How to Know If Your Puppy Ate Fertilizer

Fertilizer is among the top poisons ingested by dogs as it often contains bone meal, which makes it an attractive snack for dogs and puppies. Though fertilizer ingredients such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium are not poisonous to puppies, such plant food usually contains fungicides, which is toxic to pets. Dogs often recover from ingesting fertilizer on their own, though fluids are needed to prevent dehydration. Medication is sometimes required to settle their stomachs as well. Since puppies are small and still growing they might be at greater risk for fertilizer poisoning than fully grown dogs.

Things You'll Need

  • Water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Observe your puppy for signs of gastrointestinal issues, including vomiting and diarrhea. Dogs that ingest fertilizers or other toxins also tend to salivate excessively immediately after consuming them. If the puppy ingested a solid chunk of fertilizer it is at risk of intestinal blockage, the symptoms of which include vomiting, gastric secretions rich in hydrochloric acid, sluggishness and dehydration. Weight loss is also a symptom of prolonged intestinal blockage.

    • 2

      Look for other symptoms of fertilizer ingestion, such as loss of appetite or if the puppy seems to be experiencing pain in its stomach.

    • 3

      Watch for re-occurring gastrointestinal/intestinal blockage symptoms/loss of appetite over the next few days. Should the symptoms continue, you can be sure the puppy has ingested fertilizer.

    • 4

      Keep the puppy well-hydrated while it is recovering from ingesting fertilizer. Medication or IV fluid administration might be required, so call your veterinarian to determine the best course of action. Since fertilizer can also cause intestinal obstruction, keep your puppy's activity level to a minimum while it is recovering and feed it bland foods for one or two days in addition to keeping it properly hydrated. Do not feed the puppy orally while it is still vomiting as this indicates the obstruction is still in the puppy's system. Return the puppy to its normal food gradually to avoid further complications.