Diagnosing Toxicity In Dogs

The Pet Spa at Soap.Club, a leading supplier of premium quality natural pet shampoo, based out of Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, is promoting a campaign of pet owner awareness regarding common toxins, foods, and plants that are poisonous to dogs, in an effort to reduce an increase in canine fatalities caused by poisoning.

Every home contains a variety of everyday items and substances that can be dangerous or even fatal to dogs if ingested. Jack Widmer, manager of the Pet Spa at Soap.Club advises pet parents to be “As vigilant at poison-proofing their home for a dog as they would for a child. Dogs have a natural curiosity and predisposition to furrow, and that trait, combined with an inbred ‘taste identify mechanism’ puts a canine at high risk of accidental poisoning.”

Toxicity in a dog is often difficult to diagnose. There are signs and symptoms to be aware of, and if brought to the attention of a veterinarian early the diagnosis process can begin and potentially save the pet’s life. Symptoms of toxicity are vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain, and frequent infections. Identification of toxins is the first line of defence in protecting a dog from harm.

Foods

Many pet owners make the mistake of thinking that human food is okay for pets. Some however, can have a multiplicity of adverse affects on a canine and should be avoided, they include: Garlic, onion, chocolate, coffee/caffeine, avocado, mushrooms, alcohol, and yeast dough.

Plants

Dogs are very inquisitive, sniffing and tasting plants is natural to them and there are ordinary plants found in the home and garden that are dangerous. Poinsettia, azalea daffodils, dieffenbachia are some that they should stay away from.

Chemicals

Accidental poisoning is the leading cause of toxic death for dogs, mainly because storage of deadly chemicals can be easily accessed by a curious dog.

Accidental poisoning can be avoided if a few precautions are taken. Surface cleaners, detergents, liquid drain cleaners, and disinfectants in the kitchen, and auto fluids, insecticides, fertilizers, and weed killers in the garage, should always be stored high off the ground. Dogs see pooling liquids on the floor as an opportunity to take a drink and consuming radiator fluid in a small amount can lead to catastrophic kidney failure.

Lawn pesticides will be ingested when a dog licks his fur after a walk on or near a treated area. Mr. Widmer states, “A regular pet bathing regime is a good preventative measure to ensure an animal’s continual good health by removing foreign toxins that they can pick-up on their coat and fur.” One excellent option is to invest in natural dog shampoo in order to avoid the negative effects of many commercial pet products. “The proprietary formulation of The Pet Spa Hypoallergenic Pet Shampoo and Conditioner is 100% biodegradable and rich in vitamins and antioxidants, there are no toxic chemicals that dry out the pet’s skin and coat as found in commercial pet products, making it a logical addition to any Pet Health Management System,” says Widmer.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) provides an online resource, The Animal Poison Control Center, to address any animal poison-related emergency 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Pet owners should consider keeping the telephone number to the (APCC) hotline easily accessible in case of emergency.

Those interested in learning more of the health benefits of natural hypoallergenic pet products can visit Soap.Club online. The Pet Spa natural pet shampoo is currently available on Amazon, where it has attracted a significant level of positive reviews from customers hailing its effectiveness.