Given the fact that dogs are naturally curious and will frequently eat anything they find, it's no wonder they occasionally ingest or encounter a poisonous substance. While it's important to remove known poisons from your dog's environment, he may still find a toxic substance. Knowing the signs of poisoning will help you determine the cause of the problem and will help your veterinarian treat your dog.
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Food &Plant Poisoning
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Just because humans can eat something doesn't mean dogs can. Raisins and grapes may produce irreversible kidney damage in dogs. Within a few hours of eating them, the dog may vomit, develop diarrhea and show signs of abdominal pain. Ingestion of macadamia nuts may cause weakness in the dog's hind legs. Raw bread dough that contains yeast may poison the dog's system, causing him to tremble or have a seizure. Chocolate in large amounts may cause hyperexcitability, rapid heart rate and shallow breathing. Numerous houseplants can be toxic to your dog (see Resources).
Pesticides &Rodent Poisons
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The symptoms of pesticide poisoning in a dog include weakness, trembling, vomiting, depression, chills, drooling and rapid breathing. When a dog eats rodent poison, the symptoms may become severe quickly, depending upon the amount eaten. If the poison contains arsenic, the dog may exhibit abdominal pain and diarrhea, and he may become paralyzed. He may whine before becoming unconscious. The dog's breath may have the distinct odor of garlic. Pesticide poisoning and rodent poisoning are medical emergencies.
Household Products
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Numerous caustic cleaners and corrosive products will quickly poison a dog. Because different cleaners contain different toxins, the dog may experience one or more symptoms, including drooling, vomiting, staggering, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, the inability to stand up and diarrhea. It is imperative to determine what product your dog consumed in order for a veterinarian to devise a treatment plan.
Inhalation Poisoning
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Your dog need not eat or drink the poisonous substance to be poisoned by it. Common petroleum products, including gasoline, turpentine or kerosene, emit toxic fumes that can cause coughing, rapid breathing, trembling, weakness, coma or death, if your dog inhales a sufficient amount of fumes.
Antifreeze
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One of the most commonly ingested outdoor poisons is antifreeze, left lying in a pan or a bucket after being drained from a vehicle. Unfortunately, the smell and taste of antifreeze is appealing to some dogs, and they will readily drink it. Vomiting, drooling, shock, seizures or coma are common with antifreeze poisoning. The dog's kidneys may fail, and the poisoning may be fatal.
Treament
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If you suspect your dog is suffering from any type of poison, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately (see Resources).
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