Pet Topics

Dogs are very curious animals and as omnivores and natural scavengers, can get into and eat just about anything. 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. With this in mind, keep reading and find out exactly what household products should be kept out of a dog’s reach. Just by following these simple steps you can make sure your dog health care routine is boosted.

1) Antifreeze: Many people do not realize it, but common antifreeze kills many pets each year. Unfortunately, the sweet smell makes it appealing to your dog. Ethylene glycol is toxic however, and each winter, many animals are killed by it. The symptoms of ingesting a toxic substance are awful, and your dog will end up with kidney failure. So, to prevent this, simply keep antifreeze far away from your dog. Of course, if the worse does happen, take your dog to a vet for a health check.

2) Chocolate: Dark chocolate is a prime example of something very dangerous to dogs. While it usually takes a somewhat large amount of chocolate to kill a dog, poisoning and death do occur with smaller amounts ingested. The symptoms you need to be aware of with chocolate poisoning are diarrhoea and vomiting. After this, you can even find the dog suffers seizures. 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: Something like bleach is highly toxic to your dog. All bleach-related products are to be kept high up out of a dog’s reach. Symptoms of bleach poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and abdominal pain. However, one important thing to remember is that vomiting should not be induced s this can make the situation worse. Remember that by doing these simple things, your dog health care routine stays in check.

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. You should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect poisoning by mouthwash or other household item containing boric acid like contact lens solution or denture cleaner.

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. Just remember that if you suspect anything bad has happened, then it is time you made a swift visit to the vet.