What are Some Foods that Causes Food Poisoning in Your Pet Dog?

Food poisoning is more common than is generally suspected in both dogs and people. Often, gastrointestinal upset and illness are attributed to a virus or some other cause other than what is actually to blame.

Bacterial causes of food poisoning, like Staphylococcus, have a short incubation period between ingestion and illness. Foods usually associated with bacterial food poisoning include milk and products made with dairy, such as potato and chicken salads, cream-filled bakery products, sausages, and gravy.

Causes of Food Poisoning in Dogs

We need to be cognizant of what our furry family members have access to around the home or when they’re outside. Here are a few things that can cause food poisoning in pet dogs:

• Garbage and compost: Our dogs might consider garbage to be a canine delicacy, but these contaminated items should be off-limits to our furry family members. Food poisoning in dogs can occur from any rotten or moldy food item. For this reason, you also need to make sure that your kitchen compost pile and outdoor compost pile are inaccessible to pets. Garbage can also contain bacteria that can lead to more serious illnesses.
• Dead Animals: You’ll want to make sure your dog can’t get his hands on any dead or decaying items you find in the woods or on the side of the road. These items can carry some serious bacteria or parasites that can cause tummy upset and, in some cases, very serious illnesses.
• Fecal Matter. Fecal matter of any variety can cause serious stomach upset.
• Raw/Undercooked Food: Although it is a recent diet fad, raw or undercooked meat, eggs, and bones can cause significant illness if not handled properly. In addition to causing food poisoning, bones can also potentially create foreign bodies inside their GI tract which may require expensive surgical removal.
• Human Foods that are Toxic to Dogs: Many human foods can cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs without actually being food poisoning. Items that cause food poisoning in pets include alcohol, chocolate, coffee, macadamia nuts, nuts, milk/dairy, onions, chives, and garlic, salt and salty snack foods, xylitol (often found in sugar-free gums and candies), yeast dough, and cat food (very high in fat).

Some of these may be safe in small amounts, while others can prove deadly in tiny amounts. Make sure you keep these items, and all human foods, safely stored where your dog cannot access them.

• Table Scraps and Sidewalk Snacks: Additionally, some dogs are more sensitive than others, so what may be a small amount of human food for one dog may be enough to make another dog sick. Pay attention to your walks to make sure that your pup doesn’t get a hold of things like pizza remnants that spilled out of a trash can or other types of sidewalk snacks. Some people also like to share table scraps with their dogs, but for the dogs, those scraps are frequently fattier than what is healthy for the average canine.

The ways to keep your pet dog safe are precisely stated below

• Make sure your trash cans and wastebaskets are tightly covered.
• Take expired foods out of your refrigerator.
• Don’t leave your dog unsupervised for too long.
• Check for expiration dates on your dog’s food.
• Watch out for any pet food recalls.
• Always check the ingredient lists for any dangerous foods.
• Don’t forget to wash your hands after touching raw meat or eggs.

Symptoms of Food Poisoning in Dogs

Generally, the symptoms of food poisoning in dogs include a combination of vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite, lethargy, and dehydration. Some animals may show some neurological signs such as a lack of coordination, tremors, and in severe cases, they can have seizures and collapse.

Depending on what your dog ate, how much of it, and how sensitive they are, the signs and severity may vary. The most common symptoms of food poisoning in dogs tend to be vomiting and diarrhea.

What can you do for food poisoning in dogs?

As a rule, try fasting your dog for 24 hours when they start vomiting. Offer water, but no food.

If they continue to vomit during that period, they need to have a veterinary exam. If the dog doesn’t vomit in those 24 hours but then begins to vomit again after the 24-hour fast, it needs to see a veterinarian.

At any time, if your dog starts vomiting water, seems miserable, or shows any neurologic signs at all, take them to an emergency clinic or your veterinarian immediately.

It is always safer to have your pet checked out by a vet. Treatment is simpler, more effective, and likely less expensive when done early. Plus, we can save your pets a lot of tummy grumblings.

Dr. Ron’s Animal Hospital Will Help

We have extensive knowledge of the minor to unfortunate diseases that can afflict pets and do not simply send you away after handing over a prescription. The aim of our Simi Valley veterinarian team is to guide you into taking better care of your pet and prevent any such disease, allergy, and others in the future.

We are all about preventative care and are always happy to discuss with you the proper diet and exercise routine for your pet. It’s the little things that can improve their quality of life and make them stronger and healthier.

Our techniques and equipment are the latest technology, and our aim is to keep updating our knowledge base to offer consistent, efficient, and effective treatment for your pets. To schedule an appointment, call us at 805-306-0633 or stop by at 1376 Erringer Road in Simi Valley, CA 93065.

posted on March 24, 2022 at 5:56 pm by Doctor Ron