"Symptoms of Poisoning"

Symptoms of Poisoning Requiring Immediate Attention


If you suspect that your pet has been exposed to a poison, it is important not to panic. While rapid response is important, panicking generally interferes with the process of helping your animal.
Take 30 to 60 seconds to safely collect and have at hand the material involved. This may be of great benefit to a vet as he determine exactly what poison or poisons are involved.

In the event that you need to take your animal to your local veterinarian, be sure to take with you any product container. Also collect and bring any material your pet may have vomited or chewed, in a zip-lock bag. If your animal is seizuring, losing consciousness, unconscious or having difficulty breathing, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. Any delay could cause his death and every type of poison requires a different method of treatment.
If you cannot take your dog to a vet, read the following carefully before doing anything!

(1) Find what May Have Poisoned Your Dog

(2) Signs to Watch For

Poisons in the yard - Ant/Flea & Tick Products/Lawn fertilizers, etc. Dogs lick their paws when grooming thus ingesting the poison into their body.
• Poisonous plants: Indoor/outdoor plants can be toxic if eaten.
• Medications: Prescription drugs used alone or combined with others have caused many deaths, especially NSAID's (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and the newer generation NSAID's known as Cox 2 Inhibitors.
• Household chemicals: Bleach, drain cleaner, toilet bowel cleaner, shoe polish, shampoo, furniture polish.
• Snake or insect bites: Even small snakes can cause big problems for small dogs. Ant Bites.
• Expired food: Meats, Rotten and decomposed food can cause vomiting severe cramps and worse.
• Animal baits: Mouse traps, rat traps baited with peanut butter are sometimes tasty to dogs.

(2) Signs to Watch For

• One of the most obvious signs of toxicity is, abnormal colored tongue and gums (purple, blue or grey).
• Swollen or painful abdomen
• Bleeding from nose or mouth
• Tremors, staggering, convulsions, weakness, collapse
• Unusual behavior - such as imaginary biting, withdrawal, sudden aggressiveness, looks bewildered, unusual posture
• Signs of Pain - constant or intermittent
• Difficulty breathing, shallow or rapid breathing
• Rapid heartbeat
• Dilated pupils
• Cannot urinate or move bowels
• Bloody or painful defecation or urination.
• Vomiting or diarrhea with blood or violent episodes.

Remember a poisoned dog must be treated right away!

Dogs Sick from Fuel Poisonings

Hydrocarbon fumes can replace the air in the lungs and result in loss of oxygen to the brain.

Household Drugs

Many human type drugs can be toxic to dogs. It may surprise you that many people feel that if a human can take a drug, then so can a dog. On the reverse side of that, we know people who have borrowed their dog's prescription. Treat drugs as though you are are watching out for a small baby. Dogs will get into things out of curiosity - keep drugs out of reach. Some of those that you may believe harmless follow:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) - can be toxic to dogs.

• Vomiting, diarrhea
• Difficulty in breathing
• Dark colored urine
• Listlessness.

Ibuprofen

• Upset stomach
• Thirst
• Increased urination
• Blood in stool
• Depression
• Staggering or seizures.

Can lead to liver or kidney disease. Induce vomiting if possible and seek immediate veterinary help.
Other drugs - even aspirin can be poisonous if too much is ingested by your dog. Just think of a dog as a baby - would you give the medicine to a baby without first consulting the doctor, and if so - what dosage level would you give him?

Chemicals

Antifreeze (containing ethylene glycol) ingestion- Usually one hour or less to get immediate veterinary help.

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Increased thirst
• Depression
• Loss of coordination
• Kidney failure

Yard Chemicals - Once one of the most common causes of irritation or illness. Such a wide variety exists nowadays that it is difficult to provide a description or suggestions for help. From fertilizers to weed or bug killers, the most common symptom is irritation to the feet followed by:

• Drowsy or listlessness
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of appetite
• Drooling
• Vomiting or diarrhea.

It is best to thoroughly wash the exposed area using a mild shampoo with water and flushing. Seek veterinary care.

Rat Poisoning and It's Effects

Rat poison symptoms may take several days to appear.

• Weakness
• Pale gums
• Bruises on body or gums
• Bloody urine or feces (sometimes blue green from dyes)

Death will be immediate w/o veterinary assistance. Rat poisons usually inhibit vitamin K, causing internal bleeding

Snail Bait

• Loss of coordination
• Muscle Tremors
• Convulsions
• Increased heart rate.

Induce vomiting, contact a veterinarian.

Other Insect and or rodent Poisons - usually symptoms occur within two hours - nervousness, seizures (sometimes provoked by loud noise), death.Induce vomiting and seek immediate veterinary help.

Lead (found at one time in many products including paints, insecticides, and even golf balls )

• Seizures
• Unusual behavior
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Uncoordinated movement

Smaller or younger dogs are at greater risk than adults,consult your veterinarian right away.

Fish Hooks - your dog may be attracted to the smell of the bait and try to eat the hook. In other cases they are just caught with the hook as the pass by. Do not try to pull the hook out if it has penetrate past the barb.
Usually the dog will show signs of:

• Drooling or pawing at the mouth
• Limping (foot).

Seek veterinary help.

Insects - Ingestion of Insects

• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Diarrhea
• Disorientation
• Difficulty breathing
• Seizures
• Drooling

Dogs may have irritation around the mouth area from bites or stings. Give water, induce vomiting, seek veterinary assistance.

Bee Stings (also wasp, hornet)

• Scratching
• Swelling
• Difficulty breathing.

Dogs have less reaction to stings than people. You can usually find the stinger and remove it. Most common areas are around the face and particularly the nose. Reduce swelling with ice wrapped in a towel.

Spider Bites (also Ant Bites) Insect ingestion if it is in the dog's mouth

• Irritated or painful skin area
• Open sore
• Muscle pain or contractions
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Blood in urine
• Difficult or rapid breathing
• Shock or paralysis

Most spiders are nonpoisonous so bites can be treated like normal insect bites (see also bee stings). Apply ice wrapped in a towel for 10 minute intervals to reduce swelling. If poison is suspected seek veterinary help.

Snake Bites (some or all)

• Swelling or bruising
• Respiratory distress
• Digestive upset
• Depression
• Paralysis
• Comatose

Usually the bite is located - either two puncture wounds (poisonous) or U shaped (non poisonous - caused by many teeth). Keep the dog calm and warm, rush to veterinarian.

Toad Poisoning

• Drool or mouth irritation
• Shaking head
• Vomiting or dry heaves
• Weakness (or collapsing)
• Difficulty breathing
• Blue gums
• Seizures

Flush the mouth with water and seek veterinary care. If possible identify the type of toad.

Plants

There are dozens of plants that can be either irritating or poisonous. There is no way we could list all here. Our main point is to watch for eating of any plants, followed by symptoms indicating that they have an ill effect or your dog. Also note that even getting a twig or stick caught in the throat can be life threatening.

You should watch for warning signs if your dog eats any kind of plant. Some dogs may be allergic to plants that are harmless to others. And, there are many plants that can be very poisonous. Each plant can result in a different symptom - any single symptom or sometimes all of the following:

• Irritation around mouth
• Drooling or discharge from mouth or nose
• Swelling around moth or throat
• Excessive thirst
• Upset stomach or vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Urine color change
• Dilated eyes (pupils)
• Difficulty breathing
• Depression
• Weakness
• Disorientation
• Shaking
• Tremors, seizures, convulsions
• Irregular, slow or rapid heart beat
• Paralysis
• Coma

These can be followed by damage to the internal organs (liver, kidneys or heart) or even death. In some cases birth defect in offspring have resulted.