Telltale Signs of Food Poisoning in Dogs

Hundreds of dogs die from food poisoning every year. Dogs would not pass up the chance to roam. The nose is a very important asset of a dog. Apart from being food motivated, dogs are known to be indiscriminate eaters. Dogs would always find the smell of trash very interesting and edible and non edible substances will be ingested. It’s no wonder then if these animals often suffer from food poisoning.

Food poisoning does not result from the dog’s indiscriminate eating habits alone. A loving dog owner may not be aware that the dog is being poisoned by the commercial food. High quality commercial dog food can get contaminated too. Contaminated commercial food would kill the dog slowly as owners unaware of the dog’s condition will continue feeding the dog so that the toxins will build up in the dog’s system.

As with any health concern, early detection and treatment would give the pet greater chance of recovery. For the safety of the pet, it is vital for a dog owner to know the signs of food poisoning. A poisoned dog though would know how to remove the toxins from its system. Dogs that have swallowed substances not accepted by the stomach would induce vomiting by eating grass. However, the dog’s self doctoring may be ineffective in removing the toxins.

Dogs that are allowed to wander have all the opportunities to eat rotten food. A new diet can have the same effect too. A dog suffering from food poisoning would vomit. Diarrhea is another sign that the dog has ingested a toxic substance. Toxic substances contained by the food swallowed by the dog would affect the gastrointestinal system thus the dog would vomit and have diarrhea. The dog will drool excessively and appear sluggish. Dogs that have ingested anything toxic would have no interest in food. A yellowish tint in the eyes and bright orange colored urine signify that the toxins remaining in the dogs body is already affecting its organs. Severe poisoning would have the dog passing blackened stool, vomit blood, have seizures and lose its motor abilities. Dogs would totally refuse food. Worried dog owners would tempt the dog with the dog food mixed with human food thereby aggravating the condition if the poisoning is caused by the contaminated dog food.

Vomiting and diarrhea can be resolved by withholding food for at least 24 hours to rest the dog’s stomach. Give the dog bland foods like boiled rice and chicken after the fasting period. If this fasting did not resolve the dog’s vomiting and diarrhea and if the condition of the pet worsened, it is imperative to head to a veterinary facility so that the dog can receive appropriate medical treatment.

More signs of dog food poisoning at Sarah’s Dogs. Besides this you can also read about dog grooming.