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Food Poisoning in Pets 101: What You Need to Know

Food Poisoning in Pets 101: What You Need to Know

Updated On December 6th, 2016

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Reviewed By Petco’s Animal Care, Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

Food poisoning in our pets is a bit different than what we expect with people. As with people, it isn't a specific illness, but rather a category of illnesses contracted from eating "bad" foods. Due to their evolution eating raw meat and carrion (before they discovered we had couches!), our pets are generally less sensitive to foodborne illnesses than people. However, they can still get sick from food in ways that present with what we generally consider "food poisoning".

Garbage in, garbage out

Dogs can experience gastrointestinal (GI) issues from eating indiscriminately. "Garbage Gut" refers to diarrhea and/or vomiting resulting from eating food items your pet isn't used to, such as rich table scraps, kitchen garbage, or whatever other feast it might mischievously get into. Such episodes generally result in signs that occur soon after the episode, as the body tries to expel that which didn't agree with it. Most episodes are not dangerous if vomiting and diarrhea are the only signs and the pet is able to keep water down.

If your adult pet has diarrhea and/or vomiting and no other symptoms, it is advisable to provide a bland diet for 24-48 hours to give his system a chance to recover. Rice and plain cooked chicken or cooked ground turkey are good options. Despite debate about whether dogs can eat raw poultry, this is definitely not the time to allow it, as it is more difficult to digest and the already-compromised GI tract is much more susceptible to bacteria in raw meat than a healthy gut. Once you see an improvement in the symptoms, you can slowly start to reintroduce the normal diet.

Post-binge blues and other problems

Keep in mind that depending on the contents of the garbage, it's important to watch for signs of illness in the following days as well, because some garbage contents can cause additional serious problems. High fat foods can cause bouts of [pancreatitis](http://www.petcoach.co/article/pancreatitis-inflammation-in-dogs/), a potentially fatal illness. Also, obstruction is possible from some garbage contents such as corn cobs that can be quickly swallowed but have a hard time moving through the stomach opening to the intestines or through the twisty intestine itself.

Also, just because dogs have "stronger" stomachs than we do doesn't mean they can be a catch-all when you're cleaning expired items out of your refrigerator. Although they don’t get sick as frequently, this doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen at all. It is still possible for them to get sick, particularly when the amount of bacteria in the item is high, which can occur as food spoils.

Also, consuming some molds on food can cause serious neurological reactions in both people and pets. Of course, if you know your dog got into rancid food, watch him carefully over the next day or two. Diarrhea or vomiting in such situations is often self-limiting, but if blood is seen in the stool or your pet is unable to keep water down, you should consult a veterinarian quickly.

Feline friends

This advice on feeding and food poisoning applies to both adult dogs and adult cats. But our feline friends tend to be a lot more discriminating than your average Labrador with their consumption, both in type and quantity. Therefore, the vast majority of "food poisoning" episodes occur in dogs. Kitties are generally more prone to chronic (long term) vomiting without an obvious tie to food intake. Chronic vomiting can be signs of general GI or metabolic disease and should be diagnosed by a veterinarian.

Young animals

Just like human babies and children, younger pets have not been exposed to the common pathogens in their environments yet, so their immune systems are just learning what germs are out there to fight. During this time, puppies and kittens are more susceptible to illnesses that probably would not cause illness in an adult. Salmonella and E. coli are two examples of foodborne bacteria that can make baby animals very sick. Additionally, a number of viruses can present with GI (gastrointestinal) signs and be very serious for your new pet. Babies lack the reserves to handle vomiting or diarrhea for long and may need more supportive care, such as IV fluids, to get through such illnesses. Therefore, puppies and kittens with vomiting or diarrhea should see the veterinarian immediately no matter what cause is suspected.

When to seek veterinary advice

All cases are different, so it is difficult to specify exactly how long is too long to experience acute gastrointestinal symptoms. Vomiting actual food really shouldn't last more than several hours because either the stomach should be fully emptied (thanks to the vomiting) or because whatever food was in the stomach should have passed into the small intestine.

Therefore, if frequent vomiting of actual solid food occurs for more than 8-12 hours, there may be a serious issue. If blood is noticed in either vomit or stool, this can be a sign of internal damage to the GI tract and may potentially be serious. Finally, if diarrhea doesn't improve within three days on bland diet, or if diarrhea isn’t the only symptom, you should consult your pet's veterinarian.

Be aware that more serious and even critical illnesses can initially seem like "food poisoning" to the untrained (and even the trained) eye. Pancreatitis, foreign body obstruction, and [Gastric Dilation Volvulus](http://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/bloating-in-dogs/) (GDV, more commonly known as bloat) are all life-threatening issues that require veterinary intervention.

Additionally, some types of toxicosis (such as antifreeze poisoning) can appear with GI signs. If your pet's GI issues are accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting without actually bringing anything up, a visibly swollen belly, restlessness or lethargy, or respiratory difficulty (e.g. continuous panting when it's not hot), there may be more serious cause for concern, and you should consult a veterinarian immediately.

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Related Questions

My amazon parrot just swallowed a metal snap. All emergency vets are unable to respond, no avian vet on call. I read metal snaps can cause metal poisoning, can they?

Hello, thank you for using Boop by Petco. I'm sorry that Mango is having this issue. Yes, many different metals can cause toxicity in birds if ingested but the main ones of concern are lead and zinc. You will need to take Mango to an avian vet when they are open. The metal snap will need to be removed even if it is made of a non harmless metal like stainless steel. I suggest you go to a speciality center as they are more likely to have an endoscope which will be better than doing an open surgery for removal. Sometimes, depending on where the metal piece is located in the GI tract and the size of the snap, they can try removal via bulking agents fed orally instead of doing any invasive procedures. ( https://www.buffalobirdnerd.com ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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My dog ate a chocolate bar containing raisins, we just took him to the vet and he threw up close to 20 raisins. He consumed this sometimes in the middle of the night, no idea how long they were in his system but the vet said it seems like he threw everything up. We will go back for bloodwork tomorrow, but is toxicity or kidney failure still likely or possible after vomitting?

It would be hard to tell as every dog will react differently to the ingestion of grape/raisins and chocolate, and it toxicity can also depend on how quickly/slowly any of it was digested. Some dogs may be able to better handle a higher dosage, while others may react strongly to a smaller amount. It's best that you have the bloodwork scheduled, as that will give you the best picture of what is going on for Iggy specifically. I'd also recommend a follow-up blood panel in a month or two, as some dogs have shown delayed responses to ingestion of toxic foods before. Signs to watch out for of something being wrong include lethargy, vomiting, a painful or hunched abdomen, drinking/urinating more, and just general malaise. These are all signs that you should seek more immediate treatment if needed.

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Hiya , I’ve got a 1 year old Labrador and we have just been chilling at home after a walk this morning and I have noticed he has some kind of rash on his testicles I thought at first it might be poison ivy but I’m not sure, Stanley doesn’t seem bothered by it at all and is his usual energetic self but I’m wondering if I need to get a cream for it or if I need to go to the vets

Hello, thank you for using Boop by Petco. It is a scrotal skin infection. I doubt it is poison ivy but typically it is very itchy so if it is not bothering him then it is unlikely. You can try to treat it topically for 4-5 days and see if it improves but if it doesn't then he needs to see a vet. I suggest you get something like this to put on it. Be aware that sometimes you putting something on topically can actually cause them to want to lick it; do not let him lick it otherwise it will get worse for sure. ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canosept-Skin-Care-Spray-250ml/dp/B07ZMDD9XX/ ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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My dog ate 100g of biscuits with butter filled with cocao cream. She is acting fine for now, however I don’t know if this can be poisonous for her. She is beagle, 2.5 years old 35 lbs. The photo is photo of ingredients.

Unfortunately the ingredients don't list exactly how much cocoa powder is in the mix. Is it 2.3% of 100g or is it 2.3% of the 35% cocoa cream. Without knowing exactly how much she ingested I cannot say for sure if the dose was toxic. I highly recommend you call Pet Poison Helpline. They will likely be able to help you better. ( https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com ) My personal opinion is that you should take Snoopy to an emergency vet. Cocoa powder is even more dangerous than regular chocolate as it can contain as much as 50% more theobromine (the fatal ingredient). So as little as four ounces could be deadlyl. You should go immediately to the vet and not wait for symptoms to begin.

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My dog was playing in a field and now her belly and back legs are covered in a red rash. She doesn’t seem to be bothered by it but it looks horrible. I don’t think it’s poison ivy because I’ve touched the area and I’ve had no reaction. I’ve been giving her Benadryl. Anything else I need to do?

Hello, thank you for using Boop by Petco. Poor Snow! Her skin looks really reactive. I really think you should take Snow to your vet for an exam at your earliest convenience. She may need oral antibiotics or some anti-inflammatory medications. I don't think it is an emergency though. To me it looks like a contact dermatitis (allergy). Poison ivy is possible but it is actually pretty rare in dogs. Benadryl is fine to give but you need to make sure you are giving enough. Dogs take a MUCH higher dose than we do. The dose is 1mg/pound of body weight. For example, 25 pound dog should get one 25mg capsule/tablet. If she is 50 pounds, then 2 of the 25mg capsules. You can round up if needed as it is pretty safe to give. She can have that every 12 hours. Topically, I suggest you put this on the affected areas until you can get her to the vet: ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-hot-spot-antimicrobial-gel-for-dogs ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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I decided to litter train my dog. My mother got some dog litter. It's from "SoPhresh". I'm worried about my dog eating the pellets. Is there anything toxic in it?

Hello, thank you for using Boop by Petco. Great question! These litter pellets are made from paper so they are non-toxic if ingested. That being said, if they are ingested in a large quantity they can be harmful and cause an obstruction. Typically once they urinate/defecate on the pellets that should deter them from wanting to eat the pellets in the future but that is not a given. You will just have to monitor Dexter in the beginning to see how he reacts to them. Larger breed dogs will have less of an issue (with GI obstruction) than small breed dogs. I would have no issues trying it with my dogs. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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