The dog chewed the thermometer

The dangers of mercury to animals.

A mercury thermometer is a rather serious device that requires responsible handling. The metal that is under the glass is very poisonous. The thermometer is a fragile device, so it is quite easy to break it. Unfortunately, cases when a thermometer accidentally breaks are not uncommon. The situation is aggravated if pets grab glass fragments or mercury balls. Therefore, it is very important to know what to do if a dog has chewed a thermometer or a dog has swallowed thermometer fragments. Measures taken in time will save the pet’s life.

How does poisoning manifest itself??

The main danger for a dog when in contact with a thermometer (or rather, with what is left of it) is the high probability of mercury vapor intoxication. When the poison enters the body, it accumulates in the liver and kidneys, provokes disruption of endocrine processes, and has a detrimental effect on the central and autonomic nervous system. Symptoms of intoxication:

Symptoms of intoxication:

vomiting, diarrhea, other gastrointestinal problems;
loss of appetite (up to complete refusal to eat), physical and nervous exhaustion;
apathy, lethargy;
impaired coordination of movements, convulsions;
progressive decrease in body temperature.

Poisoning is just one of the problems that can arise when an animal cuts a thermometer. Another danger is glass fragments. If a dog chews a thermometer and the fragment is small and not very sharp, you can hope that it will come out of the pet’s body on its own. Sharp glasses rip tissues and get stuck in the membranes of internal organs. The symptoms of this terrible phenomenon are the following: the appearance of abdominal pain, bloody discharge, blood in feces and when coughing up.

The dog chewed a thermometer, how to help?

Mercury poisoning or damage to internal organs by glass fragments is a very serious problem that is unlikely to be solved on your own. The owner of the injured pet should immediately call a veterinarian to the house. You will also need the services of an ecologist – a specialist who will perform demercurization of the premises. If you decide to go to the clinic with your dog, you need to wrap the animal in a towel, because there may be mercury particles on the fur that are invisible to the eye.

After the veterinarian examines the animal and assesses the severity of the symptoms, the dog will have its stomach washed, an antidote and a laxative will be given. If glass gets into the body, when the dog has chewed a thermometer, they try to solve the problem with enveloping drugs. If this does not work, they resort to surgical intervention. If there are two problems, then first remove the glass fragments, then the toxic substances. It is recommended to put the pet on a diet with salt-free food. Trying to cure the animal on your own is not only ineffective, but also dangerous. The symptoms are blurred, time is lost, and, therefore, the chances that the animal will recover become less. If you do not take measures in case of severe poisoning of the animal, the dog can die in 5-10 days.

How to dispose of mercury?

Along with providing first aid, you should take care of those around you. In order to protect your family, you need to contact the demercurization service. A specialized company providing sanitization services accepts orders around the clock. The company’s specialists have numerous developments concerning mercury disposal and control measurements. Orders are processed very quickly, employees will arrive within half an hour. The customer is required to perform several measures to localize the hazardous area:

close the door to the room where the dog chewed the thermometer, and then open the window. Avoid drafts that spread toxic fumes throughout the house;
take people and animals out of the room, preferably into the fresh air;
If there is a risk of mercury getting on the surface of clothing, it should be removed and prepared for disposal. Washing such items in the house is not allowed, since traces of the dangerous metal will end up inside the washing machine and in the sewer pipes.

It is necessary to isolate the problem area, without trying to eliminate the consequences on your own. Trying to clean with a broom or mop will result in the “live silver” being scattered throughout the room, getting under the floor covering or baseboards. Extracting mercury from the resulting “hiding places” will be much more difficult, and the release of toxic vapors will continue for several years. The vacuum cleaner also accelerates the dispersion, and therefore the evaporation of the toxic metal..

Using a gauze or purchased medical mask, as well as gloves, will not help solve the problem. You should contact mercury as little as possible. Otherwise, there is a risk of acute or chronic poisoning, each of which is dangerous in its own way.

The course of action for professionals

Mercury is classified as a first class hazard among toxic substances. This means that even a small amount of it can affect the environmental situation in the room. Therefore, you cannot do without the help of professionals.

Main stages of the procedure:

measuring mercury vapor concentration with a gas analyzer, assessing the degree of pollution of the premises;
mechanical removal of glass fragments, mercury drops, disposal of broken devices;
cleaning mercury contaminated objects using compounds that do not pose a danger to people, animals and interior items;
performing a control measurement of the amount of evaporation.

The total duration of the procedure is from 1 to 2 hours. After 7-10 days, the company’s employees will arrive at the site at the stated address again to perform an additional analysis of the mercury concentration in the atmosphere of the room. Payment for control measurements is not required. Upon completion of the treatment, the company issues an official guarantee document.