Poisoning in Dogs

Substances that are hazardous to dogs can be found throughout the home and often in places dogs visit. The best way to avoid poisoning in your dog is to have all hazardous substances stored safely away from them. Despite all possible care, dogs become exposed to poisons and can become seriously ill. Occasionally poisonings are malicious acts of cruelty to animals.
There are thousands of substances that could poison your dog, including numerous prescription medications…
If you suspect that your dog has been poisoned it is very important that you keep the packet so that you can discuss the contents with the Poisons Information Centre or a veterinarian. Try to estimate how much of the product that your dog has eaten. You should also take the packet when you take your dog to your veterinarian. Each packet will have a brand name on it, but will also list the active ingredients and the concentration. It may also have some basic first aid instructions. You should take in a sample of your dog’s vomit if there is any.

econtamination

Decontamination involves removing the ingested poison from the body. This can be from an external surface such as the skin or eye, or internally from the gut. This is generally something that is best done by your veterinarian. If the intoxication has only just happened or if there is going to be a significant delay in seeing a veterinarian then it may be appropriate for you to start decontamination. As far as actions you can take for your dog at home are concerned, it is reasonable to flush a poison from their eyes or wash poison off their skin. If the poison has been ingested it may be reasonable to induce vomiting and attempt to bind the toxin by administering activated charcoal to reduce its absorption.

Washing poisons off the skin or coat

If your dog has suffered a poison on its skin then you should wash it off as soon as possible. This is will reduce or prevent damage to the skin and make it less likely to be absorbed through the skin. It also prevents the dog licking it off and ingesting it. Washing is best done with large amounts of running water rather than a bath where the dog sits in the contaminated water. Either shampoo or detergent can be helpful to remove a poison from the skin or coat. Usually detergents work better, especially for more viscous petroleum-based products. Other solvents should not be used as they can irritate the skin. Using warm water may make the dog more cooperative.

Flushing poisons out of the eyes

If the eyes become contaminated they should be flushed out with large amounts of slightly warm water or saline for 10–20 minutes. You should seek veterinary attention as soon as possible. Also, call the Poisons Information Centre for specific advice regarding the particular poison involved.

Inducing vomiting

In some poisonings it is safe to induce vomiting. This can help remove some of the toxin from the body. Inducing vomiting is most useful as soon as possible after ingestion of a poison, while it is still in the stomach. Vomiting is likely to be most beneficial up to two hours after ingestion however still may be of some benefit up to four hours after ingestion. In some cases inducing vomiting may be useful even after this time. The safest way for you to induce vomiting is to administer soda crystals. These will break up into a variety of sizes in the packet and you should pick out and administer the ones which seem appropriate for your dog’s size. These pieces can be given as if they were tablets. You should give a small dog the equivalent of about 1/2–1 tablespoon of these, a medium sized dog may require more like 2–3 tablespoons and a larger dog may need up to 1/4–1/2cup or more. These are generally quite safe and, if they are going to work, will cause vomiting within 10–15 minutes. If your dog has not vomited within this time you can repeat this dose once. If it is still not effective you can try using hydrogen peroxide.
An alternative way to safely induce vomiting is to administer three percent hydrogen peroxide by mouth. You should give a teaspoon per 5 kg of body weight up to a maximum dose of 10 teaspoons. Once measured, you can draw the hydrogen peroxide into a syringe or a turkey baster and administer it into the mouth. If you have trouble administering this because your dog is resisting too much, you can give this added to yogurt or ice cream if your dog will eat it this way. If your dog does not vomit after 10–15 minutes you can repeat this dose once. If it is still not effective you should take your dog to a veterinarian. Stronger solutions can be diluted to three percent. For example, you can dilute a 10 percent solution by adding one part of a 10 percent solution to two parts water. Once you have induced vomiting by either method, the vomiting generally continues for several minutes and then resolves. Occasionally vomiting will be prolonged and your dog will need to be seen by your veterinarian.
Some people recommend using ipecac syrup to induce vomiting. This however is not particularly effective and there is the risk of causing toxicity. I do not recommend this. Similarly some people recommend administering large amounts of table salt to cause vomiting. If the dog does not vomit, then this method has the potential to cause salt toxicity. Using salt to induce vomiting is also not recommended.
There are several circumstances when it is dangerous to induce vomiting regardless of which toxin has been ingested and you should not do so.
Do not induce vomiting:
•   If your dog is already vomiting—there is no need to do so.
•   If the poison is strongly acidic or caustic, such as those listed under Poisonings where you should not induce vomiting on page 76
•   If your dog is overly weak or collapsed because in this condition they may inhale vomit into their lungs, causing serious complications.
•   If your dog is convulsing do not induce vomiting. Again they are at risk of breathing in the vomit.
•   If your dog has epilepsy, because vomiting can potentially induce a convulsion.
•   If your dog has a heart problem, because vomiting can worsen some heart conditions.
•   If your dog has a very slow heart rate (less than 50 beats per minute).
•   If the packet, the Poisons Information Centre or a veterinarian advise you not to.
Even if inducing vomiting is successful and large amounts of the poison ingested are recovered, it is still vital that you see your veterinarian as dangerous amounts may still be in the stomach or already absorbed.

Activated charcoal

Activated charcoal can be beneficial in binding some toxins in the bowel to help prevent them being absorbed. It is available as tablets and liquid suspensions and should be given at a dose of 1–2 g/kg. This can be a large amount so it is not always practical for you to administer yourself. It is probably best for your veterinarian to administer this if it is necessary. They will generally use more effective forms and methods. However, if there will be a significant delay in seeing a veterinarian, you should try to administer this as some is better than none. It should be given after you have induced vomiting and the vomiting has resolved. If you have not induced vomiting because the poison was ingested too long ago, you can give it as soon as possible after ingestion.
Do not administer activated charcoal to animals that are vomiting or to animals that are convulsing. Activated charcoal should not be given with food as this will bind to it and reduce its effectiveness. Activated charcoal will also bind to other medications and prevent them from being absorbed. Be careful when giving activated charcoal to dogs on regular medication. Burnt toast is not a substitute for activated charcoal and is ineffective.