Jump to section
What is Bleach Poisoning?
Many products used around the home like bleach and ammonia contain hazardous chemicals. If your dog happens to ingest any of these products, toxicity could result in complications within the digestive and respiratory systems. Bleach poisoning is considered one of the top ways that dogs can be affected by toxicity. It is important, then, to keep all household products hidden from your pet to prevent any accidents. If your pet does experience exposure to bleach, you should seek veterinarian assistance right away and not try to induce vomiting on your own. However, remember to remain calm, moving your dog into a safer area, especially if you notice any convulsion or tremor. In any case, call the veterinarian and explain the situation. This allows the veterinarian to prepare for your dog’s arrival.
Bleach poisoning happens when dogs ingest and absorb a considerable amount of bleach that usually results in a high level of toxicity along with other noticeable symptoms.
Bleach Poisoning Average Cost
From 478 quotes ranging from $500 - $6,000
Average Cost
$2,500
Protect yourself and your pet. Compare top pet insurance plans.
Symptoms of Bleach Poisoning in Dogs
When your dog ingests bleach, there are several symptoms that occur. The hair around the dog’s paws and mouths might also be bleached and smell of chlorine. If your pet inhaled the fumes, you could notice signs of coughing, pulmonary irritation, and gasping. Other symptoms include:
- Coughing
- Lethargy
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Sore throat
- Low blood pressure
- Coma
- Drooling
- Shock
- Burn
- Paw discoloration
- Diarrhea
- Agitation
- Nausea
- Weakened limbs
- Tremors
- Ulcerations on the paws or in the mouth
- Seizures
Types
There are various kinds of household products that contain bleach, acids, hydrocarbons and alkalis. These include:
- Paint thinner
- Toilet cleaner
- Gasoline
- Bleach
- Laundry detergent
- Drain cleaner
- Dishwashing liquid
- Kerosene
- Furniture polish
- Oven cleaner
- Paint remover
- Floor polish
- Caustic soda
- Lye
- Shoe polish
- Chlorine
Top
Causes of Bleach Poisoning in Dogs
Your dog is no different from other dogs that love to chew on plastic toys and think that they can put whatever they want in their mouths. Unfortunately, though, this only makes your dog prone to ingesting toxic materials, most of which could result in terrible side effects and sometimes, fatal results, if not immediately treated.
Poisoning due to inhalation of fumes or ingestion of bleach can cause effects such as aspiration pneumonia, blood serum changes, kidney damage, corrosivity of the gastrointestinal tract, and blood coagulation abnormalities.
Top
Diagnosis of Bleach Poisoning in Dogs
Once you take your dog to the veterinarian, you can expect that the goal is to immediately identify the poison in order to assess the contents. To do this, the veterinarian may induce vomiting and collect a sample of it in a plastic bag. If you administered any medication to your dog, you should take that along with you so the veterinarian can read the labels to see what is contained in it. If your dog has received burns to the mouth, it might take several hours to notice this. The veterinarian will still check the mouth to see if your pet flinches with touch. The stomach or esophagus may also be burned by the bleach. This may not be visible until an internal examination is done.
Top
Treatment of Bleach Poisoning in Dogs
When you take the dog to the clinic or emergency hospital, the stomach will be pumped using a method known as gastric lavage. The veterinarian could also possibly use hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting in order to get rid of the toxic substance. Activated charcoal may be administered as a way to bind the toxins before inducing vomiting.
After this, there are several ways that your veterinarian will introduce treatment. The immediate treatment is to flush the area that is most exposed. Your veterinarian may also administer fluid therapy, ulcer medication for possible stomach burn and of course, supportive care for other symptoms.
Your veterinarian will use water to wash out the excess bleach from the mouth and fur. Even though this might seem simple, the veterinarian may also administer milk to soothe the stomach and dilute the ingested bleach.
Top
Recovery of Bleach Poisoning in Dogs
After treatment, the dog is monitored for a few hours before being released. This allows the veterinarian to ensure that the dog does not have any further complications such as skin reactions or more vomiting. After the dog goes home, it is the pet’s owner’s responsibility to continue to monitor the situation, but also to make changes around the home such as crate training or putting the dog in a kennel. The pet owner should also adequately pet proof the home by removing all hazardous substances and storing them in a secure place, away from curious noses and paws.
Top
*Wag! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Items are sold by the retailer, not Wag!.
Bleach Poisoning Average Cost
From 478 quotes ranging from $500 - $6,000
Average Cost
$2,500
Protect yourself and your pet. Compare top pet insurance plans.
Top
Bleach Poisoning Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Need pet health advice? Ask a vet
Ask a Vet
Lhasa Apso
twelve years
Unknown severity
6 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
My dog is a mixed breed (I cant remember what his other breed is)My dog drank toilet water that contains bleach due to a bleach tablet. This happened about an hour ago. He threw up a ear color twice, that's it. I gave him milk and water. He's been laying down since then. He seems physically fine, but I'm not sure. He gets up and walks around like normal too. Is there anything else that I can do?
Dec. 29, 2020
Owner
Dr. Sara O. DVM
6 Recommendations
Hello, So sorry to hear about your dog. If they are vomiting and lethargic, it would be best to see your vet. Bleach can cause lots of issues, especially if your dog drinks a large amount. If he is still vomiting, it would be best for you to feed him a bland diet of chicken and rice for a few days.
Dec. 29, 2020
Was this experience helpful?
Pit Bull
One Year
Unknown severity
3 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
Redness
Some bleach fell was I was out of the house but my dog was in a cage not able to ingest but her eyes are red. Before I noticed her eyes were red I fed her and gave her her medicine and water. She was sneezing/coughing but that has stopped but her eyes are still red.
Dec. 14, 2020
Owner
Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
3 Recommendations
Unless it was a significant amount of bleach and it was in the air and irritating her eyes, the bleach is likely a red getting. However, she could have an infection, environment allergy or something else going on. If concerned, a vet can check her over. You can use cotton wool and warm saline to gently cleanse the eyes.
Dec. 14, 2020
Was this experience helpful?
Chihuahua
Three Years
Unknown severity
4 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
Noisy Breathing
Idk if my dog drank bleach she spilled bleach in the bathroom and she was inside
Sept. 28, 2020
Owner
Dr. Michele K. DVM
4 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. If your dog is still having problems, it would be best to have her seen by a veterinarian right away, as bleach can be quite irritating and toxic if drank or inhaled.
Oct. 7, 2020
Was this experience helpful?
Shih Tzu
Three Years
Unknown severity
2 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
None
Inhaled bleach
Sept. 25, 2020
Owner
Dr. Michele K. DVM
2 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay in my reply, this venue is not set up for urgent emails. If your dog is having any problems breathing, or doesn't want to eat, It would be best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get any testing or treatment taken care of that might be needed.
Oct. 19, 2020
Was this experience helpful?
Rottweiler
Five Years
Unknown severity
0 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
Vomiting White Or Clear Slime
Last night after walking my dog he started vomiting a clear or white liquid. Then he threw up his food and has thrown up multiple times after the food came up. The vomit now is white/clear. There are particles of grass in the vomit and he just ate a lot of grass perhaps to help his stomach?
Sept. 8, 2020
Owner
Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. That amount of vomiting may be concerning. If he ate something that he wasn't supposed to, it could be causing irritation to the stomach or GI tract. If he stops vomiting, you may be fine to give him a 12-hour fast where he can drink water but no food and no grass. After that if he is still not vomiting you can try feeding him a bland diet of boiled white chicken and boiled white rice for 2 to 3 days. If that settles his stomach, he may be okay. If he continues to vomit, he needs to see a veterinarian as soon as possible. I hope that everything goes well for him and he feels better soon.
Sept. 8, 2020
Was this experience helpful?
Blue
Pit bull
8 Weeks
Fair severity
0 found helpful
Fair severity
Has Symptoms
Shaking
My puppy tipped of my bleach and water mixture when I was out of the room,and Was licking it! I pulled him away and cleaned him up.im not sure how much he got ahold oh. Would it be bleach position?
Luna & Bella
Pit bull
9 Months
Fair severity
0 found helpful
Fair severity
Has Symptoms
Diarrhea
So we usually clean the outside porch with pine-sol ,water and a splash of bleach. I caught them both drinking out of it and stop them immediately.Right now my pups are showing no symptoms such as throwing up or drooling. Although, one of them pooped all liquid and I don't know if I should be worried and take them in to get a check up or wait and see if anymore symptoms pop up...?
Diego
Brittany (Spaniel)
1 Year
Fair severity
1 found helpful
Fair severity
Has Symptoms
None Yet
So I was doing laundry and got a little bleach and detergent on my hand, I wiped it off and went about hanging my laundry. I never washed my hand and a couple of minutes later, my dog licked my hand. He isn’t showing any symptoms yet but I was wondering if that amount could cause any poisoning? Or if he’ll be okay?
Uzi
Siberian Husky
6 Months
Mild severity
0 found helpful
Mild severity
Has Symptoms
Diarrhea
Vomited First Day
Poop Smells Like Bleach
My husky is 6 months old and has had really bad diarrhea, like really runny and no solids at all the first day you could tell that he wasn’t feeling well but now he acts normal. He plays and runs and is just overall a happy dog. He only vomited the first day he had the diarrhea. What concerns me is that it’s been 3 days and his poop has an almost bleach-like smell. the smell is really really bad
Zoey
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
6 Months
Critical severity
3 found helpful
Critical severity
Has Symptoms
Drooling
Coughing
Difficulty Breathing
Foaming At The Mouth
My 6 month old puppy had been struggling with a bad cough for months. I was getting ready to see a specialist. It had been a while since I cleaned her kennel and I thought it would help to sanitize her bed and blankets by washing them with bleach. Early in the morning after putting her in her kennel with the freshly cleaned bedding for the night, I found her in severe respiratory distress and drooling. Something I’d never seen before. I immediately brought her to the emergency room and they informed me that her lungs were completely filled with fluid and that she would not make it. We had to put her down. Could washing her blankets and sleep beds in bleach have triggered her death? It’s been 3 days since I visited her kennel since she died and I tried smelling to see if the bleach was apparent on her bedding. I don’t smell bleach but the fumes could be gone by now. Did I cause her death?
Bleach Poisoning Average Cost
From 478 quotes ranging from $500 - $6,000
Average Cost
$2,500
Protect yourself and your pet. Compare top pet insurance plans.
Related Health Articles
About Wag!
© 2021 Wag Labs, Inc. All rights reserved.
About Wag!
© 2021 Wag Labs, Inc. All rights reserved.
Security