The Life Span Cycle Of Vet Care For Dogs

Understanding Ethanol Poisoning in Dogs

26 October 2018 by Leonard Wallace

Ingesting ethanol or absorbing it through the skin can have devastating consequences for your dog. Even small amounts of ethanol can be toxic and impair your dog's central nervous system. This type of poisoning is surprisingly common in dogs and can be caused by ingestion of household products, such as paint, mouthwash and disinfectant, or consuming fermented food and certain alcoholic drinks. If dyes or ink containing ethanol come into contact with your dog's skin, they are also at risk of harm.

Here's an overview of the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment approach for ethanol poisoning in dogs:

Symptoms

In the early stages of ethanol poisoning, your dog will be drowsy and may seem clumsy. Incontinence, slowed reflexes and behavioural changes, such as hyperactivity or depression, are also commonly observed symptoms. Without prompt treatment your dog can develop hypothermia, or metabolic acidosis, which causes their body's pH level to drop. Additionally, damage to their central nervous system can cause a heart attack, which can be fatal.

Diagnosis And Treatment Approach

If you know your dog has ingested an ethanol-containing product, take it to the vet with you to help your vet diagnose and treat your dog quickly. Your vet will take details of your dog's symptoms, and there are a few tests that can confirm the presence of ethanol in your dog's body. A blood test can determine the concentration of ethanol in your dog's bloodstream, and testing the pH level of your dog's urine can determine if your dog is experiencing metabolic acidosis. Your vet will also carry out an echocardiogram (ECG), which is a scan to determine heart health.

Ethanol poisoning can be treated using drugs that stimulate the central nervous system and encourage it work properly. An intravenous infusion of bicarbonate can be given to reverse acidosis, and large volumes of fluids can be administered intravenously to increase urination, which helps flush the ethanol out of your dog's system. Gastric lavage may also be carried out, and this involves inserting a small tube into your dog's stomach and flushing out the contents of their stomach with a mild saline solution.

After treatment, your dog will need to rest and recover in a quiet environment, and your vet will ask you to take your dog back to the surgery for a follow-up appointment to ensure they are back to full health.

If you suspect your dog has ethanol poisoning, or if they have any of the symptoms noted above, have them examined by your vet immediately.

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