Bread
Dough Toxicosis in Dogs
This can
be very life-threatening if not treated immediately. During the process
of bread dough rising, yeast produces ethanol.
Once ingested, the internal body temperature causes the dough to
continue to rise rapidly, producing more and more ethanol. Ethanol is
rapidly absorbed from the stomach and intestines and clinical signs of
ethanol toxicosis can occur.
These
signs are : behavioral changes,
vocalization, ataxia (muscle incoordination), CNS (central nervous
system) depression, and urinary incontinence. A
significant metabolic acidosis, ( a pathological condition resulting
from accumulation of acid or depletion of the alkaline reserve -
bicarbonate content - in the blood and body tissues, may develop. As blood ethanol
levels rise, respiratory depression, cardiac arrest, and ultimately
death may occur.
Another
risk is because the stomach may rupture if the rising dough mass blocks
the esophageal sphincter, induced vomiting is NOT recommended with out a
vet present. Ethanol is metabolized
in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes (ADH) to
acetaldehyde and then to acetic acids.
If a dog
demonstrates severe muscle incoordination or ataxia, or CNS depression,
induced vomiting should not be encouraged as the dog could become
comatose very quickly and aspiration of the vomit into the lungs could
occur. |