Veterinary Guide to Electrocution in Dogs 2025🐶🩺

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

🔍 Introduction

Electrocution in dogs—often from chewing cords—is a serious emergency that can cause burns, heart and lung damage, seizures, or even death. This 2025 guide by Dr. Duncan Houston, BVSc offers veterinary-level insights on what to look for, how to respond, treatment protocols, and prevention tips to keep your dog safe and healthy. 🩺🐾

🚨 Causes & Risk Factors

• Cord chewing: Puppies and curious dogs may chew on live electrical cords—leading to thermal burns and current flow through the body.
• Lightning or exposed wiring: Rare but can occur outdoors during storms or due to fallen power lines.
• Young dogs: Most cases occur in pets under two years old.

⚠️ Signs & Symptoms

• Burns around mouth—singed whiskers, lips, tongue.
• Neurological signs—muscle tremors, seizures, collapse.
• Respiratory distress—coughing, fast breathing, crackling lungs or foam from nose/mouth (pulmonary edema).
• Cardiac issues—irregular heartbeat, weak pulse, sudden collapse.
• Gastrointestinal effects—vomiting, weakness.

⏱ First Aid & Immediate Response

• Ensure safety first: turn off power at the source or use a non-conductive object to separate the dog from electricity.
• If not breathing, clear the airway and begin CPR; seek veterinary assistance immediately.
• Even if symptoms appear mild, internal injuries could be delayed—seek prompt vet evaluation.

🩺 Veterinary Assessment & Diagnostics

• Thorough physical exam—check for burns, singed hair.
• Monitor vital signs: blood pressure, ECG for arrhythmias.
• Chest X‑rays to assess non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema.
• Bloodwork to evaluate organ damage (kidney, liver, and electrolytes).

🛠 Treatment Protocols

• Stabilization: Oxygen therapy, fluid resuscitation, diuretics for pulmonary edema, bronchodilators, and analgesics.
• Burn care: Clean and apply cold compresses to oral burns; may need topical/systemic pain relief and antibiotics.
• Cardiac management: Monitor arrhythmias; treat with anti-arrhythmic meds if needed.
• Supportive care: Soft food diet, nutritional support, and monitoring for delayed symptoms.

📈 Prognosis & Follow-Up

• Pets with only mild burns often recover fully.
• Lung or heart involvement lowers survival rates—pulmonary edema carries ~40‑85 % survival.
• Young, otherwise healthy dogs often do well if treated early.
• Delayed complications (e.g., lung edema, cardiac issues) require 24–36 h monitoring.

🛡 Prevention Tips

• Hide or cover cords; use deterrent sprays; unplug when not in use.
• Provide puppies with safe alternatives and supervise them.
• Limit access to areas with exposed wiring and maintain yard safety during storms.

🔧 Tools & Services

• Ask A Vet App: Instant vet guidance for emergencies 📱

✅ Final Thoughts

Electrocution is a hidden household danger for pets. Recognize signs, act quickly and safely, and pursue veterinary care—even if symptoms seem minor. Early intervention and continued monitoring offer the best chance for recovery. Equip your home with preventive measures and rely on trusted tools like AskAVet. 🐾❤️

Download the Ask A Vet app today to be prepared for veterinary emergencies and support your dog’s recovery journey. ⚡📱