Just a footnote to all of this too-if you need to make your dog vomit immediately due to ingestion of any of these-hydrogen peroxide can be used.
Sent from Lynda's iPad On Nov 19, 2011, at 9:01 AM, KH LeMarr <[email protected]> wrote: > Grapes and Raisins can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys, possible > resulting in death. > Ingesting as few as 4-5 grapes or raisins can be poisonous to a 20 pound dog, > though the exact toxic dose is not established. > Signs of toxicity include vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal > pain, decreased urine production (possibly leading to lack of urine > production), weakness and drunken gait. > Onset of signs typically occurs within 24 hours (though they can start just a > few hours after consumption) > Your vet may start by inducing vomiting, or the stomach might be pumped > (gastric lavage). Treatment involves aggressive supportive care - > particularly fluid therapy and medications. > Onions > > Photo © Sean Gallup/Getty Images > Onions can cause a form of hemolytic anemia called Heinz body anemia, a > condition that causes the destruction of red blood cells. Kidney damage may > follow. > Toxicity may occur from similar foods such as garlic and chives. > It is not clear what quantity of onions is poisonous, but the effects can be > cumulative. Poisoning can result from raw, cooked and dehydrated forms. Avoid > feeding table scraps and any foods cooked with onions (including some baby > foods). Check your ingredients! > Signs are secondary to anemia, such as pale gums, rapid heart rate, weakness > and lethargy. Other signs include vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody urine. > Treatment: blood transfusions and/or oxygen administration may be necessary, > followed by specific fluid therapy. > Chocolate > > Photo © Stephen Chernin/Getty Images > Chocolate and cocoa contain a chemical called theobromide that can adversely > affect the heart, lungs, kidney and central nervous system. > Pure baking chocolate is most toxic, while milk chocolate requires a higher > quantity to cause harm. A 20 pound dog can be poisoned after consuming about > 2 ounces of baking chocolate, but it would take nearly 20 ounces of milk > chocolate to cause harm. Ingestion of cacao bean mulch can also be toxic. > Signs include excitement, tremors, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal > heart rate/rhythm, drunken gait, hyperthermia and coma. > Your vet may induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage. Treatment includes > administration of activated charcoal and aggressive supportive care with > fluid therapy and medications. > Caffeinated Items > > Photo © Tim Boyle/Getty Images > Caffeine is quite similar to the toxic chemical in chocolate. It can damage > the heart, lungs, kidney and central nervous system. > Commons sources of toxicity include caffeine pills, coffee beans and coffee, > large amounts of tea, and chocolate. > Signs typically begin with restlessness, hyperactivity and vomiting. These > can be followed by panting, weakness, drunken gait increased heart rate, > muscle tremors and convulsions. > Your vet may induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage. Treatment includes > administration of activated charcoal and supportive care with fluid therapy > and medications. > Macadamia Nuts > > Photo © jessicafm on flickr > Macadamia nuts, while generally not considered fatal, can cause your dog to > experience severe illness. > The actually toxin is not known, nor is the mechanism of toxicity. > Ingestion of just a handful of nuts can cause adverse effects in any dog. > Signs include vomiting, weakness, depression, drunken gait, joint/muscle > pain, and joint swelling. > Onset of signs typically occurs within 6-24 hours. > Dogs are typically treated symptomatically and recover within 24-48 hours. > In-hospital supportive care may be recommend for dogs that become very sick. > Xylitol > > Photo © Hyoh on flickr > Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener most often found in chewing gum and candy. > In dogs, it stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin, resulting in > hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Xylitol ingestion can also cause severe liver > damage. > As few as two pieces of gum can be hypoglycemia to a 20 pound dog. A pack of > gum can cause liver damage. > Signs of toxicity can occur within 30-60 minutes and include weakness, > drunken gait, collapse and seizures. > Your vet may induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage. The affected dog will > likely need to be treated intravenously with dextrose (sugar) and monitored > closely for 1-2 days. Many dogs improve with supportive care if treated early > enough, though liver damage can be permanent. > Alchohol and Yeast Dough > > Photo © Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images > Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol - a seriously toxic chemical compound > that causes central nervous system and respiratory depression. > Uncooked yeast doughs also produce ethanol. > Even small amounts of ethanol can cause toxic effects. > Signs include sedation, depression, lethargy, weakness, drunken gait and > hypothermia (low body temperature). > Ethanol is rapidly absorbed into the system, so it is important to seek > medical attention quickly. It is not usually helpful to induce vomiting. > Treatment includes aggressive supportive care with fluid therapy and > medications. > Under controlled circumstances, alcohol is used by veterinarians as an > antidote for antifreeze (ethylene glycol) poisoning. > Fruit Pits and Seeds > > Photo © cbowns on flickr > Apple seeds, cherry pits, peach pits, and plum pits contain the toxin cyanide. > Signs of cyanide poisoning include vomiting, heavy breathing, apnea > tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, coma, skin irritation. > In some cases, antidotes are available. Other treatments include oxygen > therapy, fluids and supportive care. > Also take note that the leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain > Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Also, the fat content > is not healthy for dogs. > Rotten or Moldy Foods > > Photo copy; Justin Sullivan/Getty Images > Moldy or rotten foods can cause many problems for your dog, some more serious > than others. Any food that seems "past its prime" should be kept out reach. > Be especially careful to keep your dog away from trash cans. > Botulism, often from garbage, can cause paralysis, slow heart rate, > constipation, and urine retention. An antitoxin is effective only if > poisoning is caught early enough. > Rotten fruit produces ethanol, causing the same effects associated with > alcohol or dough ingestion. > Moldy foods contain toxins that may cause muscle tremors, convulsions and > drunkenness. > Therapy depends on the toxin. Your vet may induce vomiting. Sometimes, > treatment includes activated charcoal. Supportive care with fluids and > medications is often necessary. > Other Foods to Avoid > > Photo Chris Amaral / Getty Images > Certain foods, while not considered toxic, can still be unhealthy for your > dog. Avoid any foods that are high in fat, sugar or sodium. These foods can > contribute to indigestion, obesity, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and > more. Dairy products may be difficult for dogs to digest. Corn cobs and bones > can cause GI obstruction. Cooked bones may splinter and break easily, risking > GI damage. > Like people, too much junk food can cause poor condition and decreased > energy. Remember that your dog is smaller than you and may be sensitive. What > seems like "just a bite" for you is more like a small meal for your dog. If > you want to feed homemade food, seek advice from your vet. You may wish to > meet with a nutritionist for diet recommendations. > > Kitty and the Canine Gang, > Maxx, Jill, Baby and Bits > > Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened. > Anatoe France >
