Poisons fall into three broad categories:
- Plants - There are many common plants that are toxic to dogs.
- Household food items – Some types of food such as chocolate, coffee grounds and yeast dough can be dangerous to dogs.
- Household chemicals – Substances like cleaners, anti-freeze, and rat poisons present a real danger to your dog.
Plants
Plants
are a colorful addition to any home. Unfortunately most common house plants are
toxic to your dog. Your dog may chew on house or garden plants to induce
vomiting or simply out of boredom or curiosity. You can train your dog to keep
away from house plants or choose varieties that are non-toxic if you suspect
your dog is eyeballing them as a potential snack..
Some
plants have certain parts (like leaves or stems) which are dangerous but others
are completely toxic.
House plants
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Flowers
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Vegetables
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Dieffenbachia
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Delphinium
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Rhubarb
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Daffodil bulbs
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Iris
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Tomato vine
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Poinsettia
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Foxglove
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Spinach
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Philodendron
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Lily of the valley
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Mistletoe
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Monkshood
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Hyacinth bulds
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Daffodil
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Indian rubber
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Amaryllis
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Hibiscus
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Easter lily
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Morning gory
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Tiger lily
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Shrubs
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Trees
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Wild plants
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Daphne
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Oak
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Buttercup
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Rhododendron
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Peach
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Nightshade
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Azalea
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Elderberry
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Moonseed
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Lantana
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Cherry
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Poison Hemlock
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Holly
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Black locust
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May apple
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Wormwood
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Apple seeds
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Jimson weed
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Laurel
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Oleander
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Mushrooms
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Hydrangea
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Dutchman breeches
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Bittersweet
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Pigweed
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Water Hemlock
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Lupine
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Locoweed
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Halogeton
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Poison Ivy
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Poison Oak
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Some of the symptoms from eating these
common plants that can result are:
- Stomach upset
- Vomiting
- Watery eyes and nose
- Convulsions
- Gastroenteritis
- Death
- Irritation of the mouth and lips
- Trouble with breathing
- Trouble swallowing
- Excess salivation
Also note that many animals ingest plants as a result of a developing illness. If this is the case, you may not be able to tell if your dog’s symptoms were from the plant. As well, some plants that are normally non-toxic to pets can make them sick if they are sprayed with pesticides or fertilizers. The best thing to do if your dog is symptomatic is check the areas that your dog inhabits for signs of eating and collect any samples and evidence you can find.
Most
of the time, though, you won’t know what he has eaten. Sometimes the symptoms
will help pinpoint the type of poison your dog has ingested, but in all cases
quick treatment can mean the difference between life and death.
Food Items
Many
people are surprised that common food items can be dog poison when eaten in
sufficient quantities. Included in the list of dangerous food is chocolate,
pear pits, apple cores, potato peelings, rhubarb leaves, tomato leaves and
stems, broccoli and raisins and grapes.
Dogs
like the taste of chocolate but it contains caffeine and a substance called
theobromine. The amount of theobromine found in just 4 ounces of milk chocolate
can kill a small dog. Unsweetened chocolate used for baking has greater
concentrations of this substance so is even more dangerous for dogs.
Symptoms of food poison ingestion include:
· vomiting
· Diarrhea
· Increased heart
rate
· Rapid breathing
· Seizures
· Coma
As with all types of dog poisoning, rapid treatment is essential to your dog's survival. Take him to your pet doctor immediately if you notice any of these signs.
Chemicals
Almost
all types of home chemical products are poisonous to your dog. Car anti-freeze
in particular is a dog poison that thousands of dogs fall victim to every year.
Dogs are attracted to anti-freeze because of its sweet taste but just a few
licks can be enough to kill. Most anti freeze contains ethylene glycol – a
deadly chemical which can cause death when as little as 4 tablespoons are
ingested.
Anti-freeze
can spill on the ground during replacement or when the car boils over or the
cooling system leaks. Roaming dogs are at particular risk, but anti-freeze
poisoning also happens frequently to dogs that are kept in garages.
The
first symptoms of anti-freeze poisoning are a drunken appearance in the dog.
This may continue for about 1 or 2 hours after which the dog seems to recover.
However, as the body begins to break down the ethylene glycol the kidneys may
stop functioning and the dog may slip into a coma.
Rat poison
It
is obvious that if rodent bait kills rats, then it is very hazardous if eaten
by your dog. Remember there are pet haters out there that will purposely put
this toxin out as a poison and other people that innocently just want to get
rid of pesky rodents, but carelessly place toxins where other animals can
easily get to it.
If
you notice any one of the following symptoms in your pup and you suspect there might
be this poison in the area, contact your veterinarian with out delay:
nervousness, restlessness, muscle rigidity, convulsions, profuse salivation,
nausea or watery diarrhea. Medical intervention may not be successful in
stopping permanent damage or death, therefore the best method for preventing
this tragedy is to not use these chemicals yourself and to know your pet’s
favorite places to go and patrol them often for poisons.
Deadly Flea Killers
In
our war against fleas, some dog owners will do anything to keep them away. A
popular seller in insect repellant is N-diethly-m-toluamide (DEET). This
substance can also be found in some flea repellants. Chemical flea collars can
pose a real threat to small animals. Most come with explicit warnings about their
toxity for humans, so you can imagine what it could do to your dog. In an
effort to rid homes of fleas, we expose ourselves and our pets to permanent
health risk from foggers or flea bombs. Active ingredients in these bombs may
include DDVP, propoxur, diazinon and carbaryl, all nerve poisons toxic to pets
and humans. Since these pesticides have long half-lives, their residue does not
go away. It remains in your furniture, carpets, and drapes, wood…all things
your pup comes in contact with. Remember this when considering purchasing a
product containing DEET or any of these chemicals and consider choosing a less
toxic alternative.
Other
types of common household dog poison include pesticides, insecticides, everyday
cleaning products and paint. Most of these do not taste good so your dog is
unlikely to ingest them voluntarily, but they should always be safely stored.
The
main danger with this type of household poison is that it may get on your dog’s
coat and he will try to lick it off. If your dog comes into contact with any
toxic substance be sure to wash his coat immediately.
keep Your Dog Safe
It’s
impossible to monitor everything that goes in your dog’s mouth, but you can
control his environment to limit his exposure to dog poison. Despite all your
good efforts, however, your dog may come into contact with toxic substances.
Seek prompt medical attention whenever you notice your dog is not well. If you
know what is causing the symptoms bring a sample of the poison as well as its
container. This can help target the correct treatment for your dog.
With
a little bit of effort we make our homes safer for our dogs. Keeping potential
dog poison out of reach can make the difference between life and death, and the
time spent dog-proofing your home can help keep your dog healthy and happy.