to induce vomiting. Laxative is given to a dog in order to enhance the process of eliminating the poisonous content from the body. If the dog’s skin comes in contact with poisonous substances, then it should be cleaned by bathing the dog with warm water and soap. It prevents the dog from licking the poison on its skin.