First Aid: Poisoning

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Symptoms

Symptoms of dog poisoning can include any combination of the following:

Loss of appetite: A change in a dog's eating habits is usually the first signal for many illnesses.
Drooling: This is typically a sign of nausea.
Vomiting: This can occur with or without the presence of blood since some toxins such as the rat poison Warfarin produce internal bleeding.
Diarrhea: This can occur with or without bleeding for the same reason listed above.
Rash or irritation at the contact site: This typically occurs when a toxin has entered the bloodstream via the skin.
Lethargy: This can be due to the general ill-effects of the toxin, but it might also be a sign that the toxin is affecting the heart muscle.
Loss of coordination: This symptom is typically an indication that the brain has been affected.
Tremors/seizures: This can be further sign of the brain's involvement with the toxin.
Labored breathing: Slowed heart function can cause a build up of fluid in the lungs that leads to breathing difficulty.
Sensitivity to light: Some poisons can make a dog photo-sensitive.
Onset of organ failure: Kidneys, liver, heart and other organs may begin to shut down as the toxin takes full effect.
Loss of consciousness: This is a fairly severe sign.
Non-responsive behavior: The dog may remain conscious, yet not appear to see or hear anything going on around him.
Coma: This is a most serious sign that could signal death is imminent.

First Aid

Try to find packaging from the substance swallowed and have it with you when you phone the vet. If chewing plants is suspected, try to find out the identity of the plant. Call the vet immediately. Do not make your dog sick if they have ingested a corrosive poison, unless the vet says to do so.

Induce Vomiting

If your dog has not already vomited, you need to get him to vomit as soon as possible. You can induce vomiting by orally giving your dog 1 tablespoon of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide for every 20 pounds of body weight every 10 minutes.

Delay or Prevent Poison Absorption

Give the dog a mixture of one tablet of active charcoal with 10cc of water for every two pounds of body weight and then have the dog ingest at least a pint of water. Depending on the condition of the dog, you may require a stomach tube to accomplish this; therefore, a veterinarian may be required. Thirty minutes after you have given the sick dog the active charcoal and water mixture, administer one teaspoon of sodium sulfate (also known as Glaubers Salt) for every ten pounds of body weight. If the sodium sulfate is not available, you may substitute one teaspoonful of Milk of Magnesia for every five pounds of body weight.

If you don't have any of the agents that are listed in the above paragraph, then you can substitute milk, egg whites or vegetable oil to coat the stomach of the dog. Furthermore, you should also give the dog a warm water enema. Keep in mind that these procedures will not cure your dog; they simply slow the absorption of the poison into the bloodstream of the dog.

Tips for Corrosive Poisons

If your dog was poisoned by a corrosive type poison such as are found in many common household cleaning products, drain opening liquids and commercial solvents, the poison will usually burn the mouth, esophagus and stomach; therefore, you should never induce vomiting with these types of poisons. If you do, you run the risk of causing a rupture in the stomach or more serious burns in the dog's esophagus.

To help treat dogs that have been poisoned with corrosive poisons, you will need to determine if the poison is an acid or an alkali. If the poison was acidic in nature, give the dog 1 to 2 teaspoons of Milk of Magnesia or Pepto Bismol for every 5 pounds of body weight. If the poison was an alkali type of poison, then give the dog a mixture of vinegar or lemon juice and water. Use four parts water for every part of vinegar or lemon juice used. Give the dog at least 3 or 4 teaspoons, of the mixture, for every five pounds of the dog's body weight. After administering the antacid or other type of mixture rush the dog to the vet as soon as possible.

Canine First Aid Training 2010 - Dates TBA: 26/12/2010
Members Photos: 25/12/2011

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