Symptoms and Treatment of Food Poisoning from Spoiled Food in Dogs and Cats

Spoiled food poisoning refers to the poisoning disease caused in dogs and cats after they eat spoiled food. During holiday gatherings, when owners or guests feed them large amounts, or when dogs and cats themselves eat a large amount of meat and fish foods, microorganisms in the intestines can also multiply in large numbers, producing enterotoxins and causing “autointoxication syndrome” in dogs and cats. Endotoxins usually act together with enterotoxins to cause poisoning in dogs and cats. So what are the symptoms and treatment methods of food poisoning from spoiled food in dogs and cats? Let us learn about them below.

1. Main symptoms.

After dogs and cats eat spoiled food, vomiting generally occurs within 0.1 to 3 h. If the amount eaten is small, they recover after vomiting out the spoiled food. In severe poisoning cases, diarrhea appears, with blood in the stool, abdominal wall tension, and pain on palpation. Subsequently, intestinal peristalsis weakens, gas accumulates in the intestines, and the abdomen becomes distended, which further favors the growth and reproduction of Gram-negative bacteria and the release of endotoxins, worsening the condition and even leading to endotoxic shock.

In endotoxin poisoning, body temperature often rises within 2 to 24 h after eating, while vomiting occurs and diarrhea produces watery stools. The abdomen becomes enlarged, the abdominal wall is tense, and palpation is painful. Capillary refill time is prolonged, heart rate increases, the pulse is weak and thready, the animal is mentally dull, and finally shock occurs. Laboratory tests show decreased white blood cells and neutrophils, increased polymorphonuclear cells, and elevated blood glucose.

2. Treatment methods.

There is still no specific drug treatment for spoiled food poisoning. The general treatment methods are as follows:

1. General detoxification measures

In the early stage of onset, vomiting helps expel the ingested spoiled food, so antiemetic drugs should be used only after vomiting is complete. For example, diphenhydramine hydrochloride 0.5 to 2 mg per kg body weight by intramuscular injection, 2 to 5 mg per kg body weight orally, 2 or 3 times daily. Dimenhydrinate 1 to 1.5 mg per kg body weight, by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. While using antiemetic drugs, adsorbents should also be used, such as medicinal charcoal 10 to 20 mg per kg body weight, or kaolin 10 to 15 mg per kg body weight, orally 3 times daily.

2. Antidiarrheal treatment

In the early stage of diarrhea, do not stop the diarrhea. Antidiarrheal drugs should be used only after the intestinal contents have basically been emptied. For example, atropine sulfate (dogs 0.3 to 1 mg, cats 0.05 mg per kg body weight, by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection), scopolamine hydrobromide (dogs 0.1 to 0.3 mg each time, by subcutaneous injection).

3. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory treatment

To prevent intestinal bacteria from continuing to grow and reproduce and producing toxins, broad-spectrum antibiotics (such as gentamicin, tetracycline, etc.) are used to inhibit bacterial growth and reproduction.

4. Maintaining water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance

Intravenous fluid therapy supplements water and electrolytes and regulates acid-base imbalance. When there is oliguria or anuria, add mannitol 1 to 3 g per kg body weight to the infusion.

5. Preventing shock

Use corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone by intravenous or intramuscular injection, or use prednisone or prednisolone.

6. Pay attention to diet

Feed dogs and cats reasonably and scientifically. Do not feed dogs and cats spoiled food, and do not let dogs and cats eat excessive fish and meat foods.