Page 346 - (DK) The Dog Encyclopedia

CARE AND TRAINING | FIRST AID

CHOKING AND POISONING dog may have eaten harmful substances, effect. However, this is not the case
It is in a dog’s nature to chew or eat anything or he has persistent vomiting or diarrhea, with grapes, both fresh and dried (raisins,
that looks promising, but this can get him keep any packaging and immediately golden raisins, and currants), which
into trouble, and you will need to act quickly contact your vet for advice. are recognized as potential poisons.
if it does. A dog can choke on all kinds Take preventive action by always storing
of objects, including bones, rawhide chews, anything remotely edible out of reach. This BITES AND STINGS
and children’s toys. He may drool or paw includes all medication, both veterinary and Dogs are naturally inquisitive, exploring
frantically at his mouth if the object is human; antifreeze (ethylene glycol), which with their noses, so bites and stings from
wedged in his mouth, and may have difficulty has a sweet taste but will cause kidney failure; venomous animals or insects tend to be
breathing if it is obstructing his airway. weed killers and slug bait, which are easily on the head and legs.
Only attempt to retrieve the object from found in the yard; and household cleaners Bees and wasps are a common risk to dogs
your dog’s mouth if you will not be bitten or (even if you keep them in an inaccessible both indoors and outdoors. If your dog is
there is no risk of pushing it farther into the cabinet, remember that your dog may drink stung, move him quickly to prevent further
throat. Putting something across your dog’s from a toilet that has a chemical released stings. Check for insects trapped in your
jaw to prevent him from closing his mouth is into the water when flushed). dog’s coat and look for the site of the sting.
a good idea if it does not make it harder to Bait to control rodents should be used and Bees leave their stinger behind, so remove it
retrieve the object. Ideally, use something stored well out of your dog’s reach. Many carefully with tweezers if you can do this
rubbery or a pad of material to keep from rat poisons interfere with the action of without squeezing the poison sac. Wasps
damaging his teeth; never use a muzzle. vitamin K, which is essential to the body’s can sting repeatedly. Bathe the area with
If you cannot remove the object, or are blood-clotting process. This causes internal baking soda dissolved in water (for bee
concerned that your dog’s mouth has been bleeding, which will not become immediately stings) or with vinegar (for wasp stings),
damaged, take him straight to a vet. apparent. If you know or suspect that your then apply antihistamine cream. Cover the
If you see your dog swallow something he dog has eaten rat poison, or a poisoned area to prevent the dog from licking it. If
should not, contact your vet for advice. Very rodent, take the dog straight to the vet and your dog is in pain or his condition worsens,
small objects may pass through the dog bring along any relevant packaging. take him to the vet. It is an emergency if
without causing a problem. A larger object Chocolate is highly appealing to a dog but your dog has been stung in the mouth or
may need to be removed, preferably from is toxic if it has a high cocoa-solid content. develops a severe allergic reaction (opposite).
the stomach before it enters the intestines. Onions and their relatives, including leeks, Your dog may encounter poisonous toads,
The most common way for a dog to be garlic, and scallions, are also poisonous. which release venom from the skin glands. If
poisoned is by scavenging something not Generally, the smaller the dog, the smaller your dog licks the toad or picks it up, he may
meant for him. If you are worried that your the amount of toxin needed to have an ingest the venom and will react by salivating

Raiding the garbage
A dog’s dietary indiscretions include raiding the
garbage can. Use containers such as pedal-operated
or mechanical push-opening trash cans that will not
yield to a dog’s questioning nose.

Dangerous bones
A bone can pose a choking hazard if it is small enough
to become wedged across the roof of the mouth or
between the teeth, or if shards are swallowed and
become stuck in the gullet.

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