Pets and Food Poisoning | Pet Medical Center of Vero Beach

When you see animals digging through garbage cans, eating whatever they may find in the street, or drinking from open puddles of rainwater, you may assume that pets' digestive systems can withstand just about anything. However, pets can and do get food poisoning from contaminated food and water, with potentially catastrophic consequences.

The more you know about food poisoning causes, risks, symptoms, treatment, and prevention, the more effectively you can maintain your pet's health for many happy years to come. Start by digesting the following four key points about pets and food poisoning.

1. How Pets Get Food Poisoning

Pets can get food poisoning from a variety of possible sources. Although this problem most commonly targets dogs due to their somewhat indiscriminate eating habits, it can also trouble cats who mistakenly consume poisonous food or water. Food-borne bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria can affect pets and humans alike.

Dogs and cats both count as predators, meaning that they instinctively eat dead animals. Unfortunately, decayed meat often serves as a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and diseases. Decayed or moldy food in garbage cans may also tempt animals. Dogs sometimes eat fecal matter, which may contain both bacteria and parasites.

Many foods perfectly fit for humans can poison pets. For instance, dogs and cats can experience toxic reactions to garlic, grapes, raisins, onions, walnuts, mushrooms, chocolate, caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, xylitol (a sweetener), and even ordinary table salt. 

Even pet-friendly menu items can prove poisonous to pets if they don't undergo proper preparation and cooking. The current trend toward feeding pets raw and undercooked food can do more harm than good in this regard, since thorough cooking kills bacteria. Commercial products sometimes contain contaminated ingredients.

2. How to Recognize Potential Food Poisoning

Food poisoning typically causes severe digestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Blood in the diarrhea may cause your veterinarian to suspect Listeria poisoning.) Lethargy, fever, and loss of appetite may also occur. However, these symptoms can also signify many other diseases and disorders.

A food-poisoned pet may exhibit even more alarming symptoms if the contamination affects specific organs or physical systems. For example, liver damage due to food poisoning may cause excessive salivation, while neurological damage from food poisoning can cause tremors, seizures, or loss of coordination.

3. How Veterinarians Address Food Poisoning

With luck, a mild case of food poisoning will resolve on its own once your pet eliminates the substances that caused it. However, if your pet suffers from vomiting and diarrhea for more than 24 hours (even after you've withheld food during that period), treat it as an emergency and seek veterinary evaluation and treatment.

Your veterinarian can diagnose a case of food poisoning by asking you about your pet's recent eating habits and other behaviors while performing various physical exams. Urine, blood, and fecal testing can reveal parasites or specific strains of bacteria. Pets who have lost a lot of fluid may also need intravenous hydration.

4. How to Protect Your Pet Against Food Poisoning

Some smart preventative strategies can help you protect your pet against food poisoning. If you make your pet's food yourself, wash your hands during preparation and cook the food thoroughly. Keep any potentially dangerous human foods safely out of your pet's reach.

Take extra precautions with discarded food. Take out the trash regularly, placing the sealed bags in securely fastened garbage bins to keep your pet from getting into it. When you walk your dog, steer it away from feces and unclean water sources. Watch out for recalls or warnings that apply to your pet's food or treats.

If your pet displays telltale signs of food poisoning, bring it to Pet Medical Center of Vero Beach. We can run all the necessary diagnostic tests, prescribe the appropriate treatment (both for food poisoning and for lookalike conditions), and advise you on steps to steer your pet away from dangerous substances. Contact us today.