The gastrointestinal system can be evacuated with the use of cathartics, lead foreign bodies in the GI tract can be surgically removed. Drugs such as calcium EDTA and D-penicillamine are given to the patient to reduce the lead burden in the body. Multiple courses of treatment over several weeks are often necessary. One interesting facet of canine lead poisoning is how it acts as an indicator of human exposure. Unless the dog's illness is caused by the obvious ingestion of lead objects, dogs exposed to lead in their environment often have owners with significant lead exposure as well.
Environmental decontamination is critical for future health, both canine and human.
A final word about lead poisoning. We commonly find lead shotgun pellets under the skin of field dogs, usually when taking X-rays for some other reason. This type of lead exposure is not associated with significant toxicity, the lead must be ingested for problems to occur. The other common metal poisoning in dogs is zinc. Zinc toxicity causes a severe hemolytic anemia.