How to Treat Canine Amphetamine Toxicity
Dogs are typically exposed to amphetamine by accident. You may have dropped a pill on the ground, or your curious dog found a bottle. Approximately 1-2 hours after ingestion, your dog may experience hyperactivity, shaking or seizure. Immediate medical attention is needed for any dog that ingests this drug. Here’s how to treat canine amphetamine toxicity.
Instructions
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Call your veterinarian and ask if vomiting should be induced. When caught early, amphetamine toxicity has a higher rate of recovery. If your dog just ingested the drug, ask your vet if you should induce vomiting. This is typically done with hydrogen peroxide, but make sure to ask about the proper dosage for your canine. You should then rush your canine to the emergency hospital to start treatment.
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Keep your dog calm. Speak to your dog softly and remain very calm when taking your dog to the emergency hospital. This will relax your dog and aid in the recovery process.
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Request that intravenous fluids be administered. Once your dog arrives at the vet, ask about administering intravenous fluids. This greatly enhances your dog’s recovery.
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Ask about using sedatives. Sedatives have shown to be effective in reducing nervous system stimulation, as caused by amphetamine. If your vet doesn't offer sedatives, ask if they would be approripiate for your canine.
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Request that your canine's blood be monitored. Your vet will monitor your canine’s blood for amphetamine toxicity, as this can affect kidney function.
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Ask about using charcoal treatment to reduce absorption of the amphetamine. Activated charcoal is effective in reducing additional stomach absorption of the amphetamine. Depending on your dog’s case, the vet may administer multiple charcoal treatments.
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Tips & Warnings
When you take your dog home from the vet, provide a calm environment for him to rest. Make sure there is a quite place for him to rest away from noise and other animals. Your canine should regain his strength after several days of rest. However, if your dog doesn’t seem to be improving or his health appears to decline, seek medical attention.
Just because a medication bottle is child-proof, doesn’t mean it is dog-proof. Keep all drugs out of your dog’s reach. Even if you think it’s out of character for your dog to chew on a bottle, don’t risk it.
