If your dog has a habit of raiding the trash, he might be in danger of becoming dangerously ill from eating moldy food. Trash-raiding is not only an annoyance; it can also be a potentially lethal habit.
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Mycotoxicosis
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Mycotoxicosis refers to poisoning that results from eating food contaminated with fungi. When moldy foods are metabolized, they release a toxin called mycotoxin, which causes ill effects to both dogs and humans. The signs, symptoms and severity of poisoning will vary depending on the type and amount of mycotoxin ingested.
Types of Mycotoxins
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Aflatoxins are produced by aspergillus fungi. They are normally found in moldy food items, such as cheese, bread and grains. Vomitoxins are produced by molds growing on grains that are later added to pet food. In dogs, a common cause of mycotoxicosis is penitrem A, which is commonly found in moldy bread, cheese, nuts, as well as in the trash. This is the specific type of mycotoxin that causes seizures in dogs.
Symptoms of Mycotoxicosis
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The symptoms of mycotoxicosis depend on the type of mycotoxin that was ingested.
Aflatoxins cause liver dysfunction, depression, severe vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal tenderness and bleeding, and bring about a yellowish tinge to the skin known as icterus or jaundice. Vomitoxins cause a refusal to eat, as well as vomiting, diarrhea and tenderness in the abdomen. Penitrem A causes salivation and muscle tremors or seizures.
Diagnosis and Treatment
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If you suspect that your dog has mycotoxicosis, you must bring her to a vet as soon as possible. The vet will conduct a physical exam, urinalysis and draw blood for a complete blood count. The purpose of these tests is to rule out other possible causes of seizures in dogs. The vet will likely perform a gastric lavage, commonly known as "pumping the stomach," to flush out as much of the toxin as possible, and administer activated charcoal, which will absorb the toxic substance.
After treatment, expect your dog to recover in a day or two, though some dogs may take a few weeks for complete recovery.
Prevention
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In order to prevent mycotoxicosis from happening to your dog, never feed him food that obviously has molds, and don't give him anything that has been on the kitchen counter or in the fridge for extended periods of time. A good rule of thumb is: If you're nervous about eating it, don't feed it to your dog.
Don't give your dog an opportunity to develop a taste for trash. Cover your garbage can with a dog-proof lid, and take out the trash as soon as the bin is full. Better yet, keep your garbage can out of sight in a cupboard to prevent any temptation to scavenge for food.
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