Dr Peter Biden of ScottVet explains what can be done if owners suspect that their pets have been poisoned.
First of all, pet owners need to know what they’re looking out for.
“Poisons used are agricultural insecticides which are easily available – the worst poison is Aldicarb,” said Dr Biden.
Although strictly controlled in South Africa, it is imported illegally.
The poison Aldicarb resembles a fine, granular black substance, similar to fine bird shot. It can often be found in meat used as bait to lure dogs.
“Signs of poisoning start with a dog vomiting food which the owner does not recognise,” said Dr Biden. Clearly, it helps to remember what you fed your dogs.
“Dogs show muscle tremors and twitches. Varying degrees of paralysis also occur, which could even lead to a complete coma. Many dogs will vomit, salivate, froth at the mouth and have diarrhoea and urinate,” said Dr Biden.
Other signs to look out for are pin-point pupils, slow heart rate and difficulty in breathing as a result of excessive secretions.
Death can occur within 30 minutes, depending on how much poison was ingested.
If treated early enough, dogs can be saved but, unfortunately, mortality rates are high.
“The cause of death is usually an inability to breathe and sudden heart failure,” said Dr Biden. “If poisoning is suspected, it is important to get the dog to a vet as quickly as possible.”
Dr Biden also urges residents to be wary.
“Although we don’t often see malicious poisoning of dogs in this area, when it does occur, it tends to be in a spate affecting more than one household – often in the same street,” he said.
The most common form of poisoning in dogs that Dr Biden comes across is that of rat poison.
“Dogs get hold of poison which is not properly stored away, without the owners giving a thought to the fact that the poison is just as palatable to dogs as rats. This kind of poisoning presents as bleeding from the nose, mouth or bowel some days after ingestion. Here, again, rapid treatment can save the dog,” said Dr Biden.
Strangely though, Dr Biden explained that another common form of poisoning in pets which he has come across has been the incorrect use of dips and tick and flea treatments, which just proves, if you cannot read the instructions, consult an expert.
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