Common Dangers for Dogs

Here are some of the things we most often see at the St Ives Vet Hospital clinic:

• If your dog eats Chocolate, please try to determine how much actual chocolate they have eaten (lots of chocolate bars have a very small amount of chocolate and lots of extra fillings) and the type of chocolate (white, milk, dark, cocoa powder). Call our clinic with this information along with the approximate weight of your dog and we can advise you if your dog needs to be seen by a vet
• Xylitol is an artificial sweetener commonly found in low-sugar snacks, chewing gum and toothpaste. This is toxic to dogs!
• Grapes, sultanas, & raisins can be toxic to dogs and have been known to cause kidney failure
• Onions & garlic in all forms are toxic to dogs and can cause anaemia
• Macadamia nuts can affect the nervous system, joints and gastrointestinal tract in dogs.
• Mouldy food can produce toxins which affects the nervous system in dogs. Symptoms can be severe and range from mild muscle tremors to hypersalivation, agitation, seizures, overheating and even death.
• If your dog eats anything that might get stuck or cause damage to their gastrointestinal tract, they need to see the vet straight away. We commonly see dogs that have chewed and eaten toys and furniture, sharp plastic, socks and underwear, feminine hygiene products, bones, food wrappers, cling film and tin foil. The sooner after your dog has eaten something dangerous, the sooner you need to get to the vet to try and avoid a major problem!
• Alcohol, drugs and human medication (including ibuprofen) can be toxic and sometimes fatal to dogs.

If your dog has had access to any of these, please get them to the vet immediately. We are not going to judge, and we are not concerned with what might be legal or not, we just want your pet to survive and recover!

We have a host of After-Hours Emergency Contact details found HERE.