Content
- Are pipettes toxic?
- How does intoxication occur?
- Symptoms of Permethrin Poisoning in Dogs
- Treatment for Permethrin Poisoning in Dogs
Everyone who has a dog at home knows the torture that fleas and ticks can become, both because of the discomfort they can cause to the animal, and because of the danger they are for its health and the difficulty that it can be to get them out of the dog and even from home.
There are several medications and drugs prescribed to fight fleas and ticks in puppies, producing different effects according to their level of effectiveness. But, did you know that for some puppies these treatments can be dangerous? That's why in this PeritoAnimal article we'll talk about permethrin poisoning in dogs, its symptoms and treatment. Permethrin is present in pipettes, a method that you are likely to have considered using on your furry friend without knowing the risk this may involve.
Are pipettes toxic?
As with allergies, it is often virtually impossible to determine whether a product (unless you specify it) will be toxic to your puppy, endangering his health and his life.
The pipettes marketed to fight fleas and ticks contain chemicals in small amounts that are deadly to parasites and, although they are not usually dangerous, it should not be forgotten that, despite being small doses, this is a poison capable of producing negative side effects in some dogs.
Many pipettes are manufactured by compounds such as permethrin, a type of pyrethroid that is highly dangerous to parasites and insects, affecting them once they have stayed in your dog, but whether by inhalation or skin contact there is a possibility that they are toxic to your dog.
How does intoxication occur?
Although permethrin poisoning in dogs does not always happen, it is possible that your furry friend will suffer from it if:
- Is allergic to the active component of the pipette. This can happen either when there has been contact with the skin, or if your puppy decides to start licking himself where he placed the treatment, ingesting it by accident.
- there is a wound on the skin. When your dog has a skin lesion, it is not advisable to use pipettes against fleas and ticks, as the poison for these parasites will be easily absorbed by your dog's body, producing an effect similar to an overdose.
- Administering a wrong pipette. If you are one of those who choose to buy a pipette for large dogs with the idea of administering it to a small breed dog, then you should know that this should not be done. Each treatment is formulated with different doses according to the breed, size and weight of the dog, so the use of the wrong pipette can make the treatment not have the desired effect (if you buy one of the small breeds to place to a dog) or, a dangerous poisoning (large dog pipette to put in small dogs). Don't skimp on what your dog really needs and offer him the best he deserves.
- treatment intake. As already mentioned, it may be that your dog licks the place where you put the product and this ingestion has side effects, or even eats the flea collar, which are full of this type of toxic agents.
Symptoms of Permethrin Poisoning in Dogs
If you have applied a pipette against parasites to your puppy and he starts to have one or more of these symptoms, then it means he is intoxicated:
- Excessive salivation.
- Fever.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Tremors throughout the body.
- Hyperactivity or nervousness.
- Fatigue.
- Tingling.
- Falling asleep of limbs.
- Excessive urine or loss of bladder control.
- Irregular or rapid breathing.
- Hypothermia.
- Cramps.
- Asthma.
- Itch.
- Abnormal behavior of pupils.
- Seizures.
- Itching (red skin or rash).
There are a lot of signs, so it won't be difficult to identify them. They appear within hours of having administered the pipette.
Treatment for Permethrin Poisoning in Dogs
If your dog suffers from permethrin poisoning, it is best to go to the veterinarian immediately. As an immediate help while you are not arriving at the veterinary center, we suggest that:
- Keep Calm. If you lose control, it will prevent you from thinking clearly. Also, the puppy will notice your agitated state and this will only make you more nervous.
- If the intoxication was due to ingestion of the pipette contents, never give him milk or oil. The effectiveness of this method is just a popular belief as it has a counterproductive effect, these foods accelerate the absorption of the toxic substance.
- Try to produce vomit giving the dog a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide mixed with normal water. If it has no effect, do not repeat the procedure.
- If intoxication has occurred through contact with the skin, clean the area but don't bathe the dog, as many researchers claim that soaps and shampoos only accelerate the penetration of the pipette into the animal's skin.
- When you go to the vet, remember to take the box of product you used.
If you act quickly and properly, permethrin poisoning in your dog will be just a rough ride and your dog will recover quickly.
You might also be interested in another article we wrote about marijuana poisoning - symptoms and treatment.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.