It is quite surprising to know how full our homes are of

innocent looking substances, which can be harmful to

our pets. Dogs are like children and will put anything in

their mouths. Many substances can damage the skin and

the vital organs of our pets through accidental spillage,

inhalation or by ingestion. The following substances should

all be handled with care and kept away from your dog.

Cleaning agents (detergents, disinfectants, etc):

Some cleaning agents are corrosive and accidental

spillage can cause skin irritation. If you suspect that your

dog has ingested any of these agents, take it to the clinic

immediately. After cleaning the kennel, do not allow your

dog to return until the cleaning substances have dried up

completely. Keep these products out of reach of your pets.

Bleach is toxic to dogs and dogs usually get exposed

to this product as a result of improper storage and

carelessness on the part of pet owners. Clinical signs are

vomiting, drooling and abdominal pains. If you suspect

your dog has ingested bleach do not induce vomiting. Take

the dog to the nearest clinic immediately. Keep bleach out

of reach in a cupboard.

Rat poisoning: Rat poisoning is by far the most lethal of all

domestic pesticides. Accidents usually occur when the dog

eats the bait meant for the rat or eats the poisoned dead rat

itself. Rat poisoning kills very swiftly and your dog could be

dead within a couple of hours of the onset of clinical signs.

Dog owners should NEVER use rat poison in their homes.

Indocid pain killer is a good alternative. Gently open the

capsules and remove powder inside. This can then be

dusted on the bait. Indocid is very efficient in killing rats,

while it is harmless to your dog.

Insecticide or acaricides (tick and flea powders and

solutions, and mosquito repellants, moth balls etc): These

products are very toxic and accidental ingestion can lead to

the sudden death of your dog. Whenever bathing your dog

with these solutions be sure to cover the dog's mouth with

a mouth guard to prevent him from licking the solution. Do

not forget to keep the remaining unused chemical solution

out of the reach of your dog. Insecticide containers should

be kept inside a cupboard. Symptoms of insecticide toxicity

include mouth licking, drooling at the mouth, abdominal

pain, vomiting, defecation, twitching of the facial muscles.

Death can occur within a couple of hours of the onset

of clinical signs if the dog is not treated on time. If you

suspect insecticidal poisoning consult your veterinarian

immediately.

Lead: This can be found in car batteries, paint, bullets,

rusted pipes, lubricant etc. Over time, lead accumulates

in the body system and can cause stomach ulceration and liver damage. Ingestion of a lethal dose will cause vomiting, diarrhoea and death.

Fuel (kerosene, petrol, gasoline, motor oil, diesel oil etc): These products are toxic to our pets. We should not allow our pets to sleep under a vehicle since these products can leak from the car engine and the innocent dog might lick it. Clinical signs of toxicity in dogs are diarrhoea, coughing, trembling and coma which might lead to the dog's death if the dog is not treated urgently.

The amount of damage to your dog depends on the amount of poison ingested and on how long the poison has been in the body. Serious illness can be avoided with immediate treatment and many poisons do not lead to significant illness. Some, regardless of how quickly treatment is administered can be fatal or will result in permanent damage. The effect of a poison is not always immediate and some poisons will not show symptoms for days or

weeks, however, the most common poisons will show signs of illness within 3 to 4 days of exposure. Therefore, if you see your pet ingesting a potentially toxic substance, do not think he will be fine just because he does not fall sick

immediately. Every toxic ingestion is cause for concern and should be attended to by your veterinarian immediately. Learn to recognize the symptoms of poisoning, such as lethargy or sluggishness, vomiting and retching, loss of appetite, crying and whimpering, curling up in a dark

corner, blood in urine, vomiting blood, bloody diarrhoea, stumbling or staggering and poor coordination, breathing difficulty and seizure. If the poison cannot be immediately identified force the dog to swallow egg whites, milk of magnesia or milk. As soon as you see these signs CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN. Most poisons can be fatal and there is little you can do to neutralize or remove the poison once it has been ingested.

Poison prevention is of course better than cure and this is mostly a matter of common sense. All the dangerous substances mentioned above should be kept out of reach and handled with care. These products are usually also

toxic to your family so taking necessary precautions will also protect your loved ones.