Dogs have evolved into more than just a man’s best friend, they are our loyal companions and our trusted protectors. But how do we protect them? We have seen dog poisonings become more and more prevalent during housebreakings and we want to make sure that you know how you could save your dog’s life if he or she is poisoned.
The ease with which robbers can feed your dog a poisoned piece of meat makes it exceptionally difficult to avoid and prevent poisoning altogether. Apart from training your dog not to eat from a stranger or nibble on something they found thrown onto the property, which would defy their natural instincts, poison prevention for your pet is quite grim. This is why we want to equip you with the following information centered around saving your dog’s life should you be able to determine that they ingested poison.
Know the Symptoms
When you know your dog well, it is easy to know when something is wrong. A poisoned puppy could display any of the following symptoms so look out for these when you notice any unusual behaviour:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Seizures
- Blood in the stool
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Bruising
- Nosebleeds
- Irregular heartbeat
- Inability to urinate
If your dog indicates any of the above symptoms, then you need to consult a vet immediately. Do not, under any circumstances, try to treat your dog with a home remedy or try to induce vomiting. Rather wait for instructions from your vet or drive your dog through to the emergency room as soon as possible. Take great care to transport them carefully to avoid further stress and anxiety, which could cause your dog’s state to deteriorate further.
Scan your surroundings
You will need to make sure that the remains of the poison are removed from your yard, or anywhere within your dog’s reach. This will help prevent your pet from consuming the dangerous substance again when they are back home or if you have other pets in the yard. Look for odd food items such as meat or bread that would be thrown over your gate or walls.
If you do find any samples of the poison, then take it to the vet’s clinic. This will help the vet identify the poison faster and be able to treat your pet more effectively.
There is also a chance that your dog may have ingested a substance from within the house. You should also explore your home to check if your dog consumed any pills or detergents that may be causing these symptoms.
Have All Relevant Information Handy
In an emergency, you may need to take your dog to a vet that you have never seen before. This means that they do not have all your pet’s information on file. It is handy to keep a separate record of your dog’s details so you can provide specific information in an emergency situation. These details include:
- The substance that your pet ingested (if you have any knowledge of the substance)
- If known, the quantity that he/she consumed
- Time of the first sign of symptoms
- Age
- Breed
- Weight
- Vaccination history
- Names of all current medication
As much as we hope that we would never be placed in a situation like this, a responsible pet owner should always have a 24/7 veterinary doctor’s contact details to call in case of an emergency. To help you out, if you do not already have this information available, have a look at some of our suggested 24/7 veterinary clinics below.
Westville Veterinary Hospital
Contact number: 031 267 8000
Address: 31 Jan Hofmeyr Rd, Westville
Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital
Contact number: 031 765 3221
Address: Chube House, 32 Old Main Rd, Hillcrest
Ashburne Veterinary Clinic
Contact number: 031 562 1037
Address: 32 Burne Cres, Glen Ashley, Durban North
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