Seasonal Hazards (Autumn/Winter)
Now that the days of summer have slipped by we all begin to
turn our thoughts to events like Halloween, Bonfire night and preparations for
Christmas. There’s lots of activity going on in the kitchen with Christmas fare
and warm comforting casseroles being made. Long walks in the countryside with
our dogs is also high up on our weekend agendas. So begin aware of hazards in
the home and outside is important at this time of year. Check out some of them
here.
Foodstuff
Grapes and dried vine fruits (currants, sultanas, raisins)
Grapes and their dried products are poisonous to dogs.
Eating just a small quantity can result in kidney failure. Foods that have high
quantities such as Christmas cake, puddings and minced pies contain high
concentrations and are especially dangerous.
Alcohol
If alcohol is left unattended, dogs may help themselves to
left-overs! Alcohol is absorbed rapidly in the dog’s system. They will show similar symptoms to a person
when they have drunk too much but problems occur at much lower quantities. Incoordination and drowsiness are common
signs. Alcohol is a toxin and in severe
cases it can cause respiratory distress, a dangerously low body temperature and
low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) leading to collapse and coma.
Onions (including other Alliums: garlics, leeks, shallots
and chives – even sage and onion stuffing!)
Foods that belong to the Allium plant family are poisonous
to dogs, even when cooked. Relatively
small amounts can cause disturbances to the gastro-intestinal tract. Symptoms
include vomiting and diarrhoea. The main effect is on the red blood cells
leading to anaemia (lowering of red blood cells). Poisoning isn’t always
obvious immediately after ingestion but illness can occur several days’ later,
making diagnosis more difficult.
Macadamia Nuts
This nut is often used in Christmas cakes. If eaten, they
can cause a high body temperature, tremors and stiffness in the limbs.
Chocolate
Most dog owners are aware of chocolate toxicity. Theobromine
is the name of the toxin responsible for poisoning. The higher the percentage
of cocoa, the more toxic it becomes. So whilst all chocolate is toxic, a dog
would only need a very small amount of 70% dark chocolate to become extremely
ill. White chocolate is generally not a risk as it has very low levels of
theobromine. Signs of toxicity include agitation, hyper-excitability, heart
problems and convulsions.
Hazards
outdoors
Oaks and Acorns (Quercus species)
Oak and acorns contain a toxin called tannic acid. Ingestion
leads to gastro-intestinal and kidney problems. Bloody diarrhoea and vomiting
are the main signs of poisoning and dogs will often show abdominal pain.
Ethylene Glycol (anti-freeze)
Very organised people are thinking ahead and topping up the
car with anti-freeze in preparation for the winter months. It is very toxic to
all mammals, especially cats so think about them and other animals that visit
the garden. Neat or run off fluids are toxic so make sure that any spills are
washed away with copious amounts of water. Signs include vomiting, diarrhoea,
an increased heart rate, lethargy and a low body temperature.
Conkers
Conkers are synonymous with autumn. Although cases are rare,
dogs will become ill if they are ingested. Throwing them to play catch can pose
a serious threat too. Not only can they cause an obstruction in the gut, they
contain a chemical called aesculin – found in all parts of the horse chestnut
tree, including the leaves.
Signs include vomiting collapse, diarrhoea, restlessness and
abdominal discomfort. Some dogs can go into toxic shock, experience respiratory
paralysis and in severe cases can die. Signs of illness can occur within a few
hours after consumption but sometimes symptoms don’t occur until after a couple
of days.
Fireworks and Glow sticks
As well as the usual health and safety advice for bonfire
night, fireworks can contain a number of different chemicals that are dangerous
to dogs and other animals if ingested. These include fuels, metals, colouring
agents, phosphorous, sulphurs and nitrates.
Signs include vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort and
incoordination.
Around this time of year, glow sticks are also a cause for
concern. These tubes are made of a bendy plastic containing a liquid called
dibutyl phthalate that glows in the dark. Dogs, especially puppies, might be
attracted to them to chew. They are extremely unpleasant to taste and even
small amounts will cause excessive hyper-salivation and foaming at the mouth.
The liquid is very irritating to the skin and eyes. For ingestion of glow
sticks, lots of oral fluids will help dilute the chemical.
Irrigation of the eyes with water or sterile saline is
recommended and use luke-warm soapy water for exposure to the skin.
What first aid treatment can you
carry out?
ü Contact your veterinary surgery and tell them
exactly what your dog has ingested. They will be able to provide you with the
best treatment whist waiting to see them.
ü Making your dog sick can cause more problems and is
often not recommended - Never make your dog vomit if:
·
They are
drowsy or having difficulty breathing
·
Are having
seizures ,
·
If the
poison contains paraffin, petroleum products or other oily or volatile organic
products
·
Contains
detergent compounds,
·
Contains strong
acids or alkalis
ü Activated Charcoal is often used by vets to absorb
the toxin. However there are a number of toxins that are not absorbed by
charcoal and for more serious poisons a charcoal biscuit is unlikely to be
sufficient.
If you would like to learn more about Canine First
Aid follow this link:
This article was
written using information from the veterinary poisons information service
(VPIS).