Worried your dog has eaten something they shouldn’t have? Discover some of the most common dog poisoning symptoms – and find out what to do next.
Unfortunately, our hungry dogs don’t usually distinguish between what’s good for them to eat, and what could be potentially dangerous.
Many items inside and outside the home can be harmful to dogs if ingested – from household chemicals, medicines and certain plants, to foods your dog definitely shouldn’t eat.
Sometimes it may be evident – from a half-chewed packet, missing food or a mangled plant – what your dog has been sneakily eating. But on other occasions, the only clue that they’ve ingested something they shouldn’t are the physical after-effects.
Dog poisoning symptoms are often non-specific and can range from subtle to severe. Although these symptoms are more commonly caused by non-toxic causes, you might see any of the following:
Obviously, not every dog with lethargy, vomiting or diarrhoea has been poisoned – the symptoms above can be associated with a range of ailments. But you know your dog best, so if you’re worried, or if they’re experiencing acute or alarming symptoms, you should always seek advice from your vet straight away.
If you’ve got an inkling of what your dog has been eating from the leftovers, then always make a note of the item, take a photo or take it with you to the vet. Don’t try to make your dog sick yourself, unless your vet advises you to do so.
Below, we look in more detail at the dog poisoning symptoms associated with common home-and-garden toxins.
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate and cocoa, contains a stimulant called theobromine that can cause serious health problems in your dog. If your dog ate chocolate, you might notice any of the following:
If your dog has eaten chocolate or you suspect they have, take them to your vet as soon as possible – ideally within two hours. If you’re able, take the packaging from the chocolate and try to work out exactly what, and how much, they’ve eaten. This will help your vet decide the best treatment.
The vet is likely to make your dog vomit to bring up what they’ve eaten. They may also prescribe activated charcoal, which binds to theobromine to prevent it being absorbed. If your dog has eaten a lot of chocolate or they ingested it a while ago, they may need additional treatment, such as fluids and blood tests.
Members of the onion (allium) family contain a compound called n-propyl disulphide, which can break down your dog’s red blood cells and lead to potentially life-threatening anaemia. If your dog has eaten onions, shallots, garlic, leeks, chives or foods made with onion or garlic powder, this can lead to a range of short- and long-term dog poisoning symptoms:
Seek urgent veterinary attention if your dog has eaten foods containing any of the above, or fresh/dried versions of these plants. Eating as much as a medium-sized onion (about 100g) is enough to cause toxic effects in the average-sized dog. Treatments depend on how early the problem is diagnosed and range from making your dog vomit to giving them intravenous fluids and/or activated charcoal.
Some slug and snail pellets contain a poison called metaldehyde, which unfortunately is one of the most common causes of fatal poisoning in dogs. Signs of metaldehyde poisoning include:
Metaldehyde poisoning is usually fatal without urgent treatment, so take your dog to the vet straight away if it’s a possibility. A combination of treatments may be used to try to prevent serious complications, including induced vomiting, activated charcoal, intravenous fluids, pumping of the stomach, cooling measures, sedation to control seizures and medications to support liver function. It’s likely that your dog will be admitted for further care.
While slugs and snails aren’t inherently toxic to dogs, eating one isn’t good news. These creatures (and their slime trails) can carry a potentially deadly parasite called lungworm, infecting your dog if ingested. Infected dogs can gradually develop a range of symptoms over time, including:
Contact your vet sooner rather than later. Mild lungworm infections can be treated with a prescription deworming treatment, but in more serious cases, your dog may need intensive care, a fluid drip, a blood transfusion or other medication. Prevention is always better than cure, so make sure your dog’s regular deworming treatments include lungworm protection.
Rodent poisons often contain warfarin, a chemical that prevents blood clotting. In large amounts, it can lead to excessive, potentially fatal bleeding. If your dog has inadvertently eaten one of these rodent poisons, symptoms may take a few days to manifest, as the bleeding may be occurring internally. Look out for:
You should seek immediate help from your vet. You should also contact them for advice if you think your dog may have eaten a rat or mouse that has been poisoned. If you can identify the product involved, this will help your vet decide the right course of treatment.
Other everyday household items that can cause signs of poisoning in dogs include the sweetener xylitol; supplements containing vitamin D, iron or calcium; painkillers such as ibuprofen, and other human medicines.
If you’re worried your dog has eaten something they shouldn’t, never wait to see whether they get worse – immediate treatment could make all the difference. And as we’ve seen, treating cases of poisoning in dogs can be complicated and costly, so don’t overlook the importance of dog insurance.
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