Dogs are naturally curious creatures that love to explore, smell and eat everything. Your four-legged friend can be a bit obsessed with tasting everything in order to satisfy his curiosity, especially if he is eating potentially dangerous plants like cacti. What should you do if your dog eats an acactus plant?
You should examine your dog’s face, paws and fur after he eats a Cactus. Dogs are not poisoned by cacti, but the severity of injury should be considered when deciding whether to contact a veterinarian.
You’re probably still reading this article because your dog may have had an unfortunate encounter with cacti. This article will help you and your pet friend to understand what to do if their dog eats cacti.
Dogs are poisoned by Cactus
Dogs shouldn’t be able to eat most cacti. It can cause problems in the stomach and strain your dog’s digestive system, however, because it is made up of thick fibrous plant material.
Some cacti may be sprayed with insecticides while others are fertilized. These chemicals can be harmful to dogs’ systems if they are consumed.
Even though it is not common, allergic reactions to the sap from the cactus plants can occur, particularly if your dog has sensitive stomachs.
The greatest danger from cacti are not the sap or plant fiber, but the sharp thorns which protrude as protection mechanisms. To determine if your dog has had an encounter with poisonous cactus, it is important to examine the type of cactus.
Here are some steps to take when your dog eats a cactus
Here are some steps you can take to help your dog if he or she is injured by cacti.
Assess the extent of injury
Before you can help your dog, it is impossible to do much. To determine if your dog was pricked, you should observe his movements and behavior.
After you have assessed the extent of the facial injury, it’s time to assess the rest of the dog’s body. Petsmart vet Dr. Jennifer Freeman insists that dogs need to be treated with care and evaluated phase by phase after an injury.
To determine any areas of potential injury, your dog should be allowed to walk if possible. You should inspect all areas, including the tail. This will ensure that your dog is well taken care of.
Take out the Spines
Your dog will likely have spines all over his body after an accident with your outdoor or indoor cactus plants. Your dog may even have spines in his nose, tongue and neck.
The spines will need to be removed. Make sure that you remove each one from your dog’s skin. You should be aware that your dog may become very agitated during the removal process. This is why you need extra patience and care.
You should carefully inspect the areas where you are removing the spines to assess the severity of the injury. Some spines may be deeper than others. These areas may require extra attention after removing the spines.
While it might be tempting to remove the cactus spines immediately, it is best to examine your dog and identify the areas affected before you begin to pull out the spines. Your dog may not cooperate if the spine is lodged too deeply.
It is important to be clean when removing cactus-spines from dogs. To remove all the thorns, use sterilized tweezers. It is best to call someone to help you hold your dog while you remove the cactus spines.
It is vital to have an extra pair of hands. Although you can remove the thorn by yourself, your dog will likely be more uncomfortable and resistant. You can keep your dog still by having a family member or friend (preferably an adult) hold him.
Cleanse the injures
After removing the spines from your furry friend’s bodies, the job is not over. It is vital that you have an anti-infective ointment ready in case of infection.
In a bowl, add the antibiotic ointment. Use a towel to soak in the antibiotic ointment. Then, gently apply it to the dog’s injuries. It’s important to clean all areas affected. This is the best way to avoid infection and other reactions.
Your dog may be resistant to you touching the wounds. You’ll have to be patient with him and take extra care. It is a good idea to have an extra pair of hands available to help your dog stay in place and clean up any wounds.
How to contact a vet after your dog eats cactus
It can be difficult to remove cactus spines off your dog’s tongue, face, or body. It can be painful for your dog and it can also cause traumatizing for you. This is especially true if your pooch starts whining. You should consult a trusted vet if you are unsure of your ability to remove the spines without further injury to your dog.
This is when you should contact an expert if your dog eats Cactus.
Injuries to Sensitive Areas
You should not attempt to remove the spine of a dog that has suffered serious injuries to its eyes or ears. This could lead to permanent blindness.
As mentioned, treating injuries from bites of cactus is a first step. This will allow you determine if you are able to remove the spines.
You should immediately take your dog to the vet if you suspect that spikes have been lodged in sensitive areas, or if you are unsure of your ability to complete the job.
Uncooperative Dogs
If your dog is suffering from aggravated injuries, it’s likely that he won’t cooperate with you in removing the spines. Your dog will try to keep you away by jumping, barking and pushing.
These situations are not the right time to force your dog to submit.
If your dog is experiencing extreme discomfort while trying to remove the spines, you should immediately take him to the vet. In these cases, a vet treatment is recommended as the dog will likely be sedated and awake to discover the spines have been removed.
If your dog is stressed and panting after removing the Cactus Spines,
Your dog will experience some anxiety after the cacti spine removal procedure. He may not be able to sleep well and forget about it. If your dog acts strangely after the spines have been removed, it’s possible that the pain is too much for him.
You should look out for signs such as persistent barking, lethargy, limping and low moods. These symptoms may not go away after the first home treatment. A consultation at the veterinarian might be an option if they do not disappear within a few hours or days.
After removing the cactus spines, you’ll need to monitor your dog’s behavior.
Food Changes and Mealtime Struggles
Your dog may struggle to eat during mealtime if the cactus spines are lodged in his tongue. You should consult your vet if the injuries are severe enough to affect your dog’s eating habits and appetite.
As your dog recovers from the injury to his tongue, you may need to change the diet. It’s possible to change the dog’s diet on your own, but it is best to consult your vet before making any changes. Most likely, they will prescribe medication to speed up your dog’s recovery.
If your dog is suffering from a severe injury to his tongue, you should not give him any solid food until he has seen a veterinarian. You will need to quickly act to prevent your dog from becoming starved.
How to Remove Cactus Spines from Your Dog
Cactus spines can be removed from dogs without the need for specialist knowledge. While it is best to have a professional remove cactus spines from your dog, the more delicate ones can be removed by following these tips.
Use a Coarse Comb
For loosely embedded spines on your dog’s hair, a coarse comb is a good choice. You should brush your dog in the same direction as the fur grows. However, you must brush gently to prevent further injury.
You can’t use your naked hands
You don’t want to use your naked hands to remove cactus spines. This can cause injury or worse, potentially introduce bacteria to the wound. To remove spines that are deeply lodged, use forceps or tweezers.
It is highly recommended to remove spines in the direction of your dog’s fur. To avoid infection, disinfect the tweezers immediately after removing spines.
Get rid of all blood that comes out
As you remove the cactus spines, it is likely your dog will start to bleed. It is important to clean up the blood and disinfect the areas affected before you move on to the next part.
Always Have an Additional Pair of Hands
The spine-removal process will not be enjoyable for your dog. He’ll show it by refusing to cooperate, especially as you pull at the spines. You might consider calling for help from a friend or family member to hold your dog steady.
Cacti are a favorite food of dogs.
Dogs are natural curious and explorers. They love to look at anything new and unusual. Dogs love the unique appearance of a cactus, which is characterized by its thorns.
The succulent, fleshy nature of a cactus, coupled with its spiky, extra sharp thorns means it’s likely to attract the attention of your dog, especially if you recently added a cactus to your home, indoors or outdoors.
Besides curiosity, dogs love to eat plants, since, after all, they are omnivorous.
At first sight, a cactus might appear like a filling meal due to its fleshy leaves. But as your furry friend will likely find out the hard way, cacti are one of those plants that should be avoided at all costs.
While the odds of your dog eating cactus aren’t too high, chances are he might want to get a taste of the plant if he crosses paths with it for the first time. As a result, you’ll need to be extra careful when adding cacti to your backyard or indoor setup as they can cause serious injuries to your furry friend.
Since some breeds love chewing almost everything they come across, it’s important to train your dog as chewing a cactus aggressively can lead to fatal outcomes. Dogs with dental infections and parasites are notorious for chewing items, meaning an untreated dog might chew on cactus as a way to soothe himself.
Final Takeaway
As naturally curious pets, it’s common for dogs to have encounters with cacti, especially when they spot the strange-appearing plants for the first time. While the fleshy part won’t do much damage to your dog, the same can’t be said about the sharp-edged cactus spines.
The right steps to take after your dog eats a cactus should depend on the extent of the injury. For severe injuries, it’s always best to take your dog to the vet for further assistance. However, you can remove the loose spines on the coat by using a coarse brush.
Sources
Cactus Way: Are Cactus Plants Poisonous to Dogs? Things to Know about Cactus and DogsGallant: Helping a Dog After a Run-In With a CactusThe Spruce Pets: How to Treat Plant Poisoning in PuppiesWag Walking: Pencil Cactus Poisoning in Dogs – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, CostOur Fit Pets: My Dog Ate a Cactus What Should I Do?
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