The different types of poisoning in dogs

My dog ​​ate chocolate: food poisons

We often ignore it, but the food we eat every day is absolutely toxic to our dogs. The bad relationship between dogs and chocolate is probably the best known. But it is not the only one. Here is an incomplete list.

• Chocolate and dog do not mix well: a 100-gram bar of dark chocolate is enough to be toxic for a dog of 7-8 kg.
• Food from the garlic and onion family is also very toxic to dogs.
• The grape, its seeds: A grape can be deadly for a 10 kg dog. Even fewer raisins are needed to be toxic.
• The lawyer.

The dog poisoned by plants.

Many plants are poisonous to dogs when they eat them. Poisoning ranges from simple indigestion to death from heart problems. It is best to know the plants in your home and garden, although it is not always easy to stop a dog from eating grass or plants.

Here are some examples of plants that are toxic to dogs: aloe, arum, colchicum, dieffenbachia, ficus, hyacinth, oleander, black nightshade, lily of the valley, lily of the valley, poinsettia, tulip, and yucca.

The dog is poisoned with agricultural chemicals

These molecules are said to often kill rodents or snails that destroy crops or seed stocks. These are often molecules that trigger seizures (involuntary contractions of the whole body, which also occur in dogs with epilepsy).

The dog poisoned with detergents

There are poisonings associated with caustic soda or hydrochloric acid that are used to clog pipes. The dog licks them and they cause chemical burns to the stomach. It is absolutely not necessary to make the dog vomit as there is a risk of the digestive tract being burned a second time.

Dog poisoned by drugs for humans

It is by far the most common form of poisoning. In fact, drugs are not always out of the dog's reach. And for dogs with pica (see the article on the dog eating feces and grass) or puppies that taste everything, a plate of drugs on the table can be very attractive.

There are also and in particular cases in which the owner who wants to relieve his dog's pain (for example in the case of arthrosis) has given one of his tablets. Molecules like acetaminophen or ibuprofen and its derivatives are very strong molecules when it hurts, but they are very poorly tolerated by dogs. A 500 mg paracetamol tablet is a toxic dose for a 5 kg dog. Likewise, a 400 mg ibuprofen tablet is toxic to a 10 kg dog. Human doses are absolutely unsuitable for dogs and the consequences are dramatic: acute kidney or liver failure, damage to heavy red blood cells, gastrointestinal ulcers that can lead to death.

As with children, the medication should be kept out of the reach of dogs.

The dog poisoned to death with rats or rat poison

The death of rats is a sustained release anticoagulant poison that blocks the use of vitamin K. The blood can no longer clot and if bleeding occurs it does not stop. Their taste is sweet and attractive for rats, but also for our dogs. If you think your dog has eaten rat mice, talk to your veterinarian even if they don't have any symptoms yet. There is an antidote: vitamin K.

Dog poisoned by drugs

Tobacco, cannabis in all its forms, alcohol, and other drugs can be very toxic to dogs. It usually triggers neurological symptoms in animals that ingest it.

How do you recognize a poisoned dog?

Poisoned dogs can have a variety of symptoms: hypersalivation (the dog that is drooling heavily), seizures and other neurological symptoms, uncontrollable digestive symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Certain toxins can cause bleeding. In some cases, the dog falls into a coma. In general, these symptoms appear acute and sudden.

If you're wondering how to make a dog vomit, only do so if your vet recommends it. Some poisons are very irritating and must not come from the stomach. Don't give him milk. Milk makes no sense.

If the poison is on your skin, you can rinse your dog with plenty of water without rubbing it. Do not use water that is too cold to avoid hypothermia or water that is too hot to avoid burns.

Bring it to your veterinarian urgently after calling him. If you know the name of the toxin, it can tell you what to do before you come. If the poison allows it and has been taken less than 4 hours before, it can cause vomiting. After this time, he is less likely to go out with vomiting. The veterinarian then swallows large amounts of activated carbon to absorb the maximum amount of toxins. He can also give your dog an infusion to rehydrate and eliminate the toxic substance in the urine.

He will administer the antidote to the poisons and treat the symptoms with suitable medications (antiemetics, digestive bandages, anticonvulsants, etc.).