Poisons getting Victoria’s naughtiest dog breeds into trouble
Victoria’s 10 naughtiest dog breeds have been revealed, and their cheeky behaviour can put their lives at risk. See what they are and get expert tips on how to protect your pooch.
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Exclusive: Labrador Retrievers are the state’s naughtiest dogs, risking their health by eating poisonous nasties, new data shows.
The Animal Poisons Helpline found the breed accounted for more than one in ten poisoning calls from January to August, followed by Border Collies (6 per cent of call) and Staffordshire Bull Terriers (5.3 per cent).
It has prompted a warning to Victorians to poison-proof their homes to ensure the curiosity of our four-legged friends doesn’t get the better of them.
Clayton local Brie Purukamu said her 11-month-old Labrador retriever named Max has had a few close calls when he has helped himself to some unconventional treats.
“The most recent thing he ate was a sponge,” Ms Purukamu said.
“Luckily he only consumed a small amount and I managed to stop him before he polished it off.”
Rounding off the top 10 naughty dogs were German Shepherds (4 per cent), Golden Retrievers (3.2 per cent), Greyhounds (3.2 per cent), Australian Kelpies (3.2 per cent), French Bulldogs (3.2 per cent), Jack Russell terriers (2.9 per cent), and American Staffordshire terriers (2.7 per cent).
Cross-breeds were not included in the data set.
Brodifacoum, the active ingredient in rodent baits, was the most common toxin in Victorian dog poisonings, involved in almost one in ten calls to the Helpline.
Six per cent of dogs fell victim to chocolate, while almost 5 per cent were poisoned by fungi.
Fertiliser (3 per cent) and human food (2.5 per cent) were also among the top five toxins.
Your Vet Online CEO and Chief Veterinarian Dr Leigh Davidson said brodifacoum, which can cause internal bleeding if ingested, and chocolate were the biggest concerns.
Dr Davidson said Fipronil and Pyrethroids would generally only cause health problems if consumed in large quantities, or if a dog was allergic to them.
When fertiliser poisonings were raised, they were often cases related to Blood and Bone where the dog had got into the bag and “gorged itself”.
“In this instance they often show signs of gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea. Some dogs also might develop pancreatitis,” Dr Davidson said.
She said she saw many cases of dogs ingesting compost which can often develop tremorgenic mycotoxins (produced by fungi) as it breaks down.
Nick Merwood, a Specialist in Poisons Information at the Australian Animal Poisons Helpline, said some of the breeds listed were “prone to diseases that make them feel hungry, such as diabetes, and therefore are more likely to seek out food”.
“Some of the breeds are also more likely to have a condition that requires medication that increases appetite as a side effect, such as phenobarbitone for epilepsy or prednisolone for allergic skin disease and auto-immune conditions,” Mr Merwood said.
He added the popularity of these dog breeds could also explain why they featured in more calls for poisons advice.
Dr Davidson agreed that some pet medications increased appetite and that it was something she brought to her clients’ attention, but often it was dogs’ curiosity that got them into trouble.
This meant it was important dog owners poison-proofed their homes.
“Put poisons like rodent and snail baits, human medications and cleaning sprays in a cupboard; preferably a cupboard that you can securely close because dogs will try and get into them,” Dr Davidson said.
“You should also consider removing dangerous garden plants.”