Pet of the month: Dixie
Dixie, a 7-year-old Airedale Terrier, was presented with her brother Murphy both suspected of having been bitten by a snake. Murphy was found carrying the snake in his mouth! Both pets were rapidly brought to our sister clinic the Midland Veterinary Hospital by very astute pet-sitters, as the dogs’ owners had just gone overseas on holiday. While Murphy was bright, alert and very happy about his achievement in catching a snake, Dixie was drooling excessively, limp, and had stopped breathing just as she arrived at the clinic.
Dr Jared Du Mond and the rest of the staff immediately began treatment for snake envenomation based on the history, presentation, and clinical exam. Dixie required urgent attention as her heart rate was very low and she was not breathing on her own due to the paralytic effects of the snake venom. Treatment included the immediate placement of an intravenous catheter to give high rates of IV fluids, endotracheal tube to protect the airway and allow assisted breathing and oxygen supplementation. She was given multiple doses of snake antivenin to bind the snake venom in her blood stream, as well as medications to reduce possible side-effects caused by administration of the antivenin. Dixie became relatively stable after several hours of intensive care and was transferred to Perth Vet Emergency for ongoing monitoring and care throughout the night.
During Dixie’s stay at the emergency clinic overnight Dixie had severe heart troubles and needed further emergency care and stabilisation. It was unclear if this was a result of the venom’s effect on the heart muscle fibres or due to lack of oxygen to the heart earlier in the day. During Dixie’s treatment Dr Du Mond did note a loud heart murmur while listening to her chest and there was an arrhythmia evident on her ECG (electrocardiogram) monitor earlier in the day but the exact cause remained unclear as her owners reported a heart murmur previously investigated at Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital not requiring treatment.
Dixie was transferred from Perth Vet Emergency to Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital the following day for cardiac tests and further monitoring. Dixie continues to do very well at home and the further tests at Murdoch has shown that she has a degenerative heart condition affecting the valves not requiring treatment at this time. Her arrhythmia appeared to be the result of the venom or decreased oxygenation and has now resolved. Well done Dixie! Also, a big thank you to Dixie’s owners who were contactable overseas and flew home immediately so they could be with their pets. Also a big thank you to the staff at Midland Vet and the entire staff at both Perth Vet Emergency and Murdoch University Vet Hospital for the continuation of care in such a complex situation.
For more information on Snake Bites refer to our information page.
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Although chocolate may be one of your favourite treats, never feed chocolate to your pet. It is poisonous for them! It contains substances called theobromine and caffeine (methylxanthine alkaloids) which are also contained in coffee, tea and some over-the-counter stimulants.
Chocolate poisoning is most commonly seen in dogs because of their habit to ingest food rapidly and they often have a “sweet tooth”. We see a higher incidence in puppies and young dogs, probably because they tend to ingest large amounts of unusual foods.
Chocolate poisoning can also affect cats, birds, rodents and reptiles however we see these cases much less frequently.
Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning
The toxins in chocolate can affect you pet’s digestive system, nervous system and cardiovascular system.
Digestive system
- Vomiting & diarrhoea (2-4 hours after ingestion)
Nervous System
- Excitation/restlessness (increased body temperature, alertness)
- Muscle rigidity & tremors
- Seizures
Cardiovascular
- Increased respiratory rate
- Increased heart rate
- Reduced blood pressure (hypotension)
- Progresses to cardiac failure leading to weakness, coma and death can occur within 12-36 hours after ingestion.
The toxins are found in the highest concentration in cooking chocolate and dark chocolate, and there are lesser amounts in milk chocolate. There is almost no toxins are found in white chocolate.
Diagnosis
Chocolate poisoning can look similar to many poisonings or other conditions. Serious poisonings such as that caused by strychnine, amphetamines, pesticides, and some rodenticides can cause similar signs.
If you know your pet has eaten chocolate, contact us immediately, especially if your pet is showing any of the symptoms above. If possible, bring any vomit to the clinic as well, since this may aid in rapid identification of the toxic substance. Your veterinarian will need to examine your dog's nervous system and cardiac function carefully. He/she may want to run some blood tests to check for blood sugar levels and rule out other diseases. Since this poisoning progresses rapidly, signs may need to be treated symptomatically until a laboratory diagnosis is confirmed.
Treatment
There is no antidote for chocolate poisoning. Your veterinarian may use drugs to induce vomiting if the chocolate was consumed within the previous 2 - 4 hours or they may even need to administer a general anaesthetic in order to pass a tube into the stomach to wash
Once the chocolate is out activated charcoal treatment may be given to prevent any toxins remaining from being absorbed.
Pets that show more severe symptoms may need more specific medications in order to control the seizures and to prevent heart failure.
The expected course of chocolate poisoning is 12 to 36 hours depending on the dosage and effectiveness of treatment. Prognosis is good if the chocolate is removed within 2 to 4 hours of ingestion. Prognosis is guarded in animals with advanced signs such as seizures and serious heart dysfunction. So, please remember to keep your chocolates, cakes and chocolate-coated goodies safely away from your pets. Stick to healthy treats if you want to reward your special furry or feathered friend.
Have more questions?
Our state-of-the-art facility offers separate consultation rooms for dogs and cats, a fully equipped in-house laboratory, and specialised suites for surgery and dental care. For those tender moments, our uniquely designed Grief.
