A Simple Dog Toy Turns Toxic

January 24, 2008

I started reading an article recently in Veterinary Medicine magazine about two dogs that died from ingesting bleach. At first I was a little confused. I know dogs can be weird, but bleach? Why would any dog want to drink bleach? Did they get it from toilet water?

The more I read, it soon became evident that this was going to be one of those stories that you hate hearing about. Granted, anytime something bad happens to a pet your heart goes out to the owner. But in this case–I just wanted to reach through the papers and give her a hug.

On past occasions the owner used empty plastic milk jugs as toys for the dogs. I can see how dogs would really like this type of toy. It’s lightweight, noisy, and durable for a certain period of time. And I can imagine that two dogs could have even more fun with it. The owner should be credited for being resourceful–at least.

However, it turns out that the two dogs were left alone for a period of time confined to the kitchen and laundry room. They got a little bored and discovered the bottle of bleach–a container that closely resembles a gallon of milk. In an effort to gain access to one of their favorite toys, the bottle was severely chewed and punctured.

The two dogs were treated extensively at the Texas Veterinary Medical Center but eventually had to be euthanized because of the severity of their condition. The article goes in depth on how the dogs’ bodies responded to the ingestion of sodium hypochlorite. To date, there have been no published case reports regarding bleach ingestion in animals.

My heart goes out the owner of these two dogs. But maybe her grief can be a lesson to the rest of us. Never underestimate your dogs creative ability. It could save his life.

               

Posted in Common Poisons