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Dogs are known to get into the trash every once in awhile, and even to eat the feces of other animals (especially from cat litter boxes), but these animals are at a higher risk of an illness called garbage toxicosis or garbage gut. Eating dead animals, such as birds or other small animals may also be the cause of garbage toxicosis. This is most common in outdoor dogs because they are able to ingest spoiled food or waste as well as dead animals that can be full of bacteria and other harmful organisms. Feeding your dog table scraps or a raw food diet can also add to the chance of your pet getting garbage toxicosis. When your dog ingests food (or waste) that is contaminated or spoiled, the bacteria gets into the digestive tract where it can produce toxins that get absorbed into the bloodstream.
Garbage toxicosis, or garbage gut, is a condition caused by the ingestion of food, trash, or waste that is contaminated with bacteria or other toxic substances. This can be from eating spoiled food out of a trash can, table scraps, dead animals from outside, and vomit or feces from other animals. It is also known as gastroenteritis, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, or food poisoning. Garbage toxicosis may be recognized by watery or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting, but can also be severe enough to cause inability to control body movements, hypothermia, and shock.
Garbage Toxicosis (Garbage Gut) Average Cost
From 438 quotes ranging from $500 - $2,000
Average Cost
$950
The signs of garbage toxicosis depend on what kind of bacteria is involved, but the most commonly reported side effects are:
Types
Garbage toxicosis is possible in any breed of dog at any age, both male and female, but there are certain high-risk categories, which are:
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The cause of garbage toxicosis is eating food, waste, feces, or carrion that is infected with bacteria, such as:
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Most cases of garbage toxicosis are mild, but some can be serious, especially in a small breed, young, or older dog. Since two of the most common side effects are diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration is a serious worry in garbage toxicosis. The bacteria involved is also a concern because some types of bacterial infections may cause central nervous system symptoms such as loss of muscle control and seizures. The only way to determine which type of bacteria is involved is to take your pet to a veterinary professional. If you cannot get an appointment to see your veterinarian within 24 hours, you should go ahead and take your dog to a veterinary clinic or animal hospital.
The veterinarian will do a physical examination on your dog to check reflexes, temperature, body weight and height, breath sounds, pupil reaction time, abdominal palpation, blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate. Afterward, the veterinarian will need to perform some laboratory tests.
A CBC (complete blood count) will show a decreased plasma volume and increase in red blood cells and neutrophils (certain white blood cells). A biochemical profile may show low glucose, sodium, chloride ion, albumin, potassium, globulin, and protein levels consistent with electrolyte disturbances. The PCV (packed cell volume) will be 55% or higher in most cases due to dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea.
A stool sample will be taken for a bacterial culture in order to determine the bacteria that is involved. A urinalysis may show decreased glucose and concentrated urine due to dehydration. Abdominal radiographs (X-rays) and ultrasounds will also be performed and may show a partial or complete diffusion of the intestine and fluid in the loops of the bowel. If necessary, the veterinarian may need to get an MRI or CT scan for a better look at the intestinal tract and stomach.
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Treating garbage toxicosis in dogs is similar to treating a patient who has been poisoned. The best course of treatment will ultimately depend on the symptoms and health of your dog, but most often include getting the toxins out of the system and treating the symptoms.
Evacuation
If your dog has been vomiting already, there is usually no need to give an emetic, such as ipecac syrup, apomorphine, or hydrogen peroxide. In addition, activated charcoal will probably be given to absorb the excess bacteria or toxins.
Detoxification
Intravenous (IV) fluids and electrolytes will be given to rehydrate and flush the kidneys.
Medications
Some medications that the veterinarian may give your pet are muscle relaxants to control seizures, H2 blockers for gastric upset, and antibiotics for infection.
Observation
The veterinarian may want to keep your dog overnight for observation and fluid therapy.
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Chances of recovery are good if you are able to get treatment before the toxins are completely absorbed into the bloodstream (about 8-12 hours). The veterinarian may send you home with antidiarrheal medication, antibiotics, and H2 blockers, so make sure you give as prescribed. Bring your dog back for a follow up as directed by the veterinarian and call if you have any questions.
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Garbage Toxicosis (Garbage Gut) Average Cost
From 438 quotes ranging from $500 - $2,000
Average Cost
$950
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Ask a Vet
Pomsky
Eight Months
Unknown severity
0 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
My Pomsky had 2 grand mal seizures last week 2 hours apart. We took her to the ER and all lab work was normal, so diagnosed with idiopathic seizures and put on Keppra 3 times a day. Today she threw up a plastic roll sausage wrapper with the metal clips on the ends, that she ate 4 weeks ago. Could this have caused her seizures?
Jan. 28, 2021
Owner
Dr. Sara O. DVM
0 Recommendations
Hello, this would have been weird to cause seizures. I usually do not start on seizure medication until they have had more than 2 episodes in 1 month. Two in one day would have me concerned but I have seen some dogs have seizures from something they ate and never have seizures again in their life. Being on life long medication for this would not be best. If your dog continues to have seizures they would need to be on this medication for the rest of their life. You can always see a neurologist to see if there is an underlying cause of these seizures that did not show up on bloodwork.
Jan. 28, 2021
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Boxer
Five Years
Unknown severity
1 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
My dog got into the trash and throw up about 5 times and is now diarrhea . Besides that she is completely fine .
Jan. 2, 2021
Owner
Dr. Gina U. DVM
1 Recommendations
Hello I’m sorry to see that your pet is sick. If he got into the trash, he could have eaten spoiled food or some foreign material that could cause an infection or blockage. I recommend that you have home seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible for treatment. Good luck.
Jan. 2, 2021
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Chorkie
Two Years
Unknown severity
1 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
My dog is about 5lbs. She has not eating for almost ⁴ days and has not went #2 in like 3days. And she keeps throwing up. And every time she drinks she throws up right after. And now she having a hard time walking and standing up.
Dec. 16, 2020
Owner
Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Thank you for your question, I'm sorry that your dog is not feeling well. From your description, she is extremely ill, and needs to go to the ER immediately. Without being able to see her, I cannot say why she is having this problem, but she is seriously ill and needs to be seen right away.
Dec. 16, 2020
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Shih Tzu
Three Years
Unknown severity
4 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
My dog got into the trash the other day and has a hard stomach what should I do?
Dec. 10, 2020
Owner
Dr. Sara O. DVM
4 Recommendations
Oh No. The trash can cause them to not feel so good. It will take a day or two for the body to process this food and move through. If she is eating and pooping normally, you can watch her. If she is not pooping or eating, something may be stuck, and need to see your vet.
Dec. 10, 2020
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red heeler
Two Years
Unknown severity
2 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
I believe he has garbage gut is what he has and is showing major signs of intoxication can't walk at all sitting and laying and leaning and falling over. He got into the garbage shed i have and literally ate himself into a stooper or looking like death. I’ve given him water and he seem to respond very well to that and then now I’ve carried him inside and warm small bathroom of ours and wrapped them up in a big old comforter that I put in the dryer and he’s now just laying there shaking butt is smoothing out. Vet is not an option. Whats a home remedy i can try? Hydrogen Peroxide, etc etc
Dec. 2, 2020
Owner
Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
2 Recommendations
I'm sorry to hear this. What you have said is very concerning and not consistent with a stomach upset / garbage gut, but more with a significant intoxication or similar. Can you think of anything he may have got to such as cleaning products, anti freeze or paint? Giving hydrogen peroxide is not safe in a dog that is 'just laying there' as they may not be conscious enough to safely vomit and could aspirate. Your pet needs to go to an emergency vet right away.
Dec. 2, 2020
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Willow
Yellow Lab
4 Years
Mild severity
0 found helpful
Mild severity
Has Symptoms
My 4 Year old Yellow Lab got into garbage 2 nights ago while we were gone. She had vomited 5 times throughout the house, all containing just her dog food, no garbage. Theday after she ate fine, played ball for a while, and acted pretty normal. Although now she is acting more tired, not eating the best, she will eat but only small bits at a time, almost as if her throat or stomach hurts?? She has been eating grass non stop since it happened , every time we let her out. I’m not sure about diarrhea but I feel like she’s acting odd. She has an on going issue with excessive swallowing and gulping almost, Vets have said they don’t know what it is and brushed it off everytime. Since she got into the garbage that has gotten increasingly worse. She doesn’t feel warm and I checked her ears (Vet told me if ears are hot it means she has a fever??) and they were cool. Do I bring her in?
fogo
Great Pyrenees
3 Years
Moderate severity
0 found helpful
Moderate severity
Has Symptoms
My 3 year old, Great Pyrenees/retriever. He got into some trash at a nearby cottage. A few hours later he wasn't himself. He won't eat or drink. His nose is very dry, but my biggest concern is that he is twitching often and more so when I touch him. I've tried giving him some rice and chicken but he didn't eat much of it. Do I need to be concerned, should I wait it out?
Ellie
Yorkshire Terrier
5 Years
Moderate severity
0 found helpful
Moderate severity
Has Symptoms
Ellie is a mini Yorkie, 4.4lbs, and will be 6 this May. She is an inside dog but when I let her outside it seems that she got into some bacon grease that someone threw outside, I had not realized it for a day or two. She has had diarrhea for the last 3-4 days but wants to eat normally. I haven’t taken her to the vet because her last exposure of eating the grease was half the time of how long she’s had diarrhea. Her water intake seems to have gone down a little bit, but she will drink it when I try to give her water (which I’ve been actively doing). My major concerns: - diarrhea for 3-4 days, approximately every 4-6 hours. - waking in the middle of the night to have diarrhea (she never has a problem sleeping through the whole night) - today, for the first time, I found a little bit of blood in an accident she had in the house. The diarrhea has been very very soft/normal up until that, in which it looks like the diarrhea may be getting a little more watery. - for the most part is acting her normal self however, I have noticed occasionally she will pant and that lets me know she needs to go potty. Please help!
Tyra
Labrador Retriever
9 Years
Mild severity
1 found helpful
Mild severity
Has Symptoms
My dog is limping and found out her rightpart of abdomen is swollen. We saw part of plastics on her stool. She also have diarrhea. She is stillactive and still eating the food that we gave her.
Garbage Toxicosis (Garbage Gut) Average Cost
From 438 quotes ranging from $500 - $2,000
Average Cost
$950
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