Bring a part of the plant with you to show the veterinarian for a quicker and easier diagnosis. The less time it takes to determine the kind of plant your dog ate, the faster he can get treatment. The veterinarian will also need all the information about what part of the plant and how much your dog ate. The information your veterinarian will need to know about your dog's age, breed, medical history, vaccination records, overall health, last illness or injury, and unusual behavior. A complete physical examination will be done by the veterinarian, which will include your dog’s body temperature, weight, reflexes, blood pressure, breath sounds, physical appearance, respirations, blood oxygen level (pulse oximetry), heart rate, and inspection of the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth.
Laboratory tests that will be done are electrolyte levels, complete blood count (CBC), blood gases, biochemistry profile, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Many of the BUN levels will be increased with devil’s ivy poisoning including potassium, calcium, creatinine, and proteins. A urinalysis may show a decrease in specific gravity, increased lipase, amylase, and glucose. Your veterinarian may also decide to do an endoscopy to view the inside of your dog’s esophagus and upper airway. This is done using an endoscope, which is a long, thin, flexible tube that has a camera on the end. If there are any pieces of the ivy in your dog’s throat or airway, the veterinarian will be able to see it and remove it using the endoscope. Abdominal radiographs (x-rays) will need to be performed to give your veterinarian a view of your dog’s stomach and intestinal tract in order to see what damage has been done. If necessary, they may have to perform a CT scan or MRI to get a more detailed view.