Symptoms of Dog Poisoning

For an obvious possible poisoning, such as you know your dog scarfed up a chocolate bar or a got into a bottle of prescription medicine, immediately call a pet-poison help line. These animal poison-control centers do charge a fee (around $90 to $100), but if you think your dog ate something poisonous, there is no time to waste. Call:

• Pet Poison Help Line 855-764-7661 or
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control 888-426-4435

If you know what the dog consumed, have all the information handy you can quickly gather:

• Name of the medication or product
• How much of the item you think the dog may have consumed (ounces, number of pills, what type of chocolate)
• When you think the dog ingested the poison
• Dog’s approximate weight
• Any health problems, like kidney disease, the dog may have

Critical note on rat poison: If you think your dog ate rat poison, there is no time to waste. Grab the container, if you can. There are a few different types of rat poison, and it’s critical to know which kind your dog ate and, hopefully, approximately how much. Your veterinarians will use this information to formulate the best plan for saving your dog.

If you are encouraged to make your dog vomit (NOT every poisoning means you should make the dog vomit), follow directions exactly. Hydrogen peroxide is a standby for inducing vomiting, but it is not benign. In my experience, it helps to move your dog around after you dose it to stimulate throwing up. Your job is not done then either. You need to go through the vomited material and count pills if medication is involved.

Signs of Poisoning in Dogs

Obvious cases, as scary as they are, are easier than when you notice your dog is simply acting odd and it crosses your mind that he might have been exposed to a toxic substance. But, poisoning is not something to ignore or to take a “wait and see” stand on.

Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine lists these signs of poisoning in dogs:

• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting (with or without blood)
• Jaundice
• Bloody stools

Many of the symptoms of poisoning in dogs—like lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea—can fit many health conditions as well as poisoning. While your dog may or may not have ingested a poison, these signs warrant attention no matter what.

Heavy drool or foaming at the mouth: Your dog may have eaten something that irritated his mouth. Licking a poisonous toad can create waterfalls of saliva! While one family member dials the vet, another member should be rinsing out your dog’s mouth.

Elevated temperature: If you take your dog’s temperature and it is unusually high or low, poisoning is a possibility. High temperatures can result from muscle tremors or seizures or may cause seizures. Any temperature extreme justifies a vet visit.

Difficulty breathing: Problems with respiration can come from many causes. If your dog is struggling to breathe, breathing rapidly, and has bright red, pale or gray/blue gums, he is in trouble and needs immediate emergency care.

Swollen muzzle: You look at your dog and realize his muzzle is swollen to double normal size. Odds are this is an allergic reaction, but it could be from bee venom as well. Snake-bite reactions tend to be lower limbs, but facial swelling can occur with these too, especially if your dog was trying to grab the snake.

If you think your do was bit by a snake, grab a picture of the snake, if you can. Antivenom works for dogs, just like people.

In the case of a bee sting, most dogs will get some swelling and pain but nothing more serious. Other dogs may have an anaphylactic reaction just like some people, including respiratory trouble. That means a rush to the nearest veterinary clinic. If your dog falls in that group, you should discuss getting an EpiPen from your veterinarian along with instructions on how to use it.