What Should I Do If My Dog Eats Weed Killer?

1. Call your vet. Immediately. They’re the best people to advise on what to do as they know your dog and medical history – so they can give the best advice. While you’re on the phone to the vet, keep your dog calm – try distracting them with a toy or something tasty, like some dog-friendly peanut butter.

2. Take the weed killer to the vets with you, if you can. This makes it easier for them to work out what is in it and assess the severity of the situation. However, don't delay your trip for this if your dog has already eaten it.

3. If you can’t get hold of your vet, get your dog to an emergency vet. Even out-of-hours vets can provide urgent care for sick dogs, and they’ll have all the equipment they need to support them if need be.

4. Try not to induce vomiting in your dog. Some weed killers are corrosive, so inducing vomiting can actually cause more harm than good by burning their oesophagus. The vet may do so with the right precautions, but in most cases, they will use other treatment methods.

As soon as your dog has been treated by a vet, you should contact the Poison Control Helpline. They may need more information about your dog and what they have ingested, so make sure to have all the details to hand.