What If My Dog Ate Spoiled Meat From The Trash
What dog owner hasnt walked into the kitchen to discover a mess of garbage all over the floor? Someone didnt secure the trash can properly, and now your dog has had a field day digging through it for any morsel of tasty goodness it could find.
You know you threw out some spoiled meat recently, so theres a good chance your dog has eaten it. Now what?
Prevention is always the best defense, so when throwing out spoiled food of any kind, its best to make sure your dog cant get to it.
Placing the meat inside a sealed zip-top bag will help keep it out of your dogs mouth, and it will help keep your dog from catching the scent of it as well.
You may want to consider taking spoiled meat directly to the outside trash, which will not only keep your dog away from it, it will keep the smell out of your house as well.
Teething puppies and dogs used to eat people food are the most likely to try to get into the trash, but any bored dog may find it too hard to resist.
Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercises and has lots of toys around when they are unsupervised. Also, make sure your trash can has a secure lid or is inside a cabinet or closet your dog cant access .
How To Prevent A Poisoning
Of course, the best medicine is prevention. While its not always possible to supervise your pup 100 percent of the time and keep them out of mischief, if youre careful, you can largely reduce the chances of your pet being exposed to something toxic.
In the home, the main thing is being vigilant and extremely careful about what you leave lying around.
Even if you dont think your four-legged friend is the kind of dog who would eat something unusual, you really cant be too careful.
Make sure that any detergents, bleaches and other cleaning products are securely shut away or stored well above your dogs reach.
Make sure that you never leave anything tasty, yet toxic, lying around chocolate is a main offender here.
In the garden, check before you plant anything new that its not toxic to dogs. Identify any existing plants in your garden and check those too. Be mercenary. Anything potentially dangerous to dogs must go.
Finally, be careful about what youre feeding to your dog. While canines can consume some people foods, you should be well-versed about what is and isnt safe for dogs.
One Final, Final Note: If you ever have friends or family puppy sitting while youre on vacation make sure they too know what foods your dog can an cannot eat.
I err on the side of caution and give my friends and family specific treats and dog food to give to my dog and tell them hes on a specific diet and shouldnt eat other foods because of his allergies.
Dont Spread Salmonella To Your Pup
Dr. Dilmore says that most germs be cant be transmitted from dog to human and vice versa but there are some such as salmonella and listeria bacteria that can. The most common ways for disease to pass to humans is by contact with feces or urine and dog bites, says Dr. Dilmore. In addition, pet owners who feed their pets a raw diet have a higher risk of getting infected with Salmonella and Listeria bacteria. Cleaning up immediately after your dog and handwashing can prevent transmission or many of these diseases and parasites. That includes washing your hands after touching your pet, pet toys, and pet products like grooming tools and feeding bowls. Dr. Dilmore says that most germs be cant be transmitted from dog to human and vice versa but there are some diseases you can pass on to your dog if youre not careful.
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Symptoms Of Rat Poisoning In Dogs
Dogs are naturally curious and will explore their environment and this means they can accidentally come into contact with poisons designed to kill rodents.
If the worst happens and you think your dog has ingested some rat poison, then try to find out what type of rat poison it is as this will help the vet understand what damage it can cause. The symptoms the dog experiences are also dependent on the type of rat poisoning ingested.
Get Your Dog Away From The Poison
It might seem too obvious to mention, but in times of worry and crisis, all common sense can go straight out of the window.
The absolute first thing you should do if you see your dog eating something potentially toxic is to either get the poisonous thing away from your dog or move your dog away from the poison, whichever makes the most sense at the time.
As soon as your dog is securely away from the dangerous substance, move on to the next step right away.
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He Scarfed Down Your Sugar
You walked away from the table and came back to find your muffin gone. Xylitol is a sugar substitute used in several food products including baked goods, chewing gum, candy, and some brands of every dogs favorite treatpeanut butter. Xylitol causes an increase in insulin in dogs, which can lead to hypoglycemia anywhere between 10 minutes to 12 hours after ingestion, says Dr. Dilmore. Liver failure or vomiting and bleeding disorders may occur if not treated and lead to death. Signs to look for include weakness, lethargy, disorientation, and seizures, says Dr. Dilmore.
How Much Raw Chicken Should I Feed My Dog
1-2 chicken quarters or 2-3 chicken thighs, with skin. The chicken will be the larger meal of the day, about 2 pounds for my large dog. Skin-on, as skinless chicken does not have enough fat and would need to be supplemented with something like beef. I usually feed the dogs in a bowl in their crates.
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Other Forms Of Food Poisoning For Dogs
While food poisoning caused by bacteria is pretty common in dogs, you should also be wary of toxic poisoning in dogs, which is caused by other types of foods or substances that can be toxic to your dogs system.
Many human-safe foods are quite dangerous to dogs and can cause similar symptoms to food poisoning, like vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. These foods may include chocolate, raisins and grapes, xylitol, onions and macadamia nuts. Substances like household cleaners can also cause toxic poisoning.
However, toxic substances can cause many other, more harmful symptoms like anemia, seizures, organ failure and even death. These cases are usually much more severe and will require fast action to prevent long-term consequences to your dogs health.
Unlike with bacterial food poisoning, symptoms of toxic poisoning may not show up immediately. However, if you see that your dog has eaten something you know is toxic, dont delay in seeking veterinary help right away, even if it isnt showing symptoms yet. These cases usually require immediate veterinary assistance to purge the toxic substance from your dogs system.
Salmonellosis In Dogs And Cats
Salmonellosis is uncommon in dogs and cats, but they can be carriers of the bacteria. This means that even if the pets dont show symptoms of salmonellosis, they can still shed Salmonella in their stool and saliva and then spread the bacteria to the home environment and to people and other pets in the household. For example, cats can spread Salmonella through shared litter boxes or when roaming throughout the house, such as on kitchen countertops. Some ways dogs can spread the bacteria is when they give people kisses or have stool accidents inside the home. Pet waste from both sick and healthy pets can be a source of infection for people.
When the disease is seen in an adult dog or cat, the animal typically has another infection or health problem at the same time. Puppies and kittens are more likely to show signs of disease. Signs of salmonellosis in dogs and cats include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Had a change in feed
- Had another disease, particularly colic or
- Been treated with antibiotics.
There are three forms of salmonellosis in adult horses:
Salmonellosis can occur in newborn foals, causing a blood infection followed by diarrhea.
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What Are The Different Kinds Of Adverse Food Reactions That Can Happen To Dogs
There are several general categories of food reactions that may occur in dogs:
Food poisoning. Food poisoning is an adverse reaction caused by the direct action of a food on the dog. Food poisoning is a frequent cause of gastrointestinal disease in dogs and may include the following:
- ingestion of excessive amounts of a specific nutrient like vitamin A or vitamin D
- scavenging of spoiled food
- ingestion of specific problematic foods, such as chocolate
- ingestion of plants that can cause gastrointestinal irritation, such as rhubarb
Food additives. Adverse reactions to food additives are frequently reported in people and include compounds like sulfites, monosodium glutamate, and certain spices. Despite an impression that food additives can cause problems in dogs, evidence to support this is lacking. One food additive that can cause problems is disulfide. Disulfides are found in onions and can cause damage to red blood cells.
Drug-like reactions to food. Histamine, which can cause sometimes severe clinical reactions in humans – flushing, diarrhea, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and facial swelling – may not be an issue for dogs in general, except for the occasional individual reaction.
What To Do When Your Dog Is Feeling Awful
If youve ever had food poisoning, you know its the worst feeling in the world.
But have you ever noticed your pup acting funny after eating a meal and wondered, Can dogs get food poisoning, too?
The answer is yes, they can!
The Dodo spoke to Lenore Harrison, practice manager at Lake Austin Blvd Animal Hospital, to find out how to help your pup if he does get sick and which foods are most likely to cause digestive issues.
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Top 9 Foods Most Likely To Cause Food Poisoning
Food poisoning happens when people consume food that is contaminated with harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses or toxins.
Also known as foodborne illness, it can cause a range of symptoms, most commonly stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and loss of appetite.
Pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses have a greater risk of becoming ill with food poisoning.
Certain foods are more likely to cause food poisoning than others, especially if they are improperly stored, prepared or cooked.
Here are the top 9 foods that are most likely to cause food poisoning.
Raw Undercooked Or Spoiled Meat Can Cause Food Poisoning
Even though many may feed their dog raw or spoiled meat since their stomachs are very acidic, these items can still cause serious illness for your furry friends. Spoiled meat can contain harmful bacteria that will likely cause food poisoning in your dog, and if left untreated, could cause death.
An easy way to check if the meat is spoiled is to check its smell, texture, and color. When you smell the meat, the smell will be very strong and pungent if it is spoiled. The meat might be slimy or sticky to the touch, and the color will tend to look a little off from the original color.
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What Exactly Is Food Poisoning
It is important to have a basic understanding of the difference between actual food poisoning and a short-term dodgy tummy, because the former can potentially be very serious and will require help from your vet.
If your dog simply vomits once or twice during a day and is otherwise ok and still keen to eat and vitally, able and willing to drink normally, the watch and wait approach is often best-along with potentially putting your dog on a fast for twelve or twenty four hours, to allow their stomachs to calm down.
However, if your dog is continually vomiting or retching and also has heavy or persistent diarrhoea, and also if they are unwilling to drink or unable to keep water down, this may be more serious. If your dog is showing signs of pain and serious discomfort too, such as in their posture, sounds or a general inability to get comfortable, this may indicate a more serious problem.
Food poisoning can happen due to various different types of bacterial infections that can grow on and be carried on food-some of the more common of these include things like salmonella, E.coli, Listeria, and various other nasties!
Did She Sneak Some Grapes Or Raisins From Your Plate
If your dog eats grapes and raisins, your furbaby could be facing sudden kidney failure or death. And it doesnt matter if your dog only ate a couple. This toxicity is not dependent on the amount eaten. If your pet eats raisins or grapes, get them to the veterinarian right away, advises Dr. Dilmore. Symptoms of toxicity include vomiting within 12 to 24 hours of eating, diarrhea, lethargy, lack of appetite, decreased urination, weakness, and abdominal pain.
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What To Do If You Think Your Dog Has Food Poisoning
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is a good resource if you think your dog has eaten something bad for them. Call 426-4435 for help. Experts are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Go to an animal hospital right away if their symptoms are getting worse or havent improved in a few hours.
Should I Feed Spoiled Meat To My Dog
Food waste is a major problem, and many of us hate to throw out food. One way to use up food that may be a little past the point when wed want to eat it is to feed it to our pets. But if meat has been in your fridge for a while, should you feed it to your dog?
Given your dogs digestive system, meat that is only a day or two past its prime might be safe for it to eat, depending on who you ask.
However, it is not without risk, and you have to ask yourself if that risk is worth it. We recommend not ever feeding your dog spoiled meat.
Consider the discomfort your buddy may have to go through if they begin to vomit or have diarrhea. Generally speaking, if you wouldnt eat it, you shouldnt feed it to your dog.
If you feel that it is worth the risk of digestive distress, you can still take measures to reduce the chances of your dog getting sick.
Any meat that has mold growing on it appears slimy, is greatly discolored, or has a strong odor should go straight to the trash.
If it looks and smells okay, but you just know its older than youd want to eat, you are at least mitigating the risk, although you should not take the risk at all.
Dogs have specific dietary needs, and many breeds, such as Yorkshire Terriers and Scottish Terriers, are known for having sensitive stomachs.
Just as with people, however, a sensitive digestive system can be a trait of any type of dog.
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How Do Dogs Develop Food Poisoning
The routes by which dogs can develop food poisoning are essentially the same as those for people. Certain foods are more likely to become carriers for harmful bacteria than others, such as meat, seafood, eggs and even innocuous-seeming products like cooked rise-however, these foods themselves are not the cause of the risk, but rather, the way they are stored, handled and prepared.
Food that needs to be kept in the fridge should of course remain in the fridge until use, because the cold temperature renders bacteria in the food dormant. The preparation and cooking of such foods also needs to be taken care of carefully, to ensure that they are cooked at the right temperature to kill bacteria.
However, not all products that are common culprits of food poisoning are likely to carry dangerous bacteria in the first place-however, such bacteria can grow over time and can easily be transferred to other products through poor food prep or storage techniques, and of course, through contact with other dogs that are sick.
Symptoms Of Cyanide Poisoning In Dogs
Cyanide is highly toxic for dogs and can be found in a variety of fruits and plants, such as cherries, apples, pears, almonds, elderberries and clover. The chemical can also be found in cigarette smoke, extermination products and burning plastic.
The most common form of cyanide poisoning in dogs is from the ingestion of pits and seeds within fruit. If dogs chew or ingest broken parts of these fruit pits and seeds, the cyanide toxin can be released. Once this toxin is ingested, oxygen within the blood cannot be released as easily to the cells.
To help prevent cyanide poisoning, ensure that if feeding your dog small amounts of fresh fruit, you take care to remove all seeds, pits, leaves and stems. In addition, look out for any pitted fruit plants in the garden that your inquisitive dog could sink their teeth into.
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What To Do In Case You Notice Food Poisoning In Dogs
The golden rule suggests that you need to keep the dog on fast for the first 24 hours of starting vomiting just water but not food. In case the vomit extends even after 24 hours of time, make sure to go for a veterinary exam.
In case the dog vomits water, shows signs of neurologic signs, or is miserable, take them to the emergency clinic or the concerned veterinarian immediately. Make sure to get the pet checked at regular intervals of time. This will ensure the better health of your dog.