Dogs are naturally curious and can therefore be at risk of a number of forms of poisoning.<\/b><\/p><\/p>\n\n
Facebook posts are spreading concern, with reports of dogs being deliberately poisoned near Monaco, particularly in Cap d’Ail and Beausoleil. Internet users claim to have found pieces of meat containing rat poison or chocolate in public spaces. But cases of deliberate poisoning are still fairly rare. As La Petite Clinique veterinary practice in Monaco can testify, poisoning generally occurs in the home, due to household products or food not being stored properly. La Petite Clinique, made up of Dr C\u00e9lia Ossona-Mondon, Dr Lara Janowski, Dr George Markopoulos and veterinary assistant Mathilde Lobbedez, gave us invaluable advice on how to respond in the event your four-legged friend swallows something toxic.<\/p>\n\n
The different types of poisoning<\/b><\/p><\/h2>\n\n
“There are several types of poisoning<\/i>,” explained vet C\u00e9lia Ossona-Mondon.” It can happen through swallowing toxic products or through contact with the skin. Symptoms vary: irritation, burning, digestive problems such as diarrhoea, neurological problems such as shaking or convulsions, and sometimes cardiac symptoms such as an increased heart rate.” <\/i> Poisoning can also affect internal organs, such as the liver or kidneys. In these cases, further tests are required to narrow down the diagnosis and adjust the treatment accordingly.<\/p><\/p>\n\n
Chocolate is often a culprit. “The theobromine it contains is toxic for dogs. But it all depends on the dose and the size of the animal. For example, a bar of chocolate would be much more dangerous for a Yorkshire Terrier than for a Labrador<\/i>,” the vet said.<\/p><\/p>\n\nTake care with products in the home<\/h2>\n\n
Chocolate is just one example of a toxic substance. “Cleaning products, which we don’t necessarily think about, can cause burns or ulcers<\/i>,” La Petite Clinique warned. Other products, such as pesticides, rat poison or anti-slug products, are also particularly dangerous: “Rat poison can cause convulsions or internal bleeding.” <\/i> The vets also warned that antifreeze, which has a sweet taste, can cause irreversible damage in dogs.<\/p><\/p>\n\n
For homeowners with gardens, it’s also important to keep an eye out for pine or oak processionary caterpillars from February on: “They don’t cause poisoning as such, but their secretions can cause sores, hypersalivation and, in some cases, serious complications<\/i>,” added veterinary surgeon C\u00e9lia Ossona-Mondon.<\/p><\/p>\n\n
“Nor should we underestimate the risks to do with alcohol or certain illegal substances. Yes, it happens, and the effects are instantaneous: drowsiness, convulsions, or even coma,”<\/i>\u00a0explained the vets at La Petite Clinique.<\/p><\/p>\n
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