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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bleach Poisoning Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Has Symptoms
My dogs just drank out of my toddler’s toilet that had a bleach tablet in it. They drank water in their actual bowls right after and seem fine but I’m still worried. How long would it take before I see a reaction if there is one?
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Friend of mines young dog not sure how young but very young drank mop bucket water(bleach) between an estimated 36-48 hours ago,they dont know how how much he drank, they called posion control but they didnt have the $65 for the call or a Vet around them. The dog drank it between 36-48 hours ago they believe. They are making him drink a lot of water... How long would it take for the bleach to kill the dog? or since its passed 24hrs the dog will be ok?
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I came home and my house smelled of bleach i looked around and when i found it the cap was in my livingroom and the container was spilled in the laundryroom/mudroom all over the floor hes had alot of water to where hes bloated. hes vommited once. idk if he ingested any. hes not showing any of the symptoms you mention above. what do i do???
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Hello,
My husband made a solution of bleach and water to bleach some areas on our Lanai. Let the areas dry but then the dogs were out there later that day. This morning one of my dogs (7lbs) vomited and I wiped it up. I smelled the paper towel and I smell a slight bleach odor. What shall I do?
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Hi I was bleaching the floor and my puppies paws went into it. I quickly wiped it off and then put her in the bath and rinsed and washed her paws is there anything else I can do?
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If you have concerns after your puppy has walked through something the best course of action is to rinse off and clean thoroughly the paws, which you have already done. There is little else to do, your initial reaction was correct but dilute bleach shouldn’t cause a problem depending on the specific product. If you are worried, check the paws for the rest of the weekend; if you notice any redness or blistering visit your Veterinarian, but the bleach should be dilute enough if used on the floor. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
My dog drank some toilet water that had a small amount of Clorox spray in it. I gave her a lot of water and a little bit of milk. What else should I do? Does she need a vet?
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We have oxy-clean and the scooper had some residual left over I would say maybe two table spoons and we went downstairs and it seems as if he licked it clean. We haven't seen any signs but it has been about 30 minutes. What should I do next?
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So my Clorox spilled all over the ground and we were not home we came back and the fumes of the Clorox was really strong. The dogs were not able to breath so we took them to a vet and they pump the stomach and gave him medicine cam home with the dogs and they were fine but then the dog started moaning and throwing up orange liquid. What do I do
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3 of my small dogs are vomiting due to bleach fumes. The smallest one ( about 6 lb.) Looks like he got it the worst. I am also worried about the pregnant one ( about 10lb) . They seem to be coming out of it very slowly but is there anything I can do besides bathing and milk? Thank you
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My 1 year old Boxer got into the trash and got some hair bleach. He has thrown up twice. He is acting fine but won't eat. I gave him a treat and he ate that but he won't eat his regular food.
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My dog Walter might have ingested some dakin's soaked gauze containing Sodium Hypochloride. He is acting very lethargic. He hasn't drank or eaten anything this morning. But did go out to pee.
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My dog drank out of a mop bucket on Sunday And it had hot water and bleach in it and I wasn't home but my brother was so I don't know how much he ingested. But I tried to feed him and he wouldn't but he would drink water. Yesterday he ate more then he was but not as much as he normally does and he isn't acting normal like being hyper and playing. He is drinking water and going to the bathroom okay but he's not acting normal like barking. I just want to know if he'll be okay because I am taking him to the vet on Saturday at 10 am. I just want your advice.
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I jst got home n there was a thing of bleach on the floor idk if he injested it he had some on his paws i gave him a bath and fed him he ate normal and has been drinking plenty of water I also gave them some milk don’t think I’ve really noticed that you were sneezing a lot but I don’t know if that was from the shower hes a pit pull puppy 12 weeks
I had a small tub of pure Clorox bleach on the floor and mistakenly left it there for an hour. I'm not sure if my dog ingested it or not but a day later she is having very bad seizures while she is sleeping. Could it be possible that she ingested bleach? Or could it be old age? I've had her 14years.
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what should I do. he seems fine and barking now. he is a large dog and the bleach was diluted and might have licked some bleach attach to his paws.I know "go to your vet" but will he be fine without going ? suggestion please
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I came home and there was a container of bleach on the floor and he had bleach on his paws I gave them a bath and give them some milk and water and food he’s been acting normal the only thing is he was sneezing should I take him to the vet
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My dog ate a paper towel that had the Ajax brand cleaning product (This product contains bleach). He threw up minutes later. What should I do?
I accidentally left bleach in a small tub on the floor. Though I didn't see my f2ffig ingest it, a day later when she sleeps she is having very bad seizures. I took her to the Vet and they are wanted to keep her over night. What will happen since a day or so has passed. Is it too late for the Vet to correct?
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My dog drank some toilet water that had a small amount of Clorox spray in it. I gave her a lot of water and a little bit of milk. What else should I do? Does she need a vet?
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My Pit bull Ace is only 2 1/2 months old and he chews on everything but 2 days ago I found a whitening cream in his bed that he had eaten to it’s called Magia Blanca by Michelle Marie and after that he’s been acting a little strange. He will whine and cry for no apparent reason and he’s so calm. He’s legs also start shaking.
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