Common Dog Poisoning: Signs and Symptoms

September 19, 2021

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Common Dog Poisoning: Signs and Symptoms

Dr.Rakesh Singh,Veterinary officer ,Motihari,Department Of Animal Husbandry,Govt. of Bihar

Dogs come into contact with several substances and can eat many things that are toxic. If left untreated poisoning can be fatal and learning and treating it might save your dog someday. In this article, we discuss toxicity because of ingestion (not bites). There are several opportunities for a dog to come into contact with various toxic substances it can eat! This can range from household substances such as raisins and chocolate and rat poison to substances such as mushrooms.Alcoholic beverages, ammonia, battery acid, bleach, chocolate, detergents, drain cleaners, disinfectants, fertilizer, furniture polish, glue, grapes and raisins, human medications, metal polishes, mothballs, onions, paint thinners, rat poison, toilet cleaners… are few everyday substances that are dangerous for dogs.

Signs And Symptoms Of Poisoning In Dogs

Symptoms of poisoning in dogs can vary tremendously depending on the type of poison they’ve encountered. These signs can range from vomiting to breathing difficulties to drooling.

Swallowed poisons, for example, often cause sickness, diarrhoea, agitation and heart issues. If your dog has inhaled something toxic they may find it difficult to breathe or lose consciousness. Poisons that come into contact with your dog’s skin can cause irritation and pain.

Depending on how a particular substance affects your dog’s body and how much was ingested or inhaled, pet poisoning symptoms can include gastrointestinal and neurological problems, cardiac and respiratory distress, coma, and even death.

Substances that are poisonous to your dog

Many of the substances that are poisonous to your dog are self-evident and often poisonous to humans too (like rat poison). However, there is a plethora of dangerous substances that you may not know are poisonous to your dog.

Here is a list of some of the most common substances that could poison your dog:

Chocolate (the higher the cocoa % the more dangerous it is)
Mouse and rat poisons (rodenticides)
Anti-inflammatory medications
Snail bait (very toxic, and dogs love the taste. They actively will seek it out)
Mind-altering drugs e.g. marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, etc
Mushrooms, onion, garlic
Certain algae
Cycad seeds
Anti-freeze
Xylitol (sugar-free gum, sweets, & more)
Grapes & raisins
Antidepressant medications
Medications such as paracetamol (e.g., Tylenol or Panado), Ibuprofen, Voltaren, Myprodol, etc
Vitamins & supplements such as a vitamin D
Stimulant medications (e.g. for ADD/ADHD)
Fertilizers
Household cleaning products
Fungi, yew trees, acorns, and spring bulbs
Alcohol and tobacco
Toxic plants, including syringa, iris, poinsettia

Top 10 Dog Poisons

Dog poison No. 1: Over-the-counter medications. This group contains acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen and naproxen (Advil, Aleve), as well as herbal and nutraceutical products.

Dog poison No. 2: Prescription medications for people. Drugs that might be beneficial or even lifesaving for people can have the opposite effect in pets. And it doesn’t always take a large dose to do major damage.

Some of the most common and harmful medications that poison dogs include:

Prescription anti-inflammatory and pain medications can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers or kidney failure.
Antidepressants can cause vomiting and, in more serious instances, serotonin syndrome — a dangerous condition that raises temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, and may cause seizures.
Blood pressure medications.

Dog poison No. 3: People food. Your canine companion may look so cute as they sit there begging for a bite of your chocolate cake or a chip covered in guacamole, but not giving them what they want could save their life. Animals have different metabolisms than people. Some foods, such as onions and garlic, as well as beverages that are perfectly safe for people can be dangerous, and sometimes fatal, for dogs.

Alcohol. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning in animals are similar to those in people, and may include vomiting, breathing problems, coma and, in severe cases, death.
Avocado. You might think of them as healthy, but avocados have a substance called persin that can act as a dog poison, causing vomiting and diarrhea.
Macadamia nuts. Dogs may suffer from a series of symptoms, including weakness, overheating, and vomiting, after consumption of macadamia nuts.
Grapes and raisins. Experts aren’t sure why, but these fruits can induce kidney failure in dogs. Even a small number may cause problems in some dogs.
Xylitol. This sweetener is found in many products, including sugar-free gum and candy. It causes a rapid drop in blood sugar, resulting in weakness and seizures. Liver failure also has been reported in some dogs.

Other foods you should keep away from your pet include tomatoes, mushrooms and most seeds and nuts

Dog poison No. 4: Chocolate. Though not harmful to people, chocolate products contain substances called methylxanthines that can cause vomiting in small doses, and death if ingested in larger quantities. Darker chocolate contains more of these dangerous substances than do white or milk chocolate. The amount of chocolate that could result in death depends on the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. For smaller breeds, just half an ounce of baking chocolate can be fatal, while a larger dog might survive eating 4 ounces to 8 ounces, though 8 ounces would be extremely dangerous. Coffee and caffeine have similarly dangerous chemicals.

Dog poison No. 5 Veterinary products –This includes medications as well as flea and tick treatments. Just as we can be sickened or killed by medications intended to help us, cases of pet poisoning by veterinary drugs are not uncommon. Some of the more commonly reported problem medications include painkillers and de-wormers. And you may think you’re doing your dog a favor when you apply products marketed to fight fleas and ticks, but thousands of animals are unintentionally poisoned by these products every year. Problems can occur if dogs accidentally ingest these products or if small dogs receive excessive amounts. Talk to your vet about safe OTC products.

Dog poison No. 6: Household products, from cleaners to fire logs. Just as cleaners like bleach can poison people, they are also a leading cause of pet poisoning, resulting in stomach and respiratory tract problems. Not surprisingly, chemicals contained in antifreeze, paint thinner, and chemicals for pools also can act as dog poison. The pet poisoning symptoms they may produce include stomach upset, depression, chemical burns, renal failure and death.

Dog poison No. 7: Rodenticides – Unfortunately, many baits used to lure and kill rodents can also look tasty to our pets. If ingested by dogs, they can cause severe problems. The symptoms depend on the nature of the poison, and signs may not start for several days after consumption. In some instances, the dog may have eaten the poisoned rodent, and not been directly exposed to the toxin.

Dog poison No. 8: Insecticides – Items such as bug sprays and ant baits can be easy for your pet to get into and as dangerous for your pet as they are to the insects.

Dog poison No. 9: Plants. They may be pretty, but plants aren’t necessarily pet friendly. Some of the more toxic plants to dogs include:

Azaleas and rhododendrons. These pretty flowering plants contain toxins that may cause vomiting, diarrhea, coma, and potentially even death.
Tulips and daffodils. The bulbs of these plants may cause serious stomach problems, difficulty breathing, and increased heart rate.
Sago palms. Eating just a few seeds may be enough to cause vomiting, seizures, and liver failure.

Dog poison No. 10: Lawn and garden products. Products for your lawn and garden may be poisonous to pets that ingest them.

Symptoms of poisoning in dogs

The table below shows the main clinical signs in some of the most common poisons.

Product	Chemical/Name	Some common signs
Chocolate	Theobromine	Agitation, tremors, convulsions, heart issues
Human drugs	Ibuprofen, Diclofenac	Sickness, diarrhoea, kidney failure
Anticoagulant rat poison	Bromadiolone, Difenacoum, Warfarin	Excessive bruising or bleeding although these effects may not be seen until several days later
Slug pellets	Metaldehyde	Unsteady on feet, convulsions, breathing problems
Grapes and raisins	Vitis Vinifera	Kidney failure
Vitamin D		Sickness, diarrhoea, convulsions, abnormal heart beat, kidney failure
Onions	Thiosulphate	Drooling, nausea, oral irritation, sickness, diarrhoea, pale gums

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.

Clinical signs of poisoning in a dog may include:

Gastrointestinal signs: vomiting, diarrhea, extreme salivation, loss of appetite, and nausea or dry heaving
Internal bleeding:indicated by pale gums, a racing heart, coughing up or vomiting blood, weakness or lethargy, or a dog’s falling over or collapsing
Kidney failure:increased or decreased urination, increased drinking as well as lack of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea
Liver failure:yellow gums, acting abnormally or dully as well as tarry stool (melena), vomiting, diarrhea, or collapsing due to low blood sugar.

Symptoms or signs of dog poisoning may include:

Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Loss of appetite
Extreme salivation
Excessive panting
Increased/decreased urination
Excessive panting
Collapsing
Difficulty breathing
Swelling of limbs
Pale or yellow gums

Your vet will assess your dog’s condition before deciding on a treatment path. Their priority will be to stabilise your pet before carrying out any diagnostic tests or procedures.

The three categories of swallowing dangers are:

Poisons, such as chocolate, human drugs and raisins
Toxic and caustic substances, including bleach
Foreign bodies, such as toys, bones and sticks

Treatment can be diverse ranging from endoscopy and remove, inducing sickness, or severe cases, surgery.

There are also antidotes for some poisons, including adder venom, some rat poisons and antifreeze, but not all. In most cases, your dog’s symptoms will be treated to ensure their organs aren’t badly affected.

What to Do if Your Dog Has Been Poisoned

The goal of treatment is to neutralize the ingested substance to prevent further absorption into the dog’s body, and to provide supportive measures to your pet. When possible, an antidote based upon what was ingested will be administered.

There are several treatment options to assist in the removal of the toxic substance and the rehabilitation of your dog, including supportive behavior to alleviate pain and control body temperature.

If you dog is unable to breathe, an emergency airway must be established quickly to prevent asphyxiation. If your pet’s heart has stopped, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or massage of the heart (cardiac massage) may be required to regain a proper heartbeat.

The use of enemas and activated charcoal will help to prevent further absorption into the body, and external oils can be used to prevent absorption into the skin as the substance passes through the body.

Your veterinarian may also choose gastric lavage (internal washing). Using a tube passed into the stomach and filled with water to flush the dog’s system, the substance will be washed directly from the stomach. Diuretic drugs will enhance the secretion of the substance through the urinary tract.

For serious conditions, filtering of the kidneys with a dialysis machine may be recommended to remove the substance from the dog’s blood and kidneys.

Treatment

We’re dividing treatments here on what is required to keep the dog alive (emergency procedures) till a vet is available and what is the recommended plan of action and to watch out for after the critical period (post emergency).

Emergency Procedures

Remove toxic load from stomach: If toxicity occurs because of ingestion dog’s digestive tract needs to be decontaminated as soon as possible to reduce the load of poison. Inducing vomiting is a failry safe way of doing this. When not to induce vomiting– vomiting is not induced if the dog ate something that can cause a lung infection e.g. petroleum products. Never induce vomiting in an unconscious or convulsing dog. What to use to inducing vomiting – Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution at 1-2 teaspoons/2kg body weight or use a 30-50% salt solution. Use a large 20ml syringe or a rubber bottle between the back teeth to squeeze the solution into the stomach. The dog should through in about a minute. Repeat the dose in 10 or 15 minutes if the dog has not vomited.
Absorbing toxic load in the gut with activated charcoal: Activated charcoal is available as tablets/ pellets or powder in human pharmacies so is easy to procure. Activated charcoal has a large surface area and it is able to absorb many chemicals through ion-ion hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces preventing or reducing the toxicant’s absorption. Effectiveness is related to molecular size and polarity of the molecules, the solubility of the poison, the presence of inorganic salts, the pH of the toxicant, and the presence of gastric contents. When to give: Activated charcoal should be administered as soon as possible after the exposure, but not before you induce vomiting. The best option may be to induce vomiting and then give activated charcoal. Dose:Recommended dose is a 5g compressed tablet for 2kg body weight. The charcoal is often given multiple times rather than all at once. When not to give: Charcoal is not given if the toxin is an oil
Causing catharsis:Some poisons are slow acting and may have entered the lower gastrointestinal tract (GI) tract – e.g. rat poison and when only activated charcoal would not work. In such cases, a cathartic agent or anema should be used to clear out both the upper GI tract (using vomiting and charcoal) and lower GI tract (using catharsis). Cathartic agents increase peristalsis – usually by irritating intestinal mucous membranes – to cause the bowel to empty. Common cathartic agents are sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate.
Maintenence of respiration and critical functions:Consequent to poisoning you need to take watch out for (a) cardiac rhythm – if the dog’s heart has stopped, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or cardiac massage may be required to regain a proper heartbeat (b) body temperature is maintained – if the dog goes into coma or body function drops temperature may drop as well and needs to be maintained. Additional symptoms such as seizures may need to be addressed.
Administration of antidotes:When possible, antidotes, based on the toxin ingested will be administered.

https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/common-poisoning-in-dogs/

Immediate, life-saving measures may be needed initially. Beyond this, treatment consists of preventing further absorption of the poison, providing supportive treatment, and administering specific antidotes, if available.

Thorough washing with soap and water can usually prevent further absorption of poisons on the skin. If the animal has a long or dense coat, the hair may need to be clipped. For some poisons that have been ingested, vomiting may be induced in dogs and cats. However, vomiting is not recommended if the suspected poison could damage the stomach or esophagus on its way up, if more than a few hours have passed, if the swallowing reflex is absent, if the animal is convulsing, or if there is a risk of aspiration pneumonia (vomited material being inhaled into the lungs). If the animal is unconscious, the stomach may be flushed with a stomach tube, or surgery on the stomach may be needed. Laxatives and medications used to empty the bowels may be recommended in some instances to help remove the poison from the gastrointestinal tract.

If the poison cannot be physically removed, sometimes activated charcoal can be administered by mouth to prevent further absorption by the gastrointestinal tract.

Supportive treatment is often necessary until the poison can be metabolized and eliminated. The type of support required depends on the animal’s condition and may include controlling seizures, maintaining breathing, treating shock, controlling heart problems (for example, irregular heart beats), and treating pain.

In some cases, there is a known antidote for a specific poison.

If you know your dog has eaten something poisonous, here’s what to do:

Make sure your dog is breathing, alert, and behaving normally.
Keep your dog and everyone else away from the source of the poisoning. Note what was eaten and keep any labels of information about the product or object. That will help medical professionals make the right decision for treatment.
If the poison is in the dog’s fur, wash the dog thoroughly, if you can do so safely.
Don’t use any at-home remedies or antidotes. And don’t try to make your dog vomit before you talk to a veterinarian. Vomiting may be the right approach, but it might also be dangerous based on what your dog ingested and what’s happening in the dog’s body.

Symptoms that can develop when a dog has been eating chocolate

Chocolate is toxic for dogs. The symptoms of chocolate poisoning can begin 6 to 12 hours after your dog as ingested it. At worst, a dog consuming chocolate can lead to death (older dogs and dogs with heart condition are at higher risk of death from eating chocolate).

The symptoms of chocolate poisoning can include:

Restlessness
Increased urination
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
Increased heart rate
Shaking
Seizures

Why is chocolate poisonous for dogs?

Chocolate will stimulate your dog’s nervous system and speed up their heart rate. This is because it contains caffeine and theobromine. The concentration of caffeine and theobromine can vary depending on the type of chocolate. Cocoa powder is the most toxic, then unsweetened baking chocolate, then dark chocolate – with milk chocolate generally being the least toxic. If you know what type of chocolate your dog has eaten, this will help the vet understand the severity of the poisoning.

The symptoms can also depend on the size and weight of the dog and the amount of chocolate ingested. Even a small bar of chocolate can make a dog seriously ill, especially a small dog.

As chocolate is seen as a treat for humans, people will often think of chocolate in the same way for animals and give it to your dog as a treat. You must be particularly aware of both friends and children offering your dog a bit of chocolate out of kindness – not realising the consequences.

Symptoms of rat poisoning in dogs – how can you tell if your dog ate rat poison?

Dogs are naturally curious and will explore their environment and this means they can accidentally come into contact with poisons designed to kill rodents.

If the worst happens and you think your dog has ingested some rat poison, then try to find out what type of rat poison it is as this will help the vet understand what damage it can cause. The symptoms the dog experiences are also dependent on the type of rat poisoning ingested.

Bromethalin

This type of rat poison causes your dog’s brain to swell. There is no antidote.

Symptoms include:

Loss of balance
Vomiting
Shaking
Seizures
Lethargy
Coma

The vet may induce vomiting with this type of poison, alongside administering medication for the symptoms.

Symptoms of cyanide poisoning in dogs

Cyanide is highly toxic for dogs and can be found in a variety of fruits and plants, such as cherries, apples, pears, almonds, elderberries and clover. The chemical can also be found in cigarette smoke, extermination products and burning plastic.

The most common form of cyanide poisoning in dogs is from the ingestion of pits and seeds within fruit. If dogs chew or ingest broken parts of these fruit pits and seeds, the cyanide toxin can be released. Once this toxin is ingested, oxygen within the blood cannot be released as easily to the cells.

To help prevent cyanide poisoning, ensure that if feeding your dog small amounts of fresh fruit, you take care to remove all seeds, pits, leaves and stems. In addition, look out for any pitted fruit plants in the garden that your inquisitive dog could sink their teeth into.

Signs of cyanide poisoning:

Signs of cyanide poisoning usually occur within 20 minutes to a few hours after the toxin is consumed. Typical symptoms include: