What first aid treatment do you give to a puppy that has eaten slug pellets?
- on 05.26.09
- First Aid
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Don't worry guys, this is just a hypothetical question! I have to answer this for a project. But BEFORE you take the dog to the vets, what first aid treatment do you need to give? Any help would be great, including mentioning if you have to keep the dog warm etc.
I would read the instructions on the slug pellet container and if it said to induce vomiting I would give the puppy an ounce of Peroxide, let it puke and get it to the Vets ASAP.
Want to know how to cheat??
Call a vet and ask them what you should do, explain what the situation is (if you're studying for a vet nurse course just call a different vet FAR away) and write down the response.
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Read instructions on bottle phone the company's help line and take the bottle with you to the vets.
Try taking out the pellets from the mouth, as much as you can. There's not much you can do.
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Prehaps induce vomiting? its a long time since i did animals first aid. but realy i wouldnt mess about, it would be straight into the car down to the vets.
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There are a few types of slug pellets.
The basic pellet has a poison that is FATAL (metaldehyde) to dogs and cats. Immediate attention is required if your domestic pet ingests these types of pellets, depending on the amount ingested.
There are other pellets that are 'PET' friendly. These pellets do not contain the ingredients that are of a poisionous nature to our domestic pets. They have a 'non toxic' ingredient that causes the slug to eat the pellet, feel that it is full, it cannot eat any more then it goes away to die a slow death.
People need to check the composition of the pellet they lay as to the possible outcome for their pet if it consumes it.
Much has been done to make snail/slug baits 'Pet' friendly.
If you suspect that your pet has consumed a fatal bait, (metaldehyde) symptoms are, frothing of the mouth, sluggish demeanour, excessive thirst, vomiting.
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Know enough to advise and research. http://www.dogchatforum.com/snailbait-poisoning-dogs.htm
Call poison control…follow their instructions.
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I would read the instructions on the slug pellet container and if it said to induce vomiting I would give the puppy an ounce of Peroxide, let it puke and get it to the Vets ASAP.
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Most slug pellets these days are only harmful to slugs and snails. However, it would be a good idea to make the puppy sick somehow so it brings up as much as possible. Then plenty of water to dilute and flush out the remainder. Of course a VET would be a good idea.
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Nothing should delay the start to the vet clinic and the only first aid that should be given is to induce vomitting if realized within 30 minutes of ingestion. The only reliable method is by giving 5 cc of 3% (standard antiseptic strength) hydrogen peroxide per 10lbs of bodyweight of the dog. The purpose is to reduce the amount of toxin that is absorbed into the blood stream.
The amount of pellets ingested should be as closely estimated as possible and contents of the dogs vomit should be checked for pellets which should be counted and collected for analysis by the veterinarian along with the original packaging. It's important not to waste a lot of time on it though as getting the dog to treatment promptly is critical. Taking the dog in straight away with a bucket or crate to yak in and leaving someone else to do some investigation on the slug pellets and how much was eaten is ideal.
Keeping the dog warm is a bad idea as hyperthermia is a common effect so keeping the dog cool may become the concern. Excitation, seizure, and loss of motor control are also effects so caution should be taken in transit to minimize risks of injury due to any of those conditions, such as transporting in a crate. Outside of that the dog should be closely monitored in transit for any signs of distress. Respiratory failure would be the critical one which can be helped with rescue breathing (not necessarily compressions) until they can be put on supportive therapy.
Here's some good info
http://www2.aspca.org/site/DocServer/toxbrief_0303.pdf?docID=621&AddInterest=1101
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I would have the owner make the puppy vomit or give activated charcoal if the owner had it on hand and then get to a vet. If slug pellets kills slugs it can and will kill dogs. Usually when I get these calls (I work for a vet), I don't tell the owner to do anything except get in their car and get the puppy here quickly. If they're more then 30 miles away then I'll give them instructions to make the dog vomit.
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Slug bait poisoning is a very serious condition in pets and one that often proves fatal. No antidote is available and your vet will treat the patient symptomatically:
- control the fitting (which is the main symptom) with anti-convulsant drugs
- try and get rid of the poison through inducing vomiting + giving enema + administration of activated charcoal
- control possible sequellaes from the ongoing fitting which include cerebral oedema, hyperthermia, electrolytes inbalances if the dog was sick …
There is very little you can do at home but to rush to the nearest vet surgery. Take the poison packaging with you so that the vet knows precisely what he is dealing with.
Should that proves impossible, then the best thing to do is to try and make the dog sick to get rid of some poison. administration of heavily salted water usually does the trick. If you get rid of the poison, then that may be curative. If not, first aid will not be very useful and when the dog starts fitting, you can only watch the pet die in agony. If the fitting starts while you are on your way to the surgery, just make sure that he/she does not hurt herself.
I hope this helps.
Regards, Julien
PS: for a project about first aid in pets, I suggest a road traffic accident. It is a nice example where first aid might prove very useful and potentially a life-saver.
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