How do I know if my dog has eaten something toxic to them?

Any sudden change in behavior, hiding, crying, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, anemia, or anything like that - if your dog has had some sudden change in the way it's behaving - is enough reason to call your veterinarian and take them in to have a visit.

At that visit, we are very likely to ask a history. Have they been outside where they might've gotten into a mushroom? Have they been inside? What do you feed them? Do they get people food? Anything like that is important, particularly with puppies, because they're known to eat things that they shouldn't.

Don’t try to figure out any sudden change by yourself. Ask for some help, or you can call poison control because there is a dog poison control as well.

Obviously, if you catch your dog in the act, definitely try to figure out what it is. As I said, that ASPCA website is a massive help to pet owners. It's very reliable and easily accessible through the internet. If you're not sure and they start showing some symptoms, look for clues around your house or maybe torn corners of bags or food boxes or things like that. The best thing to do, though, is to try to keep all of that stuff way up in cabinets or off the countertops to keep your dog safe.

There will be vomiting, diarrhea, their appetite will start waning, and refusal to eat the food will occur. An easy sign is when you know your dog has been eating food and suddenly they don't want to anymore. Try a new bag of food and see what happens, as long as your dog is acting fine and not showing any other signs.

The obvious symptoms you'll look for are drooling, foaming, stumbling, lethargy, usually hanging their head down low, tucked tail, vomiting, and diarrhea. These are all signs that something good is not happening, so if you suspect in the slightest that your dog might have gotten into something poisonous, whether it be food, a chemical, or a substance, call your local emergency clinic, the poison helpline, or any of these options right away. It's important to seek medical treatment sooner rather than later to make sure we get your pet back on track to a healthy state.

If your dog has just ingested something and he gets sick shortly afterward, you have to be suspicious that it might be some toxicity. There is a poison information center that you can call, and they have board-certified veterinary toxicologists there that can answer any question you have about toxicities.

Typically, if a dog has ingested something toxic, they may start vomiting, have diarrhea, heavily salivate, or appear dizzy, confused, or out of it. The exact symptoms can depend on the toxin. Things that should be avoided in dogs include chocolate, grapes, raisins, avocados, onions, garlic, chives, anything high in fat, and any bones that could splinter and cause choking.