Lead Poisoning in Dogs

Lead poisoning is a common kind of poisoning in both humans and their pets. Just like humans, dogs also experience lead poisoning. Lead poisoning in dogs occurs due to accidental ingestion of lead paint and other lead products. Lead paint is often used during household renovations. At this time, it is important to keep a close watch on your pet so that the pet does not ingest any amount of lead paint.

A teething dog may also often get exposed to high levels of lead when it begins chewing on substances that contain lead. Painted toys, tiles, and other things which are easily accessible to the dog contain large quantities of lead and can therefore be harmful to the dog. Some of the more harmful sources of lead poisoning are golf balls, car batteries, plumbing materials, and soldering materials. Since puppies are more prone to chewing any thing that they get their teeth on, they are more prone to lead poisoning.

Metal poisoning in dogs usually has specific symptoms. Lead poisoning specifically affects the circulation of the dog as lead alters the structure of the blood material. Seizures are one of the commonest symptoms of lead poisoning in dogs. Apart from that, if the blood lead level shoots beyond normal ranges, it can cause dog vomiting, lethargy, nausea, severe pain in the abdominal region, moodiness, and diarrhea. Seizures are usually an indication of high levels of lead poisoning. Iron toxicity in dogs can cause similar symptoms, therefore, it is recommended that dogs be diagnosed properly before a treatment plan is laid out for the animal.

If the dog has accidentally swallowed a lead object, X-rays and scans can easily detect such objects. In an X-ray, the object appears light grey or white. Lead levels may also be high in the feces of the dog. When given time, treatment for lead or iron poisoning in dogs can be effective. If it is an object stuck in the digestive tract of the dog that is causing the toxicity, treatment includes making the dog vomit to extract the object. In severe cases, the object may have to be extracted using a surgical procedure. For dogs that have had heavy lead poisoning, chelation is the preferred therapy. In this therapy, drugs are used to extract the object stuck in the tract of the dog. Certain drugs may also be used in order to extract the lead materials in the dog’s feces.