The inquisitive nature of dogs often means we see them eating lots of varied things and they really don’t care what it is they eat. There are many things outside the home that dogs end up eating, but the same also applies inside the home, and with a number of toxic chemicals lying around, there is a great risk of harm coming to your dog. The following is a list of 4 common household substances that you should make sure to keep out of your dog’s reach. Follow these steps and you won’t compromise on dog health care.
1) Antifreeze: Something like antifreeze can kill pets quickly and painfully. Unfortunately, the sweet smell makes it appealing to your dog. Inside antifreeze you’ll find ethylene glycol and this is toxic. Once ingested, antifreeze can cause seizures and other horrific symptoms which put your dog through lots of pain. You can prevent this painful death by just making sure the product is kept far out of reach. If your dog does end up ingesting some antifreeze, call the vet immediately.
2) Chocolate: Dark chocolate is a prime example of something very dangerous to dogs. It does usually take a large amount of chocolate to kill a dog, but even small amounts can be fatal. Chocolate poisoning has horrific symptoms for dogs, including frequent urination and hyper-activity. Your dog might even suffer seizures and it can raise the heartbeat. If you think your dog might have just eaten some chocolate, visit the vet promptly. Chocolate ingestion is very dangerous for your dog’s health.
3) Bleach: As you might imagine, household bleach is toxic to dogs. Keep all products containing bleach out of your dog’s reach. If your dog does drink bleach, the symptoms are nasty, including abdominal pain. Do NOT induce vomiting if you suspect your dog has ingested bleach and contact your vet immediately. Just by following these tips, you can feel confident that you’re doing all you can to keep on top of your dog health care routine.
4) Mouthwash: Highly toxic to dogs is an owner’s mouthwash, and this is commonly found in the home. There are some symptoms associated with mouthwash which are very unpleasant, and these include drooling and seizures. Just like with the other household products, a dog that’s drunk mouthwash should be taken to see the vet.
With diligence on our part, we can help prevent our dogs from getting into substances that are toxic to them. As owners, we try our best to keep on top of a dog health care routine, but its no good washing them and grooming them if you then poison them accidentally with household substances. As long as you stay vigilant, you shouldn’t need to visit the vet with a sick dog that has just ingested something toxic.