No matter how thorough we are with the prevention, a situation might come up when a dog or a cat will get to a poisonous thing, whether it’s by our inattention or it's somebody else’s fault. That’s why it’s not off-topic to prepare yourself for the possibility of poisoning and not only to know what to do in such situation, but also, how to detect it as well.
Poisoning with pesticides can occur quite easily. It’s enough for your dog to wander into the neighbour’s garden that has just been treated with pesticides. Outdoor cats are even more vulnerable. You can’t keep track of their movement, so they might be exposed to pesticides for a dangerously long time.
For the animal to get poisoned by pesticides, it doesn’t have to eat them (even though this is the worst option, of course). In some species, a mere skin contact or inhalation is enough. That’s why they can be so dangerous. Among the ones that are the most dangerous for cats and dogs belong:
I also recommend to use such treatment for your garden that is not dangerous for dogs or cats. You should be able to find this information easily on the packaging of the product. But you can’t recommend to your neighbours what to use so it depends on their solidarity and the poisoning may still be a threat.
Symptoms manifest themselves depending on how much poison the animal was exposed to. If the dose is too high, the breathing muscles may fail, which is followed by coma and death. The most telling symptoms are:
Some pesticides affect even the liver of the animals. Apart from nervous symptoms, these can also cause liver failure, even after you manage the primary symptoms. Manifestations of liver failure can appear with time and they include loss of appetite, vomiting, bad breath, increased liquid intake and urination. This can also end with the death of the animal.
Plenty of pesticides also disrupt the hormonal system of the animal.
Here it depends, in what way the animal got poisoned with the pesticide. If it happened through skin contact, it is necessary to thoroughly shampoo and clean the animal several times.
With any poisoning, it is desirable to induce vomiting. To this effect, it is recommended to use a 3% hydrogen peroxide diluted with water to half the concentration. At best, it is applied with a syringe into the mouth. Upon swallowing, the peroxide will start fizzing and it will cause bloating in the stomach of the animal which will induce vomiting.
Give the animal some black or rather active coal - it is able to bind toxins.
And of course, at least contact the veterinarian and consult further steps: whether it is necessary to provide an infusion which supports elimination of toxins from the body, to administer substances to suppress spasms etc.
But I recommend not to risk anything at the slightest suspicion of poisoning and to visit the veterinarian as soon as possible. In more urgent cases, you can call a pet ambulance.
Have you got any experience with cat or dog pesticide poisoning? How did it take place?
Simon’s Cat, Grumpy Cat or Lil Bub, these are celebrities among cats almost every cat lover knows. However, I will introduce you to a few blogs related to cats in general where you can find interesting information, advice and experience from living...
Kennel cough is a common and easily spread dog disease. How is it transmitted, what progress does it have and how is it treated? Even though it cannot be transmitted to humans, it may endanger other pets in the household.
Winter doesn’t need to be a synonym for tiredness and lying on a sofa in the comfort of your home. This year, there wasn’t much snow. However, this doesn’t need to stand between you and your dog’s walking outside and having fun.
There are quite a few dog food cans on the market. What should we take into account to pick the right one?
Every proper cat lover is not just fine with having one cat companion at home. Some people collect cat figures, others fancy books about cats and some may like watching cat films. Do you like it, too? If you do, you might get some inspiration here.
Dogs of this small breed are curious and full of energy. They love being at the centre of attention, so they like to show off. They are loyal and sensitive companions which do not handle separation well.
You might have come across something about BFRs in discussions concerning a fearful dog, moving a cat or New Year’s Eve celebrations. Are you wondering what they are and what they can help your pet with?
In today’s hectic world, many people don’t dare to get a dog because of the financial burden it presents and the time it consumes. Others can’t have a dog because of their health issues. Nevertheless, they have an opportunity to spend some time with a...
Have you ever wondered how it is possible that dogs can wade through snow or run on ice with their bare feet and the paws don’t get frostbites? We know why!
The Oriental Shorthair cats are very similar to Siamese cats in terms of their appearance as well as character. These elegant cats are suitable for extroverts who are looking for a companion at all times. This is because you will always know about...
Is rice, i.e. cereals, good for a dog’s diet? Is it just a filler or a valuable source of nutrients?
A study has shown that dogs have a certain talent for languages that had only been associated with people before. Their skills for the recognition of human speech are far more complex than we have been aware of so far.
