Staff of BAH Blog
Blog Series: Medical Emergencies for Pets
PT 7: Poisoning/Indiscrete Ingestion
Euraysia Duhaime: BA, Veterinary Assistant BAH
“Be honest and be kind.”
Pets are prone to a wide variety of illnesses, and it can be difficult to sort out which symptoms are emergencies. I’ve written a series of short blogs to help you determine when your fur-baby needs immediate medical attention. Today, we’re discussing poisoning and indiscrete ingestion.
Some pets just can’t seem to keep their nose off tables and away from things they shouldn’t be eating! Not only can objects cause obstructions, but some food/products can be especially toxic to animals and can cause death if left untreated. If you are concerned your dog has eaten something they shouldn’t have, call your vet immediately. The most common toxicity cases we see are chocolate, marijuana, grapes/raisins, human medication, lilies, vitamins, gum and rat poison. Some of these can be treated successfully if seen immediately but can be life threatening if what has been ingested begins to digest and be absorbed by the digestive system. In order to treat, your vet may induce vomiting if done within a certain immediate time frame, and manage with fluid treatment and observation.
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 toxin, and may include controlling seizures , maintaining breathing, treating shock, controlling heart problems (for example, irregular heartbeats), and treating pain, bloodwork/urinalysis monitoring and IV fluids.
Signs to watch out for include: vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, blood in stool, lethargy, loss of appetite, bruising, nosebleeds, irregular heartbeat, and inability to urinate.
Please! If your dog has ingested a toxin, call your vet right away. Be ready to answer: what was ingested; how much (number/grams/mg/kg); strength of toxin; time ingested. When saying what’s been ingested, be specific i.e. dark chocolate vs milk chocolate, rat poison with product name and active ingredient, strength and type of vitamin etc…
If you have any questions, or would like to book an appointment, fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you within 48 hours. If you have a possible emergency during our hours of operation, please call the clinic at 519-648-9738. If you have an after hours emergency, please contact Campus Estates Animal Hospital at 519-837-1212.