What Are the Treatments for Canine Food Poisoning?

Notorious scavengers, dogs can get at all sorts of food (and non-food) items that they probably shouldn't be eating. Almost all pet owners have dealt with dogs eating something bad at one point or another. Knowing how to handle your dog's food poisoning may save its life. No matter the perceived severity of your dog's illness, the first step should always be to call a vet and get professional advice on your particular situation.

  1. Withholding Food

    • A common treatment for many mild forms of food poisoning is to remove the dog's food bowl and offer only water for 24 hours. This allows the dog's system to purge itself naturally. Continued feeding in some dogs can prolong sickness since the stomach is never able to fully empty, and many dogs will continue eating no matter how sick they feel. If vomiting does not slow a few hours after the food has been removed, withhold the dog's water as well. After 24 hours, soft, easily digestible foods such as boiled chicken or rice can be reintroduced, and regular food can be added in increasing amounts over the next 12 to 24 hours. An electrolyte solution or mild sugar water can also be offered to help rehydrate the dog.

    Inducing Vomiting

    • If your dog has recently eaten a food you know to be poisonous, such as chocolate, inducing the dog to vomit can help prevent most of the negative effects if performed promptly. This can be done by feeding your dog one teaspoon of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide per 10 pounds of body weight. Always call a vet before inducing vomiting; there are some substances which can cause more harm if they are vomited than if the dog digests them naturally. Do not induce vomiting if it has been more than two hours since a substance was ingested (as it will likely have passed out of the stomach already).

    Stomach Pumps, Enemas, and Other Treatment

    • In very severe cases of food poisoning, or if your dog seems to have trouble either vomiting the food or digesting it properly, the animal should be taken to a vet immediately. The vet will most likely recommend a stomach pump if the substance is still in the stomach, or an enema to remove it from the intestines and colon as soon as possible. Dogs that have been unsuccessfully induced to vomit are also often recommended to have their stomachs pumped to remove the peroxide. Your vet may also suggest activated charcoal tablets or veterinary strength medicine to induce vomiting.