What to do if you think your dog's been poisoned
- Stay calm and move your dog away from the source of poison.
- Contact your vet immediately – inform them when, where and how the poisoning happened. If possible, take the packaging, plant or substance to the vet, but only if you can do this safely.
Follow your vet's advice – they'll tell you what the situation is depending on the poison and how much of it your dog has had.
Never 'watch and wait'
If you suspect your pet's been poisoned, contact a vet immediately.
How to help your dog while waiting for your vet
While you're waiting for the vet:
- Don't attempt to treat or medicate dogs yourself. Some medicines for humans and other animals may be poisonous to dogs.
- Never attempt to make dogs vomit. Don't use salt water as it's extremely dangerous.
- If the skin or fur is contaminated, wash with a mild shampoo and water, then rinse well and dry.
Keep dogs away from other animals to avoid cross-contamination.
Common dog poisons
Learn about the most common dog poisons and their symptoms.
Other poisons include drugs such as paracetamol and oral contraceptives, blue-green algae, fungi, conkers, acorns, rock salt and xylitol (an artificial sweetener).
The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) Animal PoisonLine is a 24-hour emergency phone service giving advice on the treatment of animals exposed to toxins (requires a fee).
For more information about harmful substances, speak to your vet.
Seasonal canine poisons
Alabama rot
Alabama rot is a disease that affects dogs more commonly in cold weather.
Acorn poisoning
Common autumn-season poisons include acorns.
Rock salt poisoning
Rock salt is a mixture of salt (sodium chloride) and grit, and is used to help de-ice roads in winter. Rock salt can be a danger to pets such as dogs and cats, if they lick it from their paws or fur. It’s difficult to say how much needs to be eaten for signs of toxicity to be seen, even a small amount of pure salt can be very dangerous. Ingestion can result in a high blood sodium concentration which can cause thirst, vomiting and lethargy, and in severe cases convulsions and kidney damage.
Most cases involve animals who’ve walked through gritted snow and then lick or chew it off their paws as they can find it irritating. It’s therefore important to thoroughly wipe your pet’s feet, legs and tummy after a walk or time outside during cold weather when there may be grit on the ground.
If they’re showing any signs of discomfort after possible exposure to rock salt, use a mild, pet-safe shampoo and warm water to wash the affected areas, and dry your pet’s fur completely with a towel after washing.
Any animal suspected of ingestion of rock salt must be assessed by a vet immediately. This is important as signs can be non-specific and a blood test will be required to check the blood sodium concentration. Immediate veterinary treatment will be needed to rehydrate the animal and stabilise their sodium levels. The exact treatment will depend on the blood sodium concentration and the animal’s clinical condition. Owners should never attempt to induce vomiting; only a vet should do this.
If you are concerned about the composition of rock salt in your area, contact your local authority for information.
Keeping your dogs safe from poisoning
Follow our tips to keep your dog safe from poisons.
In the home
- Keep an eye on your dog
- Keep houseplants out of dogs' reach, and collect dropped leaves and petals
- Keep pesticides (for example, rat bait) away from areas dogs can access
If treating pets with insecticides, separate them from other pets
Outside
- Ensure housing and exercise areas are free from (and not overhung by) poisonous plants
- Ensure dogs' water supplies can't become contaminated and change them regularly.
