Lead poisoning isn’t something that we dog owners have a tendency to concern ourselves with, however it is always a likelihood that our dogs become sick as a consequence of lead injestion and we should at least know what to go looking for.

Lead poisoning affects the gastrointestinal tract and the neurological system. Some symptoms include: anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nervousness, tremors, ataxia, blindness, deafness and dementia. Treatment can usually reverse the condition if started promptly.

Keeping your pet’s medical history recent is critical in helping your vet make the diagnosis ; lab tests can confirm the suspicion of lead poisoning. There are lots of methods your pet can be exposed to guide ; here are some cares to keep in mind:.

- When working on reworking or construction projects, keep paint dust from getting in your pet’s fur and on its paws where it can be licked and ingested. Though lead-based paint isn’t used on building materials, lead can be exposed when sanding or scraping paint from an older home.

- Never feed your pet from ceramic bowls or plates, which can regularly be embellished with lead-based paints.

- Keep battery-operated toys, flashlights, garage door openers, etc, away from your pet ; when gnawed, the batteries could be a source of lead poisoning.

The lead weights utilized in the hem of drapes to keep them hanging straight can present a risk to a frolicsome animal. Lead fishing weights ( which may also be found along the banks of brooks, lakes and streams ).

In  conclusion, if your pet exhibits any of the clinical evidence of lead poisoning, see your vet right away.