What is Garbage Toxicosis (Garbage Gut)?
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.
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Symptoms of Garbage Toxicosis (Garbage Gut) in Dogs
The signs of garbage toxicosis depend on what kind of bacteria is involved, but the most commonly reported side effects are:
- Diarrhea (may be bloody or watery)
- Vomiting (can be projectile vomiting with or without blood)
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Appetite loss
- Sleepiness
- High body temperature
- Depression
- Dehydration
- Panting
- Flatulence (gas)
- Weakness
- Shock (cold extremities, weak pulse, inactivity, respiratory failure)
- Seizures (rare)
- Death (rare)
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:
- Outdoor dogs
- Small and toy breed dogs (Maltese, Miniature Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, Miniature Pinscher, Shih Tzu, and Yorkshire Terrier)
- Young dogs under five years old
Causes of Garbage Toxicosis (Garbage Gut) in Dogs
The cause of garbage toxicosis is eating food, waste, feces, or carrion that is infected with bacteria, such as:
- Bacillus
- Clostridium botulinum
- Clostridium perfringens
- Escherichia coli
- Penitrem-A (a neurotoxin)
- Salmonella
- Staphylococcus
- Streptococcus
Diagnosis of Garbage Toxicosis (Garbage Gut) in Dogs
Many 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 signs 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 take your dog to an emergency veterinary clinic.
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 likely need to perform some laboratory tests, including a CBC, chemical profile, stool samples, and a urinalysis.
Abdominal radiographs (X-rays) and ultrasounds may also be recommended. If necessary, the veterinarian may need to get an ultrasound, MRI or CT scan for a better look at the intestinal tract and stomach.
Treatment of Garbage Toxicosis (Garbage Gut) in Dogs
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 signs.
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 may 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 hospitalized for observation and fluid therapy.
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Recovery of Garbage Toxicosis (Garbage Gut) in Dogs
Chances of recovery are better if you are able to get treatment before the toxins are completely absorbed into the bloodstream. 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.
Garbage gut can be expensive to treat. To avoid high vet care expenses, secure pet health insurance today. The sooner you insure your pet, the more protection you’ll have from unexpected vet costs.
Garbage Toxicosis (Garbage Gut) Average Cost
From 438 quotes ranging from $500 - $2,000
Average Cost
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Garbage Toxicosis (Garbage Gut) Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Labrador
Bentley
2 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
My dog got into the garbage on Friday. He was fine Friday night and fine during the day Saturday. Saturday night he started with the diarrhea about every 4 hours. I withheld food most of the day Sunday but it caused him to vomit a few times (possibly because of an empty stomach? The vomit was yellow and wasn't much at all. I fed him rice Sunday night. I've fed him chicken and rice Monday and Tuesday. His diarrhea has slowed but isn't gone completely. He is going less frequently though. No blood in his stool. No more vomiting since feeding him. He is playful and energetic as usual and has been with the exception of Sunday morning, but I think he may have just been tired from having to go out every couple hours.
June 20, 2018
1 Recommendations
When dogs eat rubbish, we’re not really sure what they ate or how rotten it was; it may take some time for anything nasty to get get out of his system. But if there is the possibility that Bentley has a foreign object or some bacteria from something rotten that is affecting his gastrointestinal tract. Continue with the chicken and rice, but if there is no further improvement a check by your Veterinarian may be a good idea. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 21, 2018
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Chihuahua/boxer
Bandit
11 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Slightly Bloated
My dog got into the garbage last night and he’s been a little off since. He is eating and drinking fine, his bowel movements are ok for the most part, except his stool is soft but not diarrhea. His energy level is about the same, slightly off than normal. He isn’t drooling or panting, his breathing seems ok, but his stomach is a bit hard, but not super hard that I’ve experienced with a bloated dog in the past. I
June 13, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Dogs that get into garbage can have a number of problems, including GI upset from the foods, foreign bodies from any non-digestible trash, and pancreatitis if they ate anything fatty. If Bandit starts vomiting, having diarrhea, stops wanting to eat, or becomes lethargic, it would be best to have him seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
June 14, 2018
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Black Lab
Bella
8 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
Our black lab got into some trash, we think, earlier today and hasn't been acting right ever since. She is super lethargic, which isn't like her at all. She won't eat anything and appears as if she can't hold herself up to stand or walk. She has drank a small amount of water but hasn't went to the bathroom all day. She also feels as if she has a fever, her head and ears are super hot to the touch.
May 29, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Bella should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Spoiled food can cause significant GI disease, and there may have been something that she ate that is causing a blockage. A veterinarian will be able to assess her and recommend any testing or treatment that she may need. I hope that she is okay.
May 29, 2018
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French Bulldog
Willow
10 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
Seizures
Vomiting
My French bull dog is around 10 month old. I didn’t realise there was an old rubbish bag in the garden. She had got into it and likely ate something. It was over a week before I realised. She was being sick on and off and had diarrhoea. She was still eating, drinking and playing as normal. However tonight she started to shake which got worse and worse. I took her to the emergency vets by this point it was clear she was having a fit and was unaware of what was going on. Her temperature was 106 and rising. Unfortunately she had to be put to sleep. The vet thought it could be poisoning but after she passed away, he said it was a seizure caused by her breed and pressure on the skull as he said usually with poisoning when pts vomit or diarrhoea would come away but there was nothing so he thinks because of the breed she was a ticking time bomb. I didn’t know till I was home about the rubbish so I wanted to know if it could be because of the rubbish or if it was just her breed.
May 24, 2018
0 Recommendations
It is difficult to say what may have been causing the seizures or seizure like symptoms, however poisoning is always high on the list of possible causes; other issues like neurological disorders may also have caused death. I know this is a distressing time for you, however I wish I could give you more information. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
May 24, 2018
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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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