Dogs rely on their owners to keep them out of harm’s way. It is important to know what items can cause your dog harm.
Toxins and dangerous chemicals are all around us. Open your kitchen and bathroom sink and count how many items you have that could be deadly if consumed. We, as humans, have the knowledge to stay away from these harmful items. Our dogs, however, do not have that knowledge. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for canines to get into potentially harmful items that can lead to serious health risks and even death.
Any pet owner knows how their dogs can easily get into things that they should not be into. That is why it is important to arm yourself with what items are toxic to your dog and learn the common symptoms associated with canine poisoning.
Chocolate Poisoning
Chocolate is a tasty treat that humans consume daily without any problems. Unfortunately, dogs cannot enjoy chocolate like us. Baker’s chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate cake, and chocolate ice cream can be a toxin to canines. Some people are not aware of the dangerous effects chocolate can have on dogs and share their cookies and candy with their pooch.
Antifreeze Poisoning
Antifreeze is used as a coolant in vehicle radiators. Its sweet taste and smell make it extremely dangerous to dogs as well as other animals. A few ounces consumed can be lethal for a medium-size dog. A few hours after your dog has consumed antifreeze, it will begin to metabolize in his liver and lead to organ failure.
Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning are much like alcohol intoxication. Your dog may appear wobbly and begin to vomit or have diarrhea. Depression, seizures, rapid breathing, and dehydration are common symptoms.
Arsenic Poisoning
Arsenic is a common ingredient in rodents, snails, and slug bait, as well as in weed killers, insecticides, and ant poisons. Arsenic is also present as an impurity in some chemicals. Death from arsenic poisoning can occur before any symptoms are visible. After your dog has ingested arsenic, it will have a strong odor of garlic on its breath.
Symptoms of arsenic poisoning include a high level of thirst, vomiting, drooling, staggering movements, diarrhea, and paralysis.
If you suspect your dog has consumed arsenic, immediately induce vomiting, and get it to an animal hospital or veterinarian.
Lead Poisoning
Lead is found not only in some commercial paints but also in household insecticides, batteries, and roofing materials. Lead is even found in gold balls, which are a common toy that some owners give to their pooch to chew on and play with.
Lead poisoning begins with vomiting and abdominal colic. Lead poisoning affects the central nervous system with symptoms such as excitation, continuous barking, weakness, blindness, and fits of hysteria.
Food Poisoning
Dogs are natural scavengers, so it is common for them to get into garbage and trash. Garbage is filled with decomposing foods, animal and human waste, and various other noxious substances that can cause harm to your dog’s digestive system. In fact, food poisoning is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in canines.
The common symptoms of food poisoning are diarrhea -which may or may not be accompanied by blood- vomiting, and abdomen pain. Most often than not, food poisoning is not deadly unless there are complications such as bacterial infection that could lead to shock.