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Poisoning in Dogs: How to Help Your Four-Legged Friend

By Corinne Sanders
Published on 01/06/2024
Reviewed by Dr. Joseph Howard

Recognizing Poisoning in Dogs

Whether during a walk or at home, dogs come into contact with foods and substances that are dangerous for them. Outdoors, it is often pesticides, fertilizers, or toxic plants, while indoors, cleaning agents, medications, or specific foods can trigger severe poisoning symptoms. In this guide, you’ll learn how to recognize poisoning in your dog, provide first aid, and identify foods to keep away from them.

Signs of Poisoning in Dogs:

Depending on the toxic substance and the amount ingested by your canine companion, poisoning symptoms may vary.

Dogs often exhibit the following symptoms in cases of poisoning:

Vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures
Weakness and lethargy
Trembling and shaking
Difficulty breathing
Increased heart rate
Excessive salivation
Pale, bluish, or highly reddened mucous membranes
Increased or very low body temperature
Blood in urine, feces, or vomit
Paralysis
Staggering
Restlessness
Loss of consciousness

If you suspect your dog has been poisoned, promptly contact a veterinarian or an animal clinic.

Poisoning in Dogs: First Aid

If your dog shows initial signs of poisoning, take quick action:

Call your veterinarian, describe your suspicion, and announce your visit.
Give your dog a charcoal tablet after consulting with the vet. Activated charcoal binds the poison in the stomach or intestines, facilitating its elimination.
Under no circumstances induce vomiting in your dog. The risk of choking on vomit is too great.
Take a sample of the poisonous food (if available or known) and secure small samples of vomit or feces. Drive to the veterinarian with your dog, bringing the poison samples. For the vet, it is crucial to understand which substance or toxin your dog has ingested. Only then can the best possible treatment be offered.

Good to know:

Treatment costs for your dog in case of poisoning are covered by a dog health insurance policy. You receive first treatment recommendations via video chat around the clock and find out whether you need to visit your local veterinarian.

Treatment at the Veterinarian

Once you have taken your pet to the vet, they will likely administer an emetic immediately. If necessary, they will perform gastric lavage under anesthesia. Once the veterinarian identifies the poison, they can administer an antidote to your dog.

After treatment, the dog often stays with the veterinarian for a few days, during which vital functions (breathing, pulse, and circulation) are monitored. The animal usually receives an infusion to flush the poison out of the blood, preventing potential kidney damage. If the kidneys are already affected, the dog may need a kidney wash (dialysis).

To allow the gastrointestinal mucosa to recover after treatment, offer your dog a bland diet. This can include chicken with rice, cottage cheese with honey, or a “Moro’s carrot soup.”

Dangerous Substances for Dogs Outdoors

Dogs that frolic outdoors often encounter hazardous substances:

Rat poison is unfortunately consumed by dogs relatively frequently, leading to poisoning. The contained coumarin disrupts blood clotting, resulting in severe internal bleeding. The treatment involves administering vitamin K to the animal. Caution: Poisoning symptoms only appear three to five days after ingestion.
Slug pellets contain metaldehyde, causing seizures and convulsions. The animal experiences high fever (over 41 degrees), which may lead to organ failure. The veterinarian will attempt to remove the poison from the dog’s body as quickly as possible. Initial signs of poisoning may manifest just a few hours after the dog ingests the pellets.
Fertilizers irritate the mucous membranes of the digestive tract and hinder oxygen transport in the blood. If your dog has ingested a few of the blue granules, it may lead to vomiting, difficulty breathing, and bloody diarrhea. Seek a veterinarian’s assistance as soon as possible.
Antifreeze is a sweet substance that attracts dogs. Symptoms of poisoning occur rapidly. The contained ethylene glycol is an alcohol. If a dog drinks from a puddle containing antifreeze, the animal may appear intoxicated afterward. Subsequent symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. In the worst case, the dog may die from kidney failure.

Many garden plants, such as hyacinth, delphinium, or ivy, are toxic to dogs. Keep your pet away from cleaning agents and medications as well.

Important:

Never let your dog out of sight while walking. Dogs explore anything that might be food. Especially if your pet is off-leash, it should listen well to you. This works only if you train him well.

Which Foods Are Dangerous for Dogs?

Many foods that humans enjoy are off-limits for your four-legged friend, as they can lead to severe poisoning, even causing your dog’s death:

Chocolate and cocoa: Theobromine in chocolate can cause seizures and difficulty breathing.
Onions: Sulfur compounds destroy a dog’s red blood cells.
Grapes and raisins: Oxalic acid can lead to kidney failure.
Stone fruit: Sharp-edged pits can injure the intestinal mucosa, and cyanide in the pits causes acute poisoning.
Avocado: Dogs can choke on the avocado pit, and they cannot tolerate the flesh, reacting with rapid heartbeat and difficulty breathing.
Alcohol: Alcohol can damage the kidneys and liver.
Raw pork: The meat can contain the deadly Aujeszky virus.
Coffee, tea, cola: The caffeine or theobromine in these beverages attacks a dog’s nervous system.

What Should I Do If My Dog Ate Chocolate?

Even small amounts of chocolate can lead to poisoning symptoms in your four-legged friend. The reason: Cocoa in chocolate contains theobromine, which can be life-threatening for dogs. Humans, on the other hand, have an enzyme in our bodies that quickly breaks down the substance.

Dogs, lacking this enzyme, react to chocolate with vomiting, diarrhea, increased pulse, restlessness, trembling, seizures, and even respiratory arrest. The severity of poisoning depends on your dog’s weight and the amount of chocolate consumed. Dark and bittersweet chocolate with a high cocoa content can cause severe poisonings. A dog weighing around 24 kilograms can die from eating a chocolate bar. Therefore, never give chocolate to your dog.

In case your four-legged friend ever snatches some chocolate, you can provide first aid as follows:

Determine approximately how many grams of chocolate your dog has consumed.
Have the chocolate or praline packaging ready.
Call the veterinarian, animal clinic, or veterinary emergency service, as this is a genuine emergency.
Describe what happened and inquire about what you can do.
Take your pet to the veterinarian or animal clinic as quickly as possible.

Other foods that dogs cannot tolerate:

Bacon: Fatty food can lead to metabolic disorders.
Poultry bones: Thin bones can splinter and get stuck in the throat.
Raw beans: They contain the substance lectin, which clots red blood cells.
Milk: Many dogs are lactose intolerant.
Raw potatoes, raw eggplants, tomatoes: The substance solanine irritates the mucous membranes and causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Sweetener: Xylitol lowers blood sugar levels.
Macadamia nuts: Contains phosphorus, which affects the digestive and nervous systems, leading to paralysis.
Salt: Too much disrupts the electrolyte balance and damages the kidneys.

First aid for dogs: Diarrhea

Diarrhea in dogs can have many causes, and it’s not always due to poisoning. A change in diet or a worm infestation can also trigger it. If your four-legged friend has infrequent diarrhea for only a day, there’s no need for concern. However, if vomiting and diarrhea occur simultaneously, especially in a very young dog, it’s an emergency.

When in doubt, always consult a veterinarian! Even if your dog’s condition rapidly deteriorates, call the vet. They can determine the cause of the diarrhea with a stool sample in the laboratory and discuss the next steps with you.

Here’s what you can do if your dog has diarrhea:

Provide your dog with plenty of fresh water and encourage drinking. This is essential to prevent excessive dehydration due to fluid loss.
Monitor your dog closely – check its vital signs and determine if it is losing weight.
For acute diarrhea: Give your dog charcoal tablets, also known as activated charcoal or “medicinal charcoal,” which bind toxins in the stomach and intestines. You can obtain these tablets at most pharmacies and some drugstores.

Home remedy for dogs: Moro’s carrot soup:

In addition to charcoal tablets, Moro’s carrot soup has proven effective for dogs suffering from diarrhea. The recipe originates from human medicine and was developed around 1908 by Professor Ernst Moro from Heidelberg for children. The soup works by simmering carrots for an extended period, producing a specific sugar molecule that coats the intestinal wall after consumption. This prevents various bacteria from adhering to the intestinal wall, and they are expelled with the feces.

Note: Moro’s carrot soup is only a supplementary home remedy for your dog’s therapy and does not replace a visit to the veterinarian.

Basic Recipe: Moro’s Carrot Soup

1 kg carrots (wash, clean, cut into small pieces)
1 teaspoon salt (if your dog does not have kidney disease)
sufficient water

Preparation:

Bring carrots to a boil in saltwater.
Once boiling, let them simmer on low heat for about 90 minutes (possibly add water).
Drain carrots and collect vegetable juice.
Puree or mash the carrots and fill up with vegetable juice to about one liter of soup.
Let it cool until the soup is lukewarm.

How much Moro’s carrot soup should I give my dog?

Feed your dog three to four times a day with the carrot soup. You can give it to your furry friend about 30 minutes before regular feeding. The carrot soup can also completely replace other food. Depending on the body weight, your dog needs:

0.1 liters of soup for a weight up to 2 kg
0.25 liters of soup for a weight up to 5 kg
0.5 liters of soup for a weight up to 15 kg

Frequently Asked Questions about Poisoning in Dogs

Which plants are toxic to dogs?

There are plants, both indoor and outdoor, that can be dangerous for your four-legged friend. Take preventive measures to keep these plants out of your dog’s reach.

Toxic indoor plants for dogs (selection):

Cyclamen
Amaryllis
Azalea
Crown of Thorns
Chrysanthemum
Anthurium
Geranium
Rubber plant
Hydrangea
Lilies
Oleander
Passionflower
Poinsettia

Toxic garden plants for dogs (selection):

Monkshood
Boxwood
Buttercup
Ivy
Yew
Angel’s trumpet
Foxglove
Golden chain
Autumn crocus
Hyacinth
Cherry laurel
Lily of the valley
Delphinium
Rhododendron
Thuja
Deadly nightshade
Juniper
Cedar

Can dogs eat chocolate?

Do not give your dog chocolate under any circumstances. Do not let him indulge in your chocolate dessert, and ensure he does not find a chocolate bar on his own. Chocolate is toxic to your furry friend even in small quantities. Learn more in the guide.

Can dogs eat nuts?

Nuts can be a nutritious snack for dogs. However, not every type of nut is suitable for four-legged friends. Some dogs may also be allergic to these fruits. Nuts that won’t harm your pet include peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds, chestnuts, and Brazil nuts. Exercise caution with walnuts and pistachios, as they may be affected by mold. Macadamia nuts and nutmeg are both toxic to dogs even in small amounts.