Poison Oak Rash & Canines

Dogs have a sensitivity to poison oak, although their reaction is not usually as drastic as that which a human experiences. Poison oak is a member of the toxicodendron group of plants, and is also called Rhus species. The toxin that gets in the dog's skin and causes problems is the urushiol in the oil resin that is found in the plant's sap. Most animals are resistant to urushiol, although that isn't always the case with dogs. Animals can transmit the resin to humans.

  1. Rubbing Against It or Ingesting It

    • Dogs may rub against poison oak or ingest it. When the dog rubs against it the plant adheres to the dog's fur. When you pet the dog's fur, the sap gets on you. Exposure to urushiol can cause the dog to experience skin irritation. He will itch, have red inflamed skin and you may see raised bumps on his skin. If he has eaten the poison oak your dog may experience vomiting and diarrhea.

    Urushiol

    • When your skin or your dog's skin comes into contact with urushiol, the oil is absorbed and a rash appears as our dog's immune system attempts to fight off this interloper.

    Treatment

    • If you dog has poison oak, soak a cloth or cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and then dab the

      alcohol onto the irritated skin, advises "The Daily Puppy." You should wear gloves while doing this so that you don't come into contact with the poison. Rinse off your dog's coat

      with cold water and allow his fur to air dry. Use a product called Tecnu, which removes the oil that poison oak, poison ivy and sumac leave behind. Leave your gloves on while you are doing this. Put the Tecnu on your dog's skin for a few minutes and then rinse or wipe it off with cold water. Dr. Robert Smith developed Tecnu in 1961 during the cold war. It was used to remove radioactive dust from clothing and skin. His wife accidentally discovered that it worked after she'd been exposed to poison ivy and oak.

    The Vet

    • If your dog is nauseated, seems especially tired and/or has diarrhea, this could mean that he's eaten poison oak. In the event that your dog has eaten poison oak take him to the vet, who may administer charcoal or put him on an IV.