| Several months ago I adopted Hank, a five-year | | | | signs of illness, he must be taken immediately to |
| old mutt, from the local Humane Society. I had | | | | the nearest veterinary clinic. |
| every hope that he would be a companion and | | | | Antidepressant drugs, which can cause irregular |
| playmate for Banjo, my Australian Shepherd. | | | | heartbeat, vomiting hyperactivity, tremors and |
| Unfortunately, things didn't turn out the way I | | | | seizure. |
| expected. All in all, it was a very bad day for me, | | | | Pesticides, such as flea and tick collars, sprays and |
| for the local veterinarian, for the people at the | | | | powders; rat poisons; strychnine; and zinc |
| animal shelter who had come to love quiet, | | | | phosphate. The symptoms of poisoning will vary, |
| mild-mannered Hank, and, of course, for Hank | | | | depending on the particular pesticide that was |
| himself. | | | | ingested. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, |
| The first inkling I had that something was very | | | | lack of balance or coordination, nosebleeds, internal |
| wrong with Hank came while walking him around | | | | bleeding through the gut or urinary track, difficulty |
| the exercise yard at the shelter. Hank stopped to | | | | breathing, listlessness, nervousness, seizures, and |
| piddle so often that I remarked on it, but the | | | | death. If your pet gets into one of these poisons, |
| shelter volunteer said it was common with animals | | | | try to take the container with you to the vet's |
| that are locked in their pens for so long every | | | | office, so he or she can give the appropriate |
| day. A housebroken dog, she said, will "hold it" until | | | | antidote and emergency treatment as quickly as |
| he gets outside, and then the floodgates open. | | | | possible. |
| That sounded reasonable to me, so I filled out the | | | | Antifreeze, as noted earlier. Immediate veterinary |
| adoption paperwork, handed over the fees, and | | | | treatment may be able to save your pet, from |
| took Hank out to my car, where I saw the | | | | kidney failure if it is rushed to the animal clinic in |
| second indication of severe illness. Hank actually | | | | time. |
| fell into my small car. This lack of coordination | | | | Ammonia, disinfectants, and fabric softener can |
| seemed like a small problem, but it did put me on | | | | cause vomiting, diarrhea and seizures. Call your |
| alert. | | | | pet's veterinarian immediately - the clinic may |
| He and Banjo seemed to get on just fine when I | | | | suggest that you give the dog milk or water to |
| introduced them at home, but Hank still wasn't | | | | dilute the poison before rushing it to the clinic. |
| acting right. The floodgates were still open, and he | | | | Household bleach can cause excessive salivation |
| couldn't stay away from the water dish. His fur | | | | (or slobbering), and vomiting. Again, call your vet |
| was falling out in great gobs, and something in | | | | immediately to see if you should try to dilute the |
| Hank's eyes told me he just didn't feel good. I | | | | poisons by giving your dog emergency care at |
| called the local vet and asked for an emergency | | | | home before rushing it to the clinic. Bleach can |
| appointment. | | | | cause ulcerations to the stomach lining and |
| To make a long story short, Hank had to be put | | | | gastrointestinal tract. |
| down that afternoon after tests showed his | | | | Lead from old paint, batteries, lead glazing on |
| kidneys were shutting down. The vet said it was | | | | pottery, and bird shot may cause vomiting, |
| most likely that Hank had been poisoned, probably | | | | constipation or diarrhea, muscle spasms, blindness, |
| with antifreeze, a sweet-tasting liquid that dogs | | | | and personality changes. The dog's veterinarian will |
| find irresistible, but which can cause mental | | | | need to run some tests to see if lead is the |
| confusion, vomiting, kidney failure, and death. Hank | | | | cause of the illness, and may need to perform |
| would have lapped up the antifreeze before he | | | | surgery if the item is still in the dog's stomach. |
| was brought to the shelter, where he spent | | | | Petroleum products, like gasoline or other fuels, |
| several weeks waiting for someone to take him | | | | solvents, and paints, can poison a dog either |
| home. If the shelter volunteers had been more | | | | through eating it, breathing it, (which can burn the |
| observant, could they have saved Hank? It's | | | | lining of the lungs), or getting it on the skin. If one |
| possible, but we'll really never know. | | | | of these products gets on your dog's fur, |
| Unfortunately, antifreeze is not the only common | | | | immediately wash it off with water and |
| household chemical that can cause serious illness in | | | | detergent, and then get him to the vet. If the |
| dogs. Since dogs are curious creatures, and some | | | | product has been ingested or if the dog has been |
| of these poisons taste good to both dogs and | | | | breathing the fumes, medical care will be required |
| children, special caution should be taken to keep | | | | to reduce the damage. |
| the following substances away from your pets. If | | | | Less potent but still dangerous substances that |
| you suspect that your dog has ingested any of | | | | can cause symptoms of poisoning in dogs are |
| these products, or if it shows any of the following | | | | chocolate, caffeine, onions and garlic. |