dog & FAMILY

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Dogs will eat just about anything, so keep your house hazard-free.

by Dr Julie Schell BSc(Hons), DVM

Dogs are notorious for hunting down various household items and then scarfing them down. Some items are edible, but poisonous to dogs, while other items should never be ingested. It is important to be aware of any tempting household items and keep them out of reach.

Plants
Many plants are poisonous to dogs.

• Lily flowers, amaryllis, and mistletoe are extremely toxic and only a small amount of ingestion can result in severe organ damage and death.
• Less dangerous plants include poinsettia, philodendron and Christmas cactus, which may cause stomach irritation.
• If you have these plants, keep them off the floor. If you are shopping for greenery, avoid purchasing these plants altogether.

Food

• The most dangerous food substances to keep away from your dog include
  chocolate, cocoa powder and coffee beans, which include huge amounts of theobromine and caffeine. If ingested, the kidneys and heart can be severely damaged. Chocolate is also dangerous because it has a high fat and carbohydrate content. Extreme amounts of carbohydrates and fats can cause life threatening pancreatitis in dogs.
• Onions and garlic are also dangerous if eaten in large amounts; they can cause
  damage to red blood cells.
• Grapes and raisins are known for causing acute kidney failure.
• Macadamia nuts and a fungus that can grow on walnuts can also cause damage to the kidney and liver systems.

If you suspect that your dog has ingested these items, contact your veterinarian or an emergency hospital immediately. You can also call the Animal Poison Control hotline (888-426-4435). Bring your dog into your veterinary hospital for examination. Most likely, your veterinarian will induce vomiting, as well as offer supportive treatment such as fluid therapy for rehydration. Hospitalization and monitoring may also be needed.

Small Objects
If your dog has swallowed a sharp object such as glass, bone or stick, he should not be made to vomit as these objects can damage the esophagus and stomach during vomiting. These objects will have to be removed by your veterinarian, either endoscopically or surgically.
Large pieces of bones, toys, coins, corn cobs, bottle caps, whole nuts, electrical cords, carpet underlay and sticks are often swallowed by dogs. These can lodge inside the stomach or intestines of the dog resulting in vomiting, gagging, diarrhea, decreased appetite and lethargy. It is vital that you bring your dog to your veterinarian if he is experiencing these signs because obstructions by foreign bodies can lead to death. Your veterinarian will use radiographs and/or ultrasound to determine where the object is located, and then perform endoscopic and/or surgical removal of the object.

What if?
If you live far from your vet, are at a cottage, have no telephone access, or aren’t able to reach a veterinarian within three or four hours, then induction of vomiting is a last resort.

• Give your dog a small amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide (one teaspoon per five pounds of body weight). No more than three tablespoons should ever be given.
• This may or may not cause your dog to vomit.
• Bring your dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible afterward. Even if your dog has vomited some of the substance, he may still need supportive care.
• WARNING: If your dog has ingested corrosive substances such as bleach, battery acid, or nail polish remover, he should not be made to vomit because the substance may enter the lungs or breathing pathways, which can result in death.