Dogs are often curious creatures that are always ready to sample a new substance to see what it tastes like. Unfortunately, this impulse can lead them into trouble when they ingest toxic substances that can be life-threatening. At South Coast Veterinary Hospital in Laguna Niguel, we experience emergency cases of dogs consuming harmful products. While we try everything to save the dog's life, we are here to help ensure this incident doesn't occur in the first place. Here are some common items found in your household that can be poisonous to your dog.
Poisonous Foods
Although certain foods are completely safe for humans to eat, they can also be life-threatening if ingested by your dog. Never feed your dog any beverage with caffeine or alcohol. Sugarless gum or breath mints sweetened with xylitol can kill a dog. Likewise, avoid letting dogs eat yeast dough, onions, chives, leeks, apple seeds, grapes, raisins, chocolate, almonds, or macadamia nuts. Spoiled food can also act like poison and potentially kill a dog.
Poisonous Plants
Eating any plant may cause a dog to vomit or have diarrhea. Plants that are often poisonous for dogs include holly, hyacinths, hydrangeas, oregano, yew, yucca, wisteria, rhododendrons, sago palms, skunk cabbage, shamrocks, oleander, primroses, and poinsettias. Plants poisonous to people like hemlock are also poisonous to dogs.
Poisonous Household Items
Sadly, many common household items can wind up in a dog's stomach and turn deadly. These include small batteries, fabric softener dryer sheets, bait set out for rodents or insects, antifreeze, recreational drugs, and over-the-counter medications. One golden rule of pet care that all pet owners need to follow is never to give human medication to a pet unless told otherwise by our vet.
Signs of Poisoning
A poisoned dog often shows several signs of the issue occurring. These include seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, drooling more than usual, complete loss of appetite, lethargy, coughing up blood, vomiting blood, pale gums, and racing heart. Any dog showing these signs needs to be taken to our clinic for emergency care.
Contact Us for Quality Pet Care from Our Veterinarian in Laguna Niguel
If you still have questions about protecting your dogs from poisons, contact our team at South Coast Veterinary Hospital today. We are dedicated to providing the veterinary care your pet needs to live a happy and healthy life. You can call us at (949) 249-7777 or use our online form to schedule your pet's next appointment. Learn more about how we can keep your pet safe from harmful toxins.