What to do if your dog eats a preservative

1. Fasting and observation

After your dog eats a preservative, the first step is to fasting and stop giving it water to avoid increasing the burden on the stomach and intestines. Then, immediately give the dog soap water or diluted hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. If your dog has eaten a small amount, you can observe it after vomiting. If there are no abnormalities, you don't need to worry. If your dog has eaten a larger amount and shows symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy, take it to the pet hospital for inspection and treatment promptly.

2. Induce vomiting

As preservatives can cause gastric and intestinal mucosal ulcers in dogs, and even severe cases can lead to gastric perforation, it is necessary to induce vomiting immediately after discovering that your dog has eaten a preservative. Prepare soap water or diluted hydrogen peroxide and give it to the dog. Before administration, secure the dog, separate its upper and lower jaws with your hands, and pour the vomiting agent into the back of the tongue or deep into the oral cavity. Slowly release your hand to let it swallow naturally. When using hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting, pay special attention to the dosage, as hydrogen peroxide has strong oxidizing properties; a high concentration may cause severe damage to the gastrointestinal tract.

3. Seek medical attention promptly

If your dog has eaten a large amount of preservatives and shows symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy, take it to the pet hospital for treatment immediately. Otherwise, your dog may be at risk of death. When taking your dog to the pet hospital, check the ingredients of the preservative or bring the preservative with you and inform the veterinarian. Then, administer the corresponding antidote for treatment.

4. Precautions

When feeding your dog, ensure that toxic substances such as preservatives, rat poison, mosquito repellent, and cockroach killer are placed in areas where your dog cannot reach to avoid accidental poisoning.