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?
The trend of pets has been a matter of the past 150 years. But what will the next 150 years look like? With the evolution of our society and its values, circuses and zoos are on the radar, and the number of people who do not eat meat, and even vegans,...
Do you have a pregnant cat at home? Is this stage slowly coming to an end and you are starting to panic about the birth? Let me take you through it from the beginning to the end. Let's take a look at when it is necessary to intervene, when the help...
July is the time to prepare for autumn kittens. It's good to remind ourselves what cat pregnancy entails, when and how to prevent it and why.
Outside temperatures suggest that the boater season is just behind the corner. Many people take their family and children on a water adventure. Some boaters even take their four-legged friends along. What can you do to make sure your trip goes...
In the summer, most of us move to the garden, whether at our home or cottage. Of course, we also want to let our rodent friends loose, and simply bringing the cage out won't do it. How can we make a comfortable, safe outdoor enclosure?
Does your cat wander outside? Are you tired of constant meowing and scratching on doors, or constantly opened windows? Then it's time to get your cat a door.
The nutrient requirements of each dog varies depending on its age, physical condition, lifestyle and size. There are many aspects, and you need to take them all into account when choosing your food.
Cats can take a cold a lot harder than we do. For them it's a relatively serious and very contagious viral disease. A cat cold is a combination of diseases, whose symptoms include a cold.
What elements play an important role in cat nutrition, why do they need them and in what proportion should they get them? This is the alchemy behind the preparation of quality cat food.
Although traveling is fun, it can also be stressful. We have to make sure we don't forget anything and that everything goes according to plan. But what if you decide to travel with your little friend, a guinea pig? Let's take a look at what you...
It is a well-known fact about cats that they like lying in the sunlight. However, that doesn’t mean they are never hot and the risk of overheating is not real for them.
The fact that there are different cans and dry food for dogs and cats is not a marketing stunt. Both beasts have their specific nutrition needs which vary in certain aspects and if you give them the wrong food, they will start suffering quite soon.
