If your 150-pound Newfie gobbled down a bit of a sandwich bag (and, presumably, the sandwich contained therein), but is running around like his normal goofball self and eating normally, your vet may simply recommend keeping an eye on him. While talking with your own vet - who understands the ins and outs of your dog’s history - is probably ideal, JustAnswer is a good backup option. The online vet can help you determine what your next steps should be. You can discuss the issue with them, and even share video or photos if need be. Was the plastic he ate used to wrap up food? What kind of food was inside the container? Did he eat a plastic bottle containing household chemicals?ĭon’t have easy access to a vet? You may want to consider getting help from JustAnswer- a service that provides instant virtual-chat access to a certified vet online. It is also important to determine what, if anything, could have been on the plastic, as this may represent an additional danger. So, examine the evidence available (there will often be small pieces of whatever he consumed on the ground) and try to determine what he ate and how much of it he managed to choke down.
I t’s also important to determine the type of plastic he swallowed – there’s a big difference between the hard plastic of your TV remote and the plastic used in sandwich bags.
Once you are reasonably confident that your dog isn’t in imminent danger (meaning that he can breathe and doesn’t appear to be in serious pain or distress), you’ll want to try to figure out how much plastic he’s eaten. It’s important to ensure that your dog’s mouth is plastic-free, but you don’t want to complicate matters by getting your fingers nipped. If you don’t feel comfortable or safe putting your hands in your dog’s mouth, just hop in the car and head over to the vet. Make sure that none of the plastic is stuck between his teeth or stuck to the roof of his mouth. Regardless of how much plastic your dog has already eaten, you don’t want him to swallow any more.
Open your dog’s mouth and remove any plastic present. It’s also wise to have a first-aid kit for dogs on hand.Ģ.
This isn’t likely to happen if your dog ate a small piece of plastic when you turned your back for a moment, but it is a distinct possibility if your dog ate the plastic hours before you discovered him.Īll dog owners should learn how to perform canine CPR and the dog Heimlich maneuver. These types of symptoms may suggest an intestinal obstruction has occurred. If he is lying in unusual ways, exhibits abdominal pain or appears to be bloated, contact your vet at once. If he is coughing, gagging or exhibiting panicked behavior, call your vet and head over to the office (or the closest veterinary hospital) immediately.īe sure to watch your dog’s body posture too.
Assess your dog’s condition.Ĭheck to ensure that your doggo is breathing normally and that he isn’t choking on any of the plastic.Ĭhoking is the most acute danger to dogs who have eaten plastic. By acting quickly, you’ll be able to give your dog the best chance of escaping the ordeal without suffering serious injury. Plan of Action: What to Do Following Your Dog’s Plastic-Eating Incidentįollow the steps listed below if you discover that your dog has eaten plastic. Don’t leave plastic items laying around if your dog may chew them up, and be sure to stick to high-quality chew toys. The best way to address plastic consumption is through prevention.Some may do so out of boredom, frustration, or curiosity, while puppies may do so because they’re teething. Dogs eat plastic for a variety of reasons.From there, you’ll need to contact your vet and follow the instructions provided. You’ll need to start by throwing out any plastic still on the ground and removing any remaining plastic from your dog’s mouth. You’ll want to take prompt action if you discover that your dog has eaten plastic.Plastic can cause a number of problems, including mouth injuries, choking, gastrointestinal perforations, and intestinal obstructions. The consumption of plastic is very dangerous for dogs.We’ll explain the dangers plastic poses below and explain what you’ll want to do if you discover your dog has eaten some. Some dogs may even die after eating plastic. But in other cases, it can cause very serious health problems. This isn’t always a serious problem – very small pieces will often pass right through your dog’s system. Some dogs may eat plastic inadvertently while trying to get their teeth on something delicious, while others may simply find a random piece of plastic intriguing and decide to have a nibble. Given the amount of plastic in the average home, it’s not surprising that dogs occasionally choke some down.