My dog got sick after a show. Was it poisoned there?
- MATTER
- Shows & events
- JURISDICTION
- UK
- BASED ON
- News reports
- LAST REVIEWED
- November 2026
You’re home from a show, and your dog is drooling, vomiting, shaking. Your first thought: someone did this at the show. Here’s what to do in the first minutes, and why the question of where can wait.
Based on news reports. Details may be incomplete.
The short answer
Get your dog to a vet now. Where it happened can be worked out later, from evidence.[6]
Many poisons act within hours, so the timing usually says more than your suspicions. Keep anything that might help: vomit, packaging, the food your dog ate.
What to do now
In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply).[6] Elsewhere, ask your vet for the national animal poison line.
What decides it
A top show dog competed at one of the world’s biggest shows, then traveled home to another country. About a day after leaving the show, he collapsed and died. His owners were sure he’d been poisoned at the show, and the story went around the world within hours. A second dog from the same group also fell ill.[1][2]
1. Timing is evidence
A real case: poisoned, but not at the show
The toxicology report found two fast-acting pesticides, banned in the EU, in a piece of meat the dog had eaten. The show organizers said that, according to independent toxicologists, these poisons usually cause severe signs within half an hour to a few hours. The dog had shown no signs until well after he was home.[1][3]
So the organizers concluded that the poison was very likely eaten at home, shortly before he died, and not at the show. Reports at the time said the police were aware of the case but didn’t open an investigation. Who did it was never established publicly.[2][4]
What it means for you: a dog that falls ill after a show was not necessarily poisoned at the show. The poison, the time it takes to act and the timeline together point to where it happened.
2. Not every illness after a show is poisoning
Travel, heat, stress, new food and infections picked up from other dogs can all make a dog ill after a show. A vet can tell these apart from poisoning, with an exam and, if needed, tests on blood, vomit or stomach contents.
| Signs that can fit some pesticide poisonings | Other causes worth ruling out |
|---|---|
| Heavy drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, very small pupils, twitching, breathing trouble, seizures, often within hours[5] | Heatstroke, stress diarrhea, food change, an infection picked up at the show |
3. If you suspect it happened at the show, report it properly
Social media spreads suspicion fast, and the facts slowly. If you think someone harmed dogs at a show, tell the show management and the police, give them your vet’s findings, and let them investigate. Organizers can step up security: the following year, this show doubled its patrols and added CCTV.[4]
What the kennel clubs say
- Show organizers want to know. Report suspected harm to the show secretary or management, in writing, as soon as you can.
- Clubs can’t diagnose or investigate a crime. Your vet establishes the cause, and the police investigate a crime.
- Check your club’s show rules on how to report incidents, and on veterinary support at the show.
Last updated: November 12, 2026
Step by step
- Vet first. Bring any vomit, packaging or leftover food in a sealed bag.
- Write the timeline while you remember it: every stop, every treat, who handled your dog.
- Ask your vet whether tests are worth doing. If your dog dies, ask about a necropsy and toxicology, and keep samples.
- Check your other dogs, and check your garden and car for anything they could have eaten.
- Tell the show management in writing if you suspect the show, and report to the police if you suspect a crime.
- Wait for results before you post. If you share, stick to facts, and update people when you know more.
How to prevent it next time
At shows:
- Bring your own food and water. Don’t let strangers feed your dog.
- Never leave your dog unattended on the bench, in a crate or in the car.
- Pick up anything your dog sniffs at on the way in and out.
At home and on the road:
- Know your nearest emergency clinic at the show and on the way home.
- Save the poison line number in your phone.
- Walk your dog on a lead in unfamiliar places, and watch what goes in its mouth.
What we can’t tell you
We can’t tell you what made your dog sick, or where. Only a vet, with an exam and tests, can say. Poison lines and their fees differ between countries.
The evidence · What the reports showed
Toxicology found fast-acting pesticides, and the timing pointed to the poison being eaten at home, not at the show.
The dog showed no signs until well after he was home, while these poisons usually act within hours.
- Channel 4 News, Dead Crufts dog poisoned in Belgium, organisers say (16 March 2015). channel4.com
- Associated Press via HeraldNet, UK Kennel Club says tests show dog was poisoned in Belgium (16 March 2015). heraldnet.com
- Veterinary Nurse / vnonline, Jagger ‘not poisoned at Crufts’ (March 2015). vnonline.co.uk
- VICE UK, follow-up report including the police response and later show security. vice.com
- Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), Insecticide Poisoning. merckvetmanual.com
- ASPCA, What to Do if Your Pet Is Poisoned. aspca.org
- American Red Cross, Dog Poisoning (pet first aid). redcross.org
Related
Breeder’s Library: Your first dog show → Breeder’s Library: Dog first aid kit basics → Breeder’s Library: Poisoning risks in the kennel and home →General information, not veterinary advice. If you think your dog has been poisoned, contact a vet immediately.