Unusual lethargy signals a problem.
Your dog can’t tell you if he’s eaten something poisonous but by observing his symptoms and inspecting his environment, you may find that your dog has ingested a dangerous substance. Many pet owners don’t realize that some foods that are healthy for people are poisonous to their dogs. Depending upon the substance your dog ate, he may exhibit mild symptoms of poisoning or he may have a full-blown emergency reaction.
Instructions
1. Observe symptoms that are unusual for your pet, especially those that come on quickly. Mild cases of poisoning may result in drooling or anxiety, depending upon the substance ingested. Severe symptoms include dizziness, difficulty walking or standing, panting louder and faster than is normal for your dog, vomiting and seizures. Transport a dog who exhibits the symptoms of poisoning to an emergency veterinarian clinic.
2. Inspect your dog’s yard or the area where he was last playing for evidence of a toxic substance. Even common food items can poison a dog. Tomatoes, grapes and garlic are toxic to dogs. If you have a garden, check to see if your dog chewed up some of your fruits and vegetables. Call your vet immediately to tell him what you think your dog ate.
3. Suspect poisoning if you’ve treated your dog within the last 12 hours for ticks and fleas by using an over-the-counter product. Many dogs have an allergic reaction to these products and may exhibit extreme anxiety, drooling and uncontrollable itching. Check the dog’s skin in the area where you applied the product. If the skin is red or welted, immediately wash the dog’s skin with cool water and dish soap and contact your veterinarian.
4. Inspect the legs of old painted chairs and wood trim in a house built before 1978 if your dog becomes increasingly lethargic and shows signs of diarrhea and vomiting (in some cases). Lead poisoning from chewing on old painted wood leads to anemia in dogs. The symptoms may not appear for a few days so think back to what your dog has been chewing on.
5. Take your dog to the vet quickly if he has seizures or tremors, even if you can’t think of a possible poison. Because there are so many kinds of plants, household products, fruits and human medicines that can poison a dog, it’s imperative to seek help immediately when your dog shows these symptoms. The veterinarian will probably treat your dog with a charcoal-based product designed to bind any residual poison in his digestive tract before it makes the condition worse.
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