If your dog ingests or inhales something toxic, you may need veterinary help. Symptoms can include vomiting, lethargy, bloody urine and seizures. If you suspect your dog has been poisoned, do a thorough examination of the dog and its surroundings. Then, call the vet. If you know what poisoned your dog, this information will help your veterinarian determine the best treatment for him.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Examining the Dog's Body
Step 1. Examine the dog's mouth
Your dog's gums and tongue should be pale to pink in color. If your dog's gums are naturally black, check their tongue. If his gums and tongue are blue, purple, white, brick red or bright red, call your vet immediately. This means something has blocked the flow of blood in his body.
You can also do a capillary refill time ("capillary refill time") test to determine whether the poison has blocked the dog's blood flow or not. Lift his upper lip and press the gums over his canines with your thumb. Release your finger and watch the color change where it was pressed. The color of the gums should change from white to pink in two seconds. If there is a considerable delay (more than three seconds), contact your veterinarian
Step 2. Check the dog's heart rate
If the heart rate is more than 180 beats per minute, and there are indications that the dog has been poisoned, seek medical attention immediately. A dog's normal resting heart rate is between 70-140 beats per minute. Larger dogs usually have lower heart rates.
- You can check your dog's heart rate by placing your hand on the left side of his chest, behind his elbow, and then feel his heart beat. Count how many heart beats in 15 seconds and multiply that number by 4 to find the number of heartbeats per minute.
- To prepare, write down your dog's normal heart rate in a journal for future reference. Some dogs naturally have a faster heart rate.
Step 3. Check the dog's temperature using a thermometer
A dog's normal temperature is between 38, 3-39, 2°C. A fever doesn't necessarily indicate that the dog has been poisoned, but it does indicate that something is wrong. If your pet is stressed or excited, his body temperature may also rise. However, if your pet is lethargic, sick and has a high temperature, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Ask someone to take your dog's temperature. One person should hold the dog's head and the other should insert the thermometer into the dog's rectum (just under the tail). Grease the thermometer with petroleum jelly or a water-based lubricant such as K-Y. In performing this step, use a digital thermometer
Method 2 of 3: Recognizing Strange Behavior
Step 1. Check the dog's balance
If your dog is unsteady, dizzy or disoriented, the dog may have nerve or heart problems, as well as low blood pressure caused by poisoning. Contact your veterinarian immediately if these symptoms appear.
Step 2. Watch for vomiting or diarrhea as these two symptoms are not uncommon in dogs
Vomiting and diarrhea are signs that your dog's body is trying to expel a foreign, toxic substance. Check the contents, color, and consistency of your dog's vomit or feces. Dog poop should be solid and brown in color. If the stool is watery, mushy, yellow, green, or solid black, call your veterinarian.
Step 3. Watch the dog breathe
Don't panic if your dog is panting, as this is normal for dogs to release heat. However, if the dog pans for more than 30 minutes, the dog may have breathing or heart problems. Call your vet right away if your dog makes a wheezing sound (a high-pitched sound similar to a whistle) or whimpers when breathing. If your dog swallows something, it may affect his lungs.
You can determine your dog's respiratory rate by looking at his chest and counting the number of times he breathes in 15 seconds. Then multiply that number by 4 to find the number of breaths per minute. The normal respiratory rate per minute for dogs is 10-30 breaths per minute
Step 4. Watch for signs of sudden loss of appetite
If your dog suddenly stops eating, the dog may have ingested a toxic substance. Call your veterinarian if your dog has no appetite for more than 24 hours.
Method 3 of 3: Seeking Help
Step 1. Write down the symptoms the dog is experiencing in detail
Record when symptoms occur and the actions you take to relieve them. The more information you write down, the easier it will be for medical personnel to help you.
Do not give your dog any fluids after ingesting a toxic substance. By giving him fluids, the poison will spread throughout the dog's body more quickly
Step 2. Identify the source of the poison
Explore your home and garden and check for possible causes of poisoning, such as rodent bites, antifreeze, mold, or fertilizer. Watch for overturned boxes, broken medicine bottles, spilled liquids, or odd-looking household chemical products.
- If you suspect your dog has ingested a toxic product, check the warning section on the back of the product's package label. Most products that contain toxic ingredients will include a company phone number that consumers can call. Here are some toxic substances that are commonly ingested:
- Wild mushrooms (should be checked one by one in the reference text)
- Moldy walnut
- Oleander
- Lilies/tubers
- Dieffenbachia plant
- Foxglove plant
- Household cleaning products
- Molluscicides (methaldehyde-based)
- Pesticide
- Herbicide
- Several types of fertilizers
- Chocolate (especially dark or baking chocolate)
- Xylitol (sugar-free gum)
- Macadamia nuts
- Onion
- Grapes/raisins
- Dough containing yeast
- Alcohol
Step 3. Call the National Poisoning Information Center or your veterinarian
The National Poisoning Information Center isn't just for humans. Since poison has a similar effect on humans and dogs, a representative will be able to give you advice on how to deal with it. Call the vet. Describe the symptoms that appear and what is suspected to be the cause. Discuss your concerns about the poisoning. Ask whether with these symptoms, the dog should be taken to the clinic immediately or not.
Do not force the dog to vomit unless you are instructed to do so. In general, after 2 hours, the substance will be out of the stomach. In particular, do not force the dog to vomit if the dog is having trouble breathing, is unsteady, or is partially conscious, as the dog may choke on his own vomit
Step 4. Take the dog to the clinic
Time is very important in treating a poisoned dog. If symptoms persist even after the initial examination by a veterinarian, take your dog to the clinic immediately. Take your dog to the nearest 24-hour clinic if symptoms persist over the weekend or at night.
