Dogs are experts in finding things that they’re not supposed to chew or eat. It’s like they have a neck for sniffing hidden things, which they do. Now, this habit of scavenging through your yard or your house can become something dangerous once they eat things they’re not supposed to. Like trash or rotten food. If your dog eats expired meat, the first thing that you’ll do is to start worrying about what to do. Should you worry or should you relax and wait for things to get to their natural course.
So, if you find yourself worrying about “my dog ate expired meat” should you worry? If your dog ate expired meat you should try to make him throw-up right away if possible. Otherwise, you should pay attention to him for the next 24 hours to make sure everything is okay. In most cases, nothing happens, but expired meat may contain microorganisms that cause your dog to get sick. If they don’t throw-up, make sure they drink plenty of water.
Now, the main problem is the bacteria, fungus, and viruses that may reside in expired meat. This can become even more of a problem when we’re talking about raw meat. In this case, the meat may carry Clostridium botulinum, which is a bacteria that release toxins that cause botulism. This is a rare disease that causes paralysis in dogs.
In other cases, the meat may carry more common organisms that cause infections and diseases. That’s why getting your dog to throw-up may e a good idea. Or you can pay attention to his behavior to see if it is the case to take your dog to the vet.
Make Them Throw-up
If you catch your dog eating expired meat, you still have time to make them throw up and get rid of the spoiled food they’ve just eaten. This is the best way to make sure that the expired meat won’t make them sick. Since expired meat contains microorganisms that may cause harm to your dog, the best that you can do is to force their bodies to expel the content of their stomachs.
Now, the best way for you to do this is to give them hydrogen peroxide 3 percent solution. This will cause your dog to vomit within 15 minutes. This is the best way to prevent microorganisms to hit his system. Now, you must give the right quantity. It is best to consult a vet for this.
The recommended quantity is 1 teaspoon for every 10 pounds of body weight. Also, make sure that you’re giving hydrogen peroxide that can be digested by dogs. The RC Pet Products is a great option for a first-aid kit, and it’s used by many dog owners for emergencies. Take a look at this great item here.
Are Your Dog’s Vaccines Up To Date
Another concern that you must have when your dog eats what it’s not supposed to, it’s their vaccines. If they aren’t up to date, it might be a serious concern. The reason is simple. Your dog’s immune system is not guaranteed to have the capacity to fight off common bacteria and viruses if the vaccines are not up to date. You’re pretty much risking their lives if you don’t take care of this immediately.
The best way to ensure that your dog is always healthy is to keep the vaccines up to date, give them the best quality food, and use vitamins to keep them stronger. Vitamins and supplements are what makes a dog’s fur so shiny and strong. It gives them that look of a healthy dog. The color of their coat is stronger when they take vitamins.
So, make sure that your dog’s vaccines are up to date. Always check them once a year to make sure you don’t forget. Also, make sure to give them the right vitamins to make them even healthier. The PetHonesty 10 in 1 Dog Multivitamin is the best option for dogs in the market. Check it out here.
Did You Give Your Dog Dewormer Recently?
Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that might make your dog sick. Not only that but there are also a lot of things that take a hit on their immune system and make them more vulnerable to other organisms that act as parasites. In the case of vermin, they not only make your dog sick by their very presence, but they also make things worse by lowering their immune system. This makes them more likely to not be able to digest the expired meat.
As you can see, you should be worried if your dog eats expired meat. Especially, if your dog is not with his vaccines up to date and didn’t deworm recently. You must make sure that you’re always giving your dog a dewormer in the right time frame. It’ll save you from lots of headaches in the future.
So, make sure that you not only check the vaccines and vitamins but also deworms your dog consistently. This is what makes sure they have a strong immune system. The GOODGROWLIES Dewormer for Dogs is the ultimate dog dewormer. It’ll protect your dog for a long time. Get yours here.
Raw Meat Carries Diseases
There’s a chance that the expired meat that your dog ate was raw. This presents other problems as well. That’s why it’s important to differentiate the problem. Raw meat carries diseases that cooked meat wouldn’t because the cooking process kills microorganisms. The main one is botulism. It’s a disease that causes paralyzes in dogs.
Now, it’s important to point out that this is a rare disease caused by a bacterium that can be found in raw meat. The boiling process kills it, offering no risk for cooked food. Still, even though it is rare, you should be concerned. That’s why it’s not a good idea to give raw meat even if it’s not expired.
So, make sure to be extra careful with raw meat around the house even if it’s not expired. Always cook the meat before giving it to your dog. If your dog ate without your knowledge, there’s not much you can do. Still, that’s why you should get them to throw up right away.
Is Your Dog Too Old or Too Young
Now, we’re going to tackle a genuine concern that you should have. The main problem with a dog eating expired meat is that it can carry microorganisms that can be harmful to your dog’s health. The worst scenario is your dog not having a strong immune system to deal with common bacteria, viruses, or fungi infections. That’s why your dog’s age plays an important role here that you should consider.
If you have an old dog or a puppy, they’re more vulnerable to these situations. Their immune systems aren’t as strong as adult dogs’ systems are. That’s why you should try to get them to throw up and keep an eye on them for the first 24 hours.
So, if you do have an old dog or a puppy, make sure to keep extra attention to them if they eat expired meat. This can save their lives. That’s why it’s best to prevent this scenario more than doing something to deal with it afterward.
How Is Your Dog’s Immune System And Overall Health
You’re likely to not know how it is your dog’s immune system and overall health. That’s why you should get them examined regularly by a vet. You can also do simple blood tests that will reveal whether or not their immune system and overall health is good.
The best way to ensure that it is good and stays that way is to keep a good environment for your dog. This means a clean place, comfy bed, playtime, and great quality food. This is what keeps their immune system strong. Even sadness can affect your dog and lower his immune system.
So, always make sure to give them premium quality food. It has all the vitamins and nutrients to make sure your dog is always healthy. It’ll also lower the chances of them eating something they shouldn’t. The Taste of the Wild is the highest-rated dog food that you should consider giving to your furry friend. Grab yours here.
When To Call A Vet
Now, you never know when something is more serious than you’ve imagined. After all, you’re not a vet. Things can get out of control pretty fast if you’re not careful.
That’s why you should know when to call a vet. If you did everything that we’ve talked about below, you will keep an eye on your dog in the following hours. If they have diarrhea, vomit, or stay apathetic. You should be worried.
The best that you can do is take your dog to the vet. They may have contracted something serious. In the case of bacteria, the signs usually manifest within the first few hours of digestion.
Final Thoughts
So, if your dog ate expired meat, you should try to get them to throw up. You should also make sure that you keep an eye on them to see if it becomes something more serious. If they have a strong immune system, their organism is likely to take care of it. Otherwise, you may want to take your four-pawed friend to the vet right away.