Salt Causing Seizures
Although most dog owners know feeding chocolate to their dog can cause major problems such as seizures, few owners are aware of the dangers of a high salt diet. Salt (sodium) can bring about seizures in dogs when consumed in large quantities as well. When a dog is given too much salt, he's at risk of sodium ion poisoning or salt intoxication that can trigger a number of harmful side effects, including seizures.
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Effects of Salt
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Like people, dogs shouldn't ingest a diet high in salt. Salt absorbs water in the body, causing the dog to become extremely thirsty. As the dog consumes more water to satisfy his thirst, he must also urinate more. In some cases, the dog's body can't process the salt fast enough, causing toxic affects and leading to what's called sodium ion poisoning. Sodium ion poisoning restricts the amount of water and oxygen in the body. When a dog is diagnosed with epilepsy, a condition triggering seizures when the cause is unknown, the reason could be salt.
Symptoms
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Symptoms of salt intoxication include vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure and seizures. Dogs affected by salt intoxication may exhibit a higher than normal body temperature.
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Salt Diet
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Salt is an ingredient found in processed dog foods and treats, which makes it sometimes difficult to monitor the dog's salt intake. It's advisable to feed a dog a low salt diet and, if possible, all natural dog foods made with real meats (not byproducts), whole grains, fruits and vegetables. It's never a good idea to feed the dog salty foods from the dinner table such as chips and pretzels. Even bacon should be consumed in moderation.
How to Handle
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If your dog is showing signs of possible sodium ion poisoning, contact your veterinarian immediately. He will likely advise you to bring the dog to his office right away for evaluation and treatment. If you're unable to reach your veterinarian, contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680. The call costs $35. In addition, you can also call the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal's Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435. The call costs $65. Both organizations provide instructions to help the dog in crisis and someone is available 24 hours a day to assist you. The most important thing is for you to remain calm to minimize the dog's stress. Never try to administer natural home remedies to induce vomiting because this may make the problem worse. The sooner the dog receives treatment, the better the prognosis.
Treatment
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Depending on the severity of the poisoning, the dog may be given an antibiotic and anti-emetic drug to stop the dog from seizing. The dog may also be given intravenous therapy injected into the body with a needle to increase the flow of oxygen and fluids in an effort to flush the high salt content from the blood. The dog's levels will likely be monitored by the veterinarian for several days until they are back to normal and the dog shows positive signs of recovery. While sodium ion poisoning is rare, it's considered lethal. Survival is possible, but only with aggressive treatment.
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References
- Photo Credit dog biscuits image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
