Poisoning in dogs – prevention, recognition, and treatment

It's not always easy to keep track of everything in the human world that is harmful to our dogs. Before you know it, your dog's head is stuck in the trash can and he's harming himself by eating onion scraps. But it's not just food that poses a danger. The wrong toys can cause problems, as can drinking from a puddle at the edge of a field.

INHALT
Prevent poisoning Foods that are dangerous for your dog How can I recognize poisoning? Treating poisoning
Prevent poisoning

Just as you would childproof your home, you should also make your environment safe for your dog. Of course, only you can determine what this means in your home and make the necessary changes. You should definitely be aware of the following hazards and take appropriate action:

  • Plastic dog toys. Dog owners are often enthusiastic about funny and attractive toys for their pets. But please remember that your dog will almost certainly chew them up. Therefore, look for toys that your dog cannot choke on, cause intestinal obstruction, or poison themselves with.
  • Safety in the home. Make sure your dog cannot get into the trash cans, as some of the contents may be inedible or even life-threatening for your dog, such as food scraps. Cleaning products also pose a great danger. They should therefore always be kept safely out of reach.
  • Poisonous plants. Keep poisonous houseplants out of your dog's reach. Also check whether you have any poisonous plants in your garden. Poisonous plants include: aloe vera, arum, dieffenbachia/silver ear/poison arum, dragon tree, spider plant, monstera, ficus benjamina, flamingo flower, lucky feather, orchids, amaryllis, pine branches/Christmas tree, poinsettia, yucca palm, cyclamen, azalea, begonia/skewed leaf, ivy, angel's trumpet, laburnum, hyacinths, cherry laurel, lilies, oleander, rhododendron, horse chestnut, thuja, tulip, and rowan. If you are not familiar with plants, it is best to use a plant identification app, such as Flora Incognita (https://floraincognita.de), and relevant books or websites about poisonous plants.
  • Beware of cannabis. Protect your dog from cannabis. Ingested marijuana, hashish, or edibles, which may also contain chocolate that is toxic to dogs, as well as secondhand smoke, can cause severe poisoning in dogs. Keep your dog away from home-grown cannabis plants.
  • Be careful under fruit trees. Unfortunately, windfall fruit in the garden or on the side of the road is also a source of poisoning for your dog. Cherry and plum pits, for example, can lead to cyanide poisoning. Your dog will develop neurological symptoms and the pits can also cause intestinal obstruction—an emergency situation.
  • Do not share sweets. No matter how cute your dog looks, spare yourself the agony of the possible consequences and the worst-case scenario. Chocolate, cakes soaked in birch sugar, and pralines are at the top of the red list of forbidden foods.
  • Be careful when out and about: teach your dog not to eat anything without your permission. Be especially vigilant when walking your dog. After a rain shower, pesticide residues can collect in puddles. Or a cigarette butt can dissolve in the water. Not to mention rat poison or slug pellets that have been laid out. These taste particularly good to your dog due to their sweet flavor, but can lead to death within a very short time. Lawn fertilizer and antifreeze are also toxic to your dog.
  • No medication from the first aid kit for humans. Please never use your own medicine cabinet to treat your dog. Medications such as aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen, and diclofenac are dangerous for your dog. In general, do not leave medications lying around openly so that your dog can help itself.
  • Prevention is better than cure. Inform dog sitters, friends of the family, and relatives that no extras should be fed to your dog without your consent. Inform everyone who comes into contact with your dog about your precautions. Raise everyone's awareness of dog safety.

Foods that are dangerous for your dog

Below is a list of foods that are dangerous for your dog:

  • Avocado: The pit can be swallowed, leading to choking or intestinal obstruction.
  • Onions, garlic, and allium vegetables, regardless of their state (cooked, fried, raw), are toxic to dogs.
  • Grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure if consumed in excess.
  • Windfall fruit, especially stone fruit: Eating large quantities of pits can lead to cyanide poisoning.
  • Beans and other legumes promote gas formation, can cause severe flatulence, and are difficult to digest. This can also contribute to stomach torsion.
  • Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and other nightshade plants contain solanine, which is toxic to dogs.
  • Rhubarb contains oxalic acid, which is toxic to dogs.
  • Chestnuts and marrons contain substances that can be dangerous to dogs if consumed in large quantities. Even small amounts can cause digestive problems.
  • Nuts are difficult to digest and unsuitable for dogs.
  • Blue cheese is toxic to dogs.
  • Raw pork is dangerous because it can transmit Aujeszky's disease. Cooking destroys the virus.
  • Chocolate and cocoa are absolutely taboo for dogs because the theobromine they contain is toxic to dogs. The darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine content. If your dog has accidentally eaten chocolate, use the handy petsXL chocolate poisoning calculator to assess how great the danger is for your dog and to find out what you should do now.
  • Sugars such as birch sugar, E 967, xylitol, and xylitol can cause hypoglycemia in dogs, which can lead to death if not treated quickly.
  • Salt and alcohol are also dangerous for your dog.

If in doubt, choose a ready-made dry or wet food before taking unnecessary risks when feeding your dog.

petsXL Oskar with chocolate
How can I recognize poisoning?

It is often not immediately clear what has happened. You may not even have noticed that your dog has eaten rat poison, for example. That is why it is important to always consider the possibility of poisoning when the following symptoms occur:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Blood in the stool or vomit
  • Loss of balance, even apathy (=indifference)
  • Fever
  • Severe restlessness, dilated pupils
  • Foam in or around the mouth
  • Excessive salivation
  • Drastic drop in body temperature
  • Sudden, severe trembling
  • Cramps, staring at the stomach, severe discomfort
  • Cardiovascular problems, even collapse
  • Breathing problems, including shortness of breath

In any case, if even one of these symptoms occurs, you should contact your veterinarian and check whether prompt action is necessary.

Treating poisoning

The most important thing is to stay calm and visit your veterinarian immediately. If you know what your dog has eaten, bring the toxic substance with you to the vet's office if possible. It is best to inform them in advance by phone about what has been ingested and in what quantity. This will allow your veterinarian to prepare for the emergency visit and quickly initiate the correct treatment.

In the event of poisoning, quick action is required. The basic principle is to remove the poison from the body, keep your dog's circulation stable, and prevent organ problems or even organ failure.

Depending on the type of poisoning, your veterinarian may induce vomiting by administering medication. Your dog's stomach may also be pumped. Painkillers, circulatory drugs, infusions for dehydration, liver protection, respiratory support, possibly sedatives—all of these may be used to stabilize your dog and avert the worst.