What Do You Give a Dog That Has Ingested Flea Spray?

Permethrin, the synthetic version of Pyrethrin, is an active ingredient in flea treatments and sprays. Permethrin Toxicity poisoning can occur within a few hours, depending on the size of your dog and the amount he ingested. Symptoms of permethrin toxicity vary based on the amount ingested, but typical symptoms include drooling, disorientation and tremors. Upon realizing that your dog has ingested flea spray, take the remaining can and call the 24-hour ASPCA Animal Control Poison Hotline at (888) 426-4435 immediately to discuss how to proceed. The Poison Control Center or your vet will give you a recommendation based on your dog̵7;s size, how recently he ingested the permethrin and the amount consumed. Never induce vomiting without the approval and instruction of the Poison Control Hotline or your vet.

  1. Time Sensitivity

    • Calling the Animal Poison Control Hotline immediately is essential because elongated digestion duration affects your dog̵7;s chances of permethrin toxicity poisoning. Your dog̵7;s body begins digesting flea spray immediately. According to the Dog Owner̵7;s Home Veterinary Handbook, inducing vomiting is effective only within the first two hours of ingesting permethrin. Signs of poisoning include tremors, poor coordination and drooling. Vomiting is ineffective once these signs appear, because it means his body has already absorbed the permethrin from his stomach. By the time symptoms of permethrin toxicity poisoning appear, immediate veterinary attention is the only solution.

    Factors That Prohibit Inducing Vomiting

    • Severe or prolonged cases of permethrin poisoning require immediate veterinary care. Trying to induce vomiting under these circumstances could be aggravating at best and fatal at worst. Read the ingredients on the can of flea spray, and never induce vomiting if you find any type of petroleum product in the ingredients list. Never try to induce vomiting if your dog has already vomited or is unconscious, seizing, convulsing, struggling to breath or breathing erratically.

    Inducing Vomiting

    • According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide is a staple of any pet emergency kit because of its ability to quickly and safely induce vomiting. With the approval of your vet or the Poison Control Center, give your dog 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide for every 10 pounds of body weight. Wait 20 minutes for vomiting to occur. According to the Dog Owner̵7;s Home Veterinary Handbook, walking your dog after administering a full dose of hydrogen peroxide helps expedite vomiting. Repeat the cycle twice more until vomiting occurs, and wait 20 minutes between each dose.

    Post-Vomiting Care

    • Inducing vomiting will expel most, but not all, of the permethrin from your dog̵7;s stomach. To prevent your dog̵7;s body from absorbing any remaining traces of poison, give him activated charcoal tablets in the dose of one 5-milligram tablet per 10 pounds of body weight. Crushing the tablets in a spoon and sliding them back through his cheek will make administering the charcoal easier.