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| Dogs view the world through their sense
of smell much more strongly than through the other senses, and Labradors
are particularly food-orientated.
They are natural scavengers and often make for rubbish bins in the park. Much of what they scavenge may not be good for them, and a survey of veterinary surgeons would probably show that they remove more socks, plastic bags, and other rubbish from the stomachs of Labradors than any other breed. Your Labrador also needs to be effectively trained and controlled so that he doesn't pester anyone who has food, join in with other people's picnics or beg at the table while the family is eating. . Dogs don't just eat food. Dogs don't know what they can digest, so they will chew on practically everything, and swallow it. Dogs cannot digest plastic, rubber, etc. If the piece is small enough it will pass through and come out the other end, but if the piece is too large it will get stuck somewhere and this needs removing surgically. . Not everyone loves dogs, and a scavenging dog can be poisoned easily. (Not all poisonings are accidental!) Signs of poisoning begin with vomiting and pain in the abdomen; they are followed in severe cases by diarrhea (often bloody) in two to six hours. If the problem is complicated by bacterial infection, shock may develop. Mild cases recover in a day or two. If you think that your dog may have been poisoned, and if he's alert and able to swallow, the first thing to do is try to make the dog vomit, if it hasn't already done so. If the dog has not already vomited and the poison is not a caustic or petroleum product, induce vomiting by giving 1 tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 20 pounds every 10 minutes until vomiting starts. (No more than three times.) If no vomiting occurs within 30 minutes, transport the dog immediately to the veterinarian with the suspected poison container. Now there might be a chance that you don't have hydrogen peroxide in the house. In that case you can use salt water. (I always keep a jar of sauerkraut in the fridge - that usually will make a dog vomit as well.) The second step is to delay absorption of the poison from the dog's intestinal tract by coating it with a substance that binds it. This is followed by a laxative to speed elimination. Note: Do not induce vomiting or give charcoal by mouth if your dog is severely depressed, comatose, unable to swallow or experiencing seizures. . Strychnine is used as a rat, mouse and mole poison. It is available commercially as coated pellets dyed purple, red or green. Signs of poisoning are so typical that the diagnosis can be made almost at once. Onset is sudden (less than two hours). The first signs are agitation, excitability and apprehension. They are followed rather quickly by intensely painful tetanic seizures that last about sixty seconds, during which the dog throws the head back, can't breathe and turns blue. The slightest stimulation, such as tapping the dog or clapping the hands, starts a seizure. This characteristic response is used to make the diagnosis. Other signs associated with nervous system involvement are tremors, champing, drooling, uncoordinated muscle spasms, collapse and paddling of the legs. Seizures caused by strychnine and other central nervous system toxins sometimes are misdiagnosed as epilepsy. This would be a mistake as immediate veterinary attention is necessary. With signs of central nervous involvement, don't take time to induce vomiting. It is important to avoid loud noises or unnecessary handling that trigger a seizure. Cover your dog with a coat or blanket and drive to the nearest veterinary clinic. . How to Delay or Prevent Absorption of the Poison 1. Mix activated charcoal (one tablet to 10-cc water). Give one teaspoonful per two pounds body weight and follow with a pint of water. Depending upon the dog's condition, this may need to be given by stomach tube. Veterinary assistance usually is required. 2. Thirty minutes later, give sodium sulphate (Glauber's salt), one teaspoonful per ten pounds body weight, or Milk of Magnesia, one teaspoonful per five pounds body weight. Note:If these agents are not available, coat the bowel with milk, egg whites or vegetable oil and give a warm water enema. . |
