The Dog Owner Club

Poisoning in dogs is not very common but when it does occur prompt action is required. The subject of poisoning is complex because a number of agents may produce the symptoms of poisoning. These symptoms can be summed up as follows:

Abdominal pain, usually colicky in nature; there may be vomiting, and later diarrhoea. In some types of poisoning nervous symptoms may be seen, particularly where strychnine or the phenols are involved. Collapse, with cold extremities, inability to stand, and stertorous, harsh breathing are the final symptoms.

Immediate action
In all cases of poisoning, or suspected poisoning, give an emetic. The best is a small lump of washing soda, administered by opening the animal’s mouth, dropping the soda on the back of the tongue, and firmly pushing it down the throat with a finger. This procedure should be adopted in all cases of poisoning with one exception. This is in cases of strychnine poisoning, in which the animal has in the later stages convulsive or fit-like movements. In such cases the risk to the owner in opening the mouth and putting a finger inside is too great, as this might bring on a convulsion and clamping of the jaws.

A veterinary surgeon should be consulted promptly in all cases of poisoning and suspected poisoning.
A few comments on the commonest poisons are alphabetically listed below.

Arsenic
This is found in some rat poisons. The symptoms are usually vomiting, restlessness, severe abdominal pain, strong desire for water (if allowed, this intensifies the vomiting and increases absorption of the poison).

Barium chloride
This also is found in certain rat poisons. It produces symptoms of an acute nature vomiting, diarrhoea and loss of use of the limbs.

Coal tar, carbolic (phenols)
Phenol poisoning may result from several sources. Dogs walking in tar may lick sufficient off their feet to produce acute poisoning. Lysol baths and carbolic soaps are other causes of trouble, dogs being extraordinarily susceptible to the phenols and very little is required to produce symptoms of poisoning. Symptoms are abdominal pain, twitching and paralysis. Blindness is a fairly constant symptom in an advanced case. If any phenol or tar is still present on the skin, wash this off immediately, as well as giving general treatment, as absorption of the tar from the skin may be quite considerable. Never use carbolic soaps or disinfectant when bathing a dog.

Coal gas
Often the animal is unconscious. Remove to open air, open the mouth, pull out tongue and apply artificial respiration until help arrives. If the animal is breathing regularly when found, allow plenty of fresh air and give a stimulant, e.g., drops of brandy on tongue, may be given . The patient should be kept warm and quiet until he has been examined by a veterinary surgeon.

Food Poisoning
There are three main types of food poisoning. Food may contain:
1. Toxins (poisons produced by bacteria).
2. Bacteria (which may produce toxins within the animal’s intestines).
3. Chemical poisons or irritants (usually contaminants, or from faulty “canning”).

1. Toxins
This is the commonest, and also the least serious, of the types of food poisoning. Symptoms are diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and in severe cases the motions may be blood-tinged. Enteritis from toxins in food can be caused by cooked foods as well as by raw. The heating or cooking of food will kill the bacteria or germs present but will not necessarily destroy the toxins they have already produced. Meat is the main offender, and it should therefore always be fresh, cooked immediately, and kept in a cool place in a saucepan with a tightly fitting lid. If any has to be used more than two days later, re-boil. This will help to prevent any trouble.

In cases of enteritis from “bad” meat give a mild purgative, e.g., ?-2 teaspoonfuls castor oil or Epsom salts. A teaspoonful of brandy added to this will alleviate the colicky type. (The purge should be omitted if the dog is very diarrhoeaic, or if dysentery i.e., blood in motions?is seen.) Thin arrowroot gruel ad lib is the best and most readily available treatment. Medicinal charcoal is also useful, and may be given with the arrowroot. The gruel should be substituted for the normal drinking water until the attack has passed. Your veterinary surgeon should be consulted in all cases where blood is seen in the motions, or when the attack has not cleared up within 12 hours.

2. Bacterial food poisoning
This is a more serious form of enteritis. A certain degree of fever is usually present (102.5F.-103.5F.) The animal is markedly dejected, and tight skinned. For first-aid measures treat as instructed in previous section. If, however, this type of poisoning is suspected your veterinary surgeon should be consulted immediately as the dog will require medicinal treatment to kill the bacteria, which often establish themselves in the intestines. This type is therefore likely to be more prolonged and need remedies more specific.

It is most important to be scrupulously careful in washing one’s hands after dosing, cleaning or nursing such patients as certain types of these bacteria can produce enteritis in humans, if ingested.

3. Chemical poisons (food contaminants)
Occasionally food becomes contaminated by a poison or chemical. Paraffin, kerosene, and others are usually so noxious that the animal will refuse the food. Rat poisons sometimes are accidentally mixed with food, in which case the animal should be treated as for the specific poison.
Faulty canning as a cause of chemical poisoning is today most rare, but if such a case is met with, treat as for type 1 food poisoning, but using Epsom salts, not castor oil, as a purge.

Lead Poisoning
This may occur in puppies or dogs which lick, or chew, lead paint covered objects. Symptoms are: abdominal pain, reeling, and finally the dog becomes comatose. Treatment, An emetic should be given immediately. When this has acted, give 2 or 3 small doses of Epsom salts at 1/2-hour intervals..

Phosphorus
This is a common constituent of rat poisons, e.g., Rodine. First give an emetic, then small amounts of permanganate of potash crystals dissolved in a little water. Follow this by a dose of Epsom salts, and finally a little glucose in water. Do not give any oily purge, or any milk, or other fatty food.

Barbiturates
Occasionally a dog will accidentally eat some phenobarbitone, intended for medicinal purposes, or other types of barbiturate. First give an emetic. Follow this with stimulants, e.g., black coffee, and constant stimulation until a veterinary surgeon sees the case.

Strychnine
This is occasionally put down to kill rats or moles, although its use is strictly controlled by law. The animal will show excitement, and convulsions of a rigid nature, arching the neck and lying stretched out with legs stuck straight out. Give an emetic only if no convulsions are seen, as these spasms affect the jaws and are uncontrollable, and may therefore result in a severe bite. Quiet is essential and if possible give a large dose of a sedative . The animal should be seen by a veterinary surgeon as soon as possible.

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