Many owners believe that after a suspected poisoning, it is necessary to wash out the animal's stomach. But this is a dangerous manipulation that should not be performed at home.
Why gastric lavage can be dangerous:
- - It is not effective for poisonings that occurred more than 1-2 hours ago
- - In case of loss of consciousness, the animal may choke
- - Vomiting can be induced with subsequent aspiration, which can lead to lung ingestion
- - Not all substances are safe to return to the esophagus (e.g. corrosive or foaming agents)
In veterinary practice, gastric lavage is performed under the supervision of a doctor and often under anesthesia, with the airway protected by an intubation tube
But in case of poisoning, you should:
- - Go to the clinic immediately
- - Inform the doctor about what may have been eaten
- - Do not give any remedies yourself (charcoal, milk, oil, etc.)
Only a veterinarian can decide whether decontamination (stomach cleansing), sorbents, or other treatments are necessary. Each situation is individual.
Prompt professional intervention significantly improves the animal's chances of full recovery.