This past winter, Carey Bradley of Dallas, Texas left a chocolate cake sitting on the kitchen counter. When he returned, the cake had completely disappeared. His two Giants, Sweet Basil and Debbie Doris, both looked guilty. Carey checked their mouths hoping for some evidence of residual cake but found none so both dogs had to be treated. At that point Carey called the National Animal Poison Control Center's 800 number.

According to Carey the Center couldn't have been more helpful or supportive. They told him to induce vomiting and the dogs were then treated as follows:

• 4 ounces hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to induce vomiting (administered with a turkey baster by mouth). They both vomited copious amount of frothy white liquid within minutes. Carey was expecting evidence of the chocolate cake in the emesis but saw none. (Note: expect diarrhea to follow, also).
  
  

• 2 hours later, 6 ounces of Extra Strength Maalox by mouth.
  
  

• 2 hours later fed 1/2 of their normal food. His dogs eat once a day and it was approximately their feeding time. He did not feed again until the normal feeding time the next day.

During the next two days he did see some semi-liquid stool but the most noticeable was that their poop was chalky white for a day (He assumed from the Maalox). Otherwise, neither of the dogs exhibited any signs or symptoms of anything (e.g., lethargy, tremors, hyperactivity, seizures, etc.) They bounced around as if all was normal.

Carey also mentioned that the poison control center advised against giving Syrup of Ipecac to induce vomiting. They said that if the dog did not vomit from the Syrup of Ipecac that it could cause heart problems. Carey didn't ask, What kind of heart problems?

In addition, they mentioned that if the dogs had their stomach tacked up in a previous surgery (e.g., bloat, volvulus, etc.) that he should not give the peroxide to induce vomiting but should take the dogs to the emergency vet who would possibly administer activated charcoal. Even though Basil has had his stomach tacked, Carey had witnessed him vomiting without problems on numerous occasions. Therefore, he elected for the in-home treatment versus the weekend veterinary hospital visit.

*Important Notes: Carey wanted to make it very clear that he is not a veterinarian and this is only a lay person's recollection of the event and it is not intended to be advice or a treatment method.

The phone numbers for the National Animal Poison Control Center are: 1-900-680-0000 & 1-800-548-2423. Carey called the 800 number and gave them a credit card number. He assumed the 900 number would be charged to your phone bill. The Center's Web site address is: http://www.workingdogs.com/doc0002.htm. According to Carey, if you search Yahoo with the search phrase "animal poison control" you will find many such agencies. He just happened to choose NAPCC from the list.

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Our thanks to Carey for his account of "The Theft of a Chocolate Cake!"

Enid S. Legree, Editor

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