Related Read: My Dog Ate an Ant Trap! - Here’s What to Do (Our Vet Answers) Treatment for a dog that has eaten plastic They may also recommend home treatment, such as inducing vomiting, but you should only do this if your veterinarian recommends it – there is a risk that the plastic could get stuck on the way back up, which is much harder to treat. Your veterinarian may recommend that you monitor your pet for signs instead of going straight to the clinic – be sure to find out exactly what they want you to look for, and how long it would take for the plastic to pass. Early treatment is more likely to be successful. If your vet wants you to bring your dog into the clinic for an examination, then please do so. Your veterinarian may also want to know the approximate size or weight of your dog. Tell them if your dog is showing any symptoms such as choking, pawing at the mouth, or vomiting.
Try and tell them how much your dog may have eaten, whether it was hard or sharp plastic, and whether it contained any harmful products. Call your veterinarianĬall your veterinary clinic as soon as possible if you think your dog has swallowed some of the plastic, even if they seem ok. Is your dog still bright and alert? Or are they choking or showing signs of discomfort? If possible, check that there is no plastic still in his mouth – but only if you feel safe to do so as dogs can bite if in pain or distress. If your dog has eaten plastic packaging, the contents could also be harmful (for example cleaning chemicals, chocolate, and medication) so you should try to find the ingredients list. Remove your dog from the area so that you can quickly clean up any remaining plastic. If your dog has eaten plastic, don’t panic. Fragments of plastic could also cut your dog’s mouth and tongue, and choking is also another possible risk. Symptoms may not be apparent straight away and could take a couple of days to develop. This can cause inflammation or even a dangerous perforation (hole or tear in the lining of the intestines).
Chewed plastic can have sharp edges, which have the potential to become lodged in the wall of the stomach or intestines. Most commonly, the plastic gets stuck and forms a blockage – this means that food and water are unable to pass through the stomach or small intestines.īut blockage isn’t the only concern. Regardless of whether your dog has swallowed a plastic toy whole or has chewed and swallowed bits of a plastic bag, as soon as the plastic hits the stomach it can start to cause problems. Plastic is not digestible, so it will not break down in your dog’s stomach. We’re going to talk about the risks of eating plastic, when to worry, and what to do next. When they become soiled with slobber or dirt, just pop off the covers and throw them in the wash.Ī recent search showed availability of Bottle Crunchers on Ebay and Amazon.Dogs are scavengers by nature and their strong teeth and jaws mean they can chew all sorts of things, including plastic! Sometimes the plastic will have contained something tasty like food, but often it’s just that your dog got a bit carried away with playing! Either way, if your dog has eaten plastic, you’re probably worried. Just pull open the Velcro tabs and pop in a new bottle.Īnd Bottle Crunchers clean up nicely. Just listen … when they toy gets “quiet,” you’ll know that your dog has pretty much destroyed the empty water bottle inside. It really is an ingenious idea.Īnd Bottle Crunchers can be refilled. Secure Velcro closures keep the empty bottle tucked safely inside while your dog chews to his heart’s delight. As your dog chews, the bottle inside makes all those wonderful crunching noises he loves, but the protective sleeve keeps the sharp edges from cutting his mouth. They fit snuggly around an empty water bottle. These brightly colored protective “sleeves” look like cute little critters – an adorable alligator and one very cool cat. The idea behind this toy is very smart, and dogs just LOVE it!īottle Crunchers were designed to give your dog all of the fun of chewing empty water bottles … without the danger. We love bottle toys such as the Bottle Crunchers. My staff and I are always on the lookout for the best new dog toys, so we’ve tested plenty of chew toys over the years. This can cause a life-threatening gastrointestinal obstruction. Make sure also your dog does not chew up or swallow pieces of plastic including the lid. But the sharp edges from the bottle’s broken plastic can create a real health hazard for your dog, often slicing his gums and mouth.
They can’t resist the popping/crunching sound the plastic makes when they chew it. Has your dog ever chewed on an empty water bottle? Lots of dogs do.