It’s 5 am and at about 4:15 my dog (Habby) started coughing; I could hear her from my room (she was downstairs). She came up to join me and I noticed she was wet around her jowls, but it smells like cleaning fluid. I started panicking, went downstairs with her and gave her some water, then looked for what she might have eaten or drunk but couldn't find anything... I went back up to ask my brother if it was dangerous, and he doesn't think so. I went back down to get a bowl of water and I spotted a bucket of water mixed with floor cleaner (not bleach) and it smells exactly like her jowls... her tummy is bloated and hard. For now, she’s sleeping at the foot of my bed and I’ve put her on a blanket in case she's sick... is this dangerous?
P.S. Sorry for any typos...
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Yes, I’m taking everyone’s advice on board—it’s really kind of you to give it, actually. Anyway, yes, she’s doing much better; she’s sleeping with me at the moment and her tummy isn’t big and hard anymore. Thanks for taking the time to post a reply! 🙂
Oh, I totally forgot the age! Sorry about that, sometimes when you're typing away you just get carried away! Don't worry, no harm done and nobody's saying it's your fault.... We all make mistakes and forget things; we just give advice so that others can avoid the same pitfalls 😉
If you see someone having a seizure and you aren't sure what to do, it's fine—just shout for help.
As for your girl, next time, definitely wake your parents up 😉
Is she doing any better?
Hi everyone, I didn't want to wake my parents up. I'm nearly 16 so I wasn't really sure what to do, especially as my brother, who’s 19, told me to just leave it. I made her drink loads of water and this morning she was sick, and now her tummy isn't big and hard anymore — she's back to 'normal'. The bucket was in the kitchen because my mum had just finished mopping and it wasn't my fault. Anyway, she’s been sick and had a poo (inside the house, but there we go). Thanks for your comments.
Next time, call the vet straight away (and get to an out-of-hours vet now if you haven't already 🙄). This isn't really an emergency forum, especially not in the middle of the night or at the crack of dawn...
Hope he's feeling better. A word of advice: keep all your cleaning products together in a place where the dog can't get to them and keep them under lock and key (don't forget, they can jump and some even open cupboards—luckily mine is a bit dim!)
Bonus tip: it’s not just cleaning products that are a risk... electrical cables, sockets, sharp objects, tin cans, small bits and bobs... well, there are loads of things, actually. Dog-proof as much as you possibly can 😉
This isn't aimed at you personally, but we all need to think about how we handle emergencies (and yes, that goes for humans too—hardly anyone is trained in first aid... imagine if I had a seizure and a passer-by started looking it up on the internet 🙄). You need to know how to spot an emergency in the first place, what type it is, how fast you need to move, what to do, which number to call, and what info to give to avoid wasting time with too much back-and-forth... Anyway, back to dogs (even if it's the same principle): if your dog gets bloat, you need to recognise it first and then definitely don't come on a forum—take them straight to the vet, even in the middle of the night. And by the way, if you like travelling, it's also worth knowing where the local vet is when you're away on holiday...
Right, I've gone on a bit again, but it's for your sake and for all of us. We all make mistakes, so let's just learn from them for everyone's health and safety 😉
Hi, I don't know where you're at with it, but if in doubt, you should have taken them to the emergency vet. They give an injection to induce vomiting and the dog is sick within 10 minutes. You're risking complications now that will cost you a lot more.
That's a dangerous way of looking at it. Making them vomit? No, never do that if it's an acid or a base. You need to neutralise the pH. I'll say it again: check the instructions first and then get to the out-of-hours vet.
Yes, definitely. I saw that with a Cocker Spaniel when I was at the emergency vets with Delta. I think it was a solid object he'd swallowed, though. I wasn't aware of the pH thing. The vet gave an injection and told us to wait 10 to 15 minutes until the dog was sick, then they carried on with the appointment.
I’m not sure how you’re getting on now, but if you’re in any doubt, you really should have taken them to the emergency vet. They give an injection to make them sick, and the dog usually vomits within 10 minutes.
By waiting, you’re risking complications that are going to end up costing you a whole lot more.
And what was that bucket of cleaning product and water doing left out nearby? A dog is just like a toddler - you have to keep all the household cleaning products hidden away.
You can give your vet a ring right away. If they don't handle out-of-hours emergencies themselves, their answerphone message will direct you to an emergency vet, and they’ll let you know then if you need to bring her in.
I don't think it's anything too serious. Just keep a close eye on her and don't give her any food for at least half a day until her tummy goes down. Don't let her do any exercise with a belly like that, as there's a risk of torsion. She might be sick or have a bit of diarrhoea until it's all out of her system.
Obviously, if her condition gets any worse, get her to the vet pronto.
