Protecting Your Pooch: Common Poisonous Substances for Dogs and How to Avoid Them

Dogs are known for their curiosity and love of exploring, often leading them to sniff, lick, or chew on things they shouldn't. While this is part of what makes them endearing, it can also be dangerous if they come into contact with toxic substances. As a responsible dog owner, it's crucial to be aware of these common hazards and take steps to protect your furry friend. This blog post will highlight some of the most common poisonous substances for dogs and provide tips and tricks to help avoid these dangers.

Common Poisonous Substances

This is not an exhaustive list, many many things are toxic, poisonous or fatal for pets. If in doubt, ensure you seek veterinary help as soon as you know ingestion has occurred.

Foods:

1. • Chocolate: Contains theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to dogs. Dark chocolate is especially dangerous. Theobromine can also be found in some garden mulch.
   • Grapes and Raisins: Can cause kidney failure, even one can be fatal. Your dog can appear ‘fine’ for quite some time which tricks some owners into thinking they do not need veterinary help.
   • Onions and Garlic: Damage red blood cells and can lead to anaemia.
   • Xylitol: A sugar substitute found in sugar-free gum, candy, and some peanut butter, causing insulin release and potentially fatal hypoglycaemia. This can also be found in items such as air fresheners and other low-fat food.
   • Alcohol: Can lead to intoxication, lack of coordination, and even respiratory failure.

Plants:

1. • Sago Palm: Highly toxic, can cause liver failure.
   • Tulips and Daffodils: The bulbs are particularly dangerous and can cause severe gastrointestinal issues.
   • Oleander: Extremely toxic, can cause heart issues.
   • Azalea and Rhododendron: Can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, and potentially fatal cardiovascular collapse.

Household Items:

1. • Cleaning Products: Many contain bleach, ammonia, or other harmful chemicals.
   • Pesticides and Rodenticides: Designed to kill pests, these can also harm pets.
   • Antifreeze: Contains ethylene glycol, which is highly toxic and can cause kidney failure usually leading to fatality.
   • Batteries: These are corrosive and can cause ulcers or types of burns.

Medications:

1. • Human Medications: Pain relievers (like ibuprofen and acetaminophen), antidepressants, and ADHD medications are commonly ingested by pets and can be extremely dangerous.
   • Veterinary Medications: Overdosing on their own medications can also be harmful.

Tips And Tricks To Avoid Danger

Secure Food and Rubbish:

1. • Store all foods, especially those toxic to dogs, out of reach and in secure containers.
   • Use dog-proof trash cans or keep trash in cabinets.

Pet-Safe Plants:

1. • Research plants before bringing them into your home or garden. Choose pet-safe alternatives when possible.
   • Keep houseplants out of reach or in rooms your dog cannot access.

Proper Storage of Household Items:

1. • Keep cleaning supplies, pesticides, and automotive products in secure cabinets.
   • Ensure all medications are stored in high places or locked cabinets.
   • Use pet-safe cleaning products

Training and Supervision:

1. • Train your dog to “leave it” or “drop it” on cue to help prevent ingestion.
   • Supervise your dog outdoors and on walks to prevent them from ingesting harmful substances.

Emergency Preparedness:

1. • Know the signs of poisoning: vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, lethargy, seizures, and uncoordinated movements.
   • Keep the contact information for your veterinarian and a animal poison helpline close to hand.
   • Have a basic pet first aid kit at home and know how to use it.

Educate Family and Friends:

1. • Inform everyone in the household about the dangers of feeding dogs human food and the importance of keeping toxic items out of reach.
   • Remind guests and visitors not to feed your dog without permission.

Animal Poison Line

The animal poison line is a dedicated service that pet owners and veterinary professionals can call for help and guidance. This is the only dedicated 24 hour service in the UK to help with poisons.

If you think your dog has ingested something they should and you aren’t sure if you need veterinary treatment you can call them direct on 01202 509 000. The cost is between £35 - £45 depending on the time you call. This can be very helpful as in some cases your dog might not have ingested enough of something for it to make them ill. The cost of the call can be cheaper than the cost of a veterinary consultation (especially out of hours).

If you need to call here are some important pieces of information you will need to supply:

• Dog’s details: age, breed, weight (very important) and name
• What is the toxin/poison: try to be very specific, brand name, amount ingested/exposed to
• How has your dog been exposed? Eaten, on their skin, breathed it in
• How long has it been since exposure? In minutes and hours
• Has your dog been exposed before? It is important to know if this is a repeated issue

Some toxins or symptoms mean you need to go to your vets immediately. Every minute counts and might affect the prognosis. If your pet is displaying any of the following go straight to your vets and call them on the way:

• Seizure
• Collapsed
• Nonresponsive
• Trouble breathing
• Blocked airway
• Adder bite
• Lilies (for cats, extremely toxic)
• Blue green algae
• Eaten any food listed above
• Eaten cleaning products, batteries, medications, pesticides or rodenticides

Visit www.animalpoisonline.co.uk/ for more help and information

Keeping your dog safe from poisonous substances requires vigilance and proactive measures. By being aware of common hazards and taking steps to prevent access to them, you can protect your furry friend from potential poisoning. Remember, in the event of suspected poisoning, contact your veterinarian or the animal poison line. Your prompt action can make a significant difference in your dog's health and well-being.

Your dog relies on you to keep them safe. With a little knowledge and preparation, you can ensure they stay happy, healthy, and out of harm's way.