Dogs are naturally drawn to bodily excretions. The smell of decaying human waste makes bathrooms a constant source of intrigue for your dog, from soaps to bloody tampons. Although the scenario seems to be terrible, it happens frequently.
Sad to say, most dogs aren’t picky about what they eat. No matter how strange or unpleasant it may appear to you, eating a tampon is very common among dogs. It’s totally understandable that you may have wondered why your pups eat weird stuff like tampons. After all, as a pet parent, you need to know what to do in case an event like this happens.
Your pooch eats tampons for a variety of reasons, all of which may be traced back to their DNA. Canines explore with the use of their mouth and nose, and when presented with a relatively strong or unusual odor, they can’t help but investigate further. If your pooch eats a tampon, contact your vet right away as it may lead to health issues.
We acknowledge that your dog’s health is very important to you so we will be thoroughly discussing what happens to dogs after eating tampons and how it affects their digestive system, as well as the ways to prevent it. Keep on reading so you can learn more.
What Happens When A Dog Eats A Tampon?
A tampon with a thread attached stuck in your dog’s digestive system can become trapped. That thread can work as a chainsaw in the digestive tract, ripping the esophagus lining, colon, or small intestine.
If the tampon is advertised as “ultra-absorbent”, the same properties that make it a good personal hygiene product might cause many problems inside your doggie’s body. A more absorbent tampon will most likely occupy the largest surface in your doggie’s digestive tract.
The next section will be all about the signs and symptoms to look out for in case you have caught your doggie eating used or unused tampons.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms To Look Out For?
If your pooch eats a tampon, don’t freak out; your dog isn’t the first to do so. Even so, you should be on the lookout for a few signs and symptoms that could suggest a major problem. If you think your dog ate a used or unused tampon, keep an eye on its feces over the next 48 hours.
If the tampon is in good condition, hasn’t absorbed too much liquid, and hasn’t become stuck along the way, it should pass in the dog’s feces within that time frame. Watch out for sudden changes in your dog’s temperament or food habits if a blockage has occurred. A dog with an intestinal blockage may suffer the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Lethargy
- Depression
Any of these signs and symptoms could suggest that your pup’s digestive tract is blocked or that the tampon’s thread has twisted a section of his intestines. If you see any of these indications, contact your veterinarian right away and obey his or her instructions.
Will My Dog Be Okay After Eating A Tampon?
The answer to this question lies in how fast you act in this situation. Normally, your dog will be alright if there are no blockages in its stomach. However, you should still keep a close watch on your pup’s feces over the next 24 to 48 hours. During this period, your dog may release the tampon on its own.
Contact your veterinarian if you notice any of the symptoms of obstruction listed above and the tampon has not been eliminated after 48 hours.
Never delay getting professional assistance. Long-term tampon obstruction can result in intestinal ripping, inflammation, internal bleeding, and severe dehydration.
Is Tampon Dangerous For Dogs?
Sadly, letting your dog eat tampons might be quite dangerous for them. The blood won’t hurt your dog, but the threads and cotton fibers in the tampon can strangle it or induce an intestinal blockage. This isn’t just uncomfortable, but it can also cut off blood flow to portions of your doggie’s stomach, esophagus, or intestines.
A variety of factors will influence the overall danger posed, such as:
The Total Number Of Tampons Eaten
One tampon is considerably more possible than a dozen to get through your doggie’s intestines. This is why it’s so necessary to figure out how many tampons your doggie has consumed. If you’re not certain how many were in the bathroom or trash bin, check how many are left in the container to get an estimate.
The Size Of Your Dog
Because larger dogs’ intestinal tracts are bigger, they may pass tampons as well as other ingested things more quickly than small dogs. A maximum of one tampon may be safe for certain large dog breeds. However, as much as possible, avoid letting your doggie eat a tampon
Can Dogs Digest Tampons?
Dogs cannot completely digest tampons. Even though tampons aren’t digested, they could still travel through your doggie’s digestive system.
If your doggie consumes a tampon, it will most likely pass through within a day or two. Terrible situations, on the other hand, may occur. It could induce an intestinal blockage in your cute little pooch.
As a result, if you observe your pet trying to play with a tampon and portions of it have gone missing, you should take it to your veterinarian. You should have your dog inspected if you think the tampon has been eaten. Although your dog shows no signs of illness, you should still do so.
How Long Does It Take For A Tampon To Block A Dog’s Stomach?
In most cases, signs of an intestinal blockage appear within 24 hours of consumption. This timeline may be influenced by a number of factors. Sometimes, it may even take up to 4 days to cause symptoms, so be on the lookout for a few days after the event.
Food, gas, and liquids cannot pass through these forms of blockages in your pup’s digestive tract. Not only may this be terribly painful, but it can also result in necrosis, which can lead to several other issues.
Can Dogs Poop Out A Tampon?
The tampon may pass through the intestines and out the other end in certain canines, and there’s always the possibility of complications developing. Your dog may be able to poop out a tampon in 10 to 24 hours.
The size, type, and quantity of tampons and applicators used, as well as the dog’s size, all play a role in pretty fortunate circumstances, but there are no assurances! Because your pup’s ability to pass a tampon on their own isn’t guaranteed, it’s essential to seek medical help as soon as you notice them eating the tampon.
Can A Dog Die From Eating Tampons?
It is quite unlikely that a tampon will kill your doggie. Yet, ingesting a tampon exposes any animal to a variety of health risks. If consumed, tampons contain chemicals that are hazardous to every animal.
Hence, tampons have the potential to induce poisoning, but this type of poisoning is highly unlikely. Dogs eat a wide variety of foods, so they may not be able to digest all of them. Instead, the ingested tampon would be allowed to pass through.
Why Does My Dog Eat Used Tampons?
Dogs eat used tampons because of their natural instincts. The sexual organs of humans contain a large number of pheromones.
Pheromones are molecules released into the atmosphere by mammals that affect the actions of other animals. Although the scent of menstrual blood is repulsive to humans, it is extremely appealing to your pooch due to these pheromones.
Regardless of a dog’s nature, eating something like a discarded tampon can be harmful to their health. While blood isn’t harmful to your dog, the chemicals used in tampons can cause choking and even intestinal blockage.
Are Used Tampons More Dangerous Than Unused Tampons?
Tampons that have been used are generally thought to be safer for dogs to consume. If an unused tampon is covered in a hard plastic case, it may be much more challenging for your dog to pass and may even cause lacerations in the digestive tract.
Your pup will not feel the tampon widening in their stomach since used tampons have already expanded because of the liquid that has already been on them. However, this isn’t to suggest that your pet won’t struggle to pass a tampon that has already been used.
Are Tampon Applicators Dangerous For Dogs?
The tampon applicator isn’t nearly as harmful as the tampon. Tampon applicators are mainly formed of thin plastic that travels through your dog’s digestive tract without obstructing it. You can attempt to induce vomiting if you learn about the incident within 2 hours of consumption.
Should I Make My Dog Throw Up After Eating Tampons?
You can let your dog throw up if the tampons have been eaten within the last 2 hours. Various methods can be used to attain this. It is advised that you use 3% hydrogen peroxide to make your pet vomit properly.
Home remedies, on the other hand, might sometimes make your pooch worse than the root problem. Unless your veterinarian thinks it’s worth the risk, you must never induce vomiting at home.
How To Make My Dog Vomit After Eating Tampons?
Just provide a teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution per 10 lbs of dog weight using an eyedropper or syringe. Check to see whether your pup vomits after at least 15 minutes. If it doesn’t work, try it again 2 to 3 times. Leave it alone if nothing occurs after the three doses.
It’s still best to seek the advice of your trusted veterinarian that can inject your pooch to cause intense, consistent vomiting, allowing the objects to be removed from the stomach. This will keep the tampons from going farther into the intestines, where they could cause more serious issues.
How Long Does It Take A Dog To Throw Up Tampons?
The expected time may vary, especially if you have done something to induce vomiting. Ideally, it would take your pooch 10 to 24 hours to throw up a tampon, especially if it didn’t block their digestive tract.
What To Do If Your Dog Eats A Tampon?
Remain calm if your doggie eats a tampon. It’s also vital that you act immediately to ensure that your dog has the best possible chance of fully recovering from this horrific incident.
Contact your veterinarian right away if you suspect your dog has swallowed a tampon. Vets have years of experience and will be able to provide you with excellent advice.
It is recommended that you contact your veterinarian in some way, whether you pay them a visit or perhaps just call them for assistance. Waiting for any indication of obstruction is incredibly dangerous because it can cause you to miss the golden opportunity for successful recovery.
What Should I Do If My Dog Has A Tampon Stuck In Its Stomach?
At the very least, you should contact your veterinarian for advice. They might let you try a couple of things at home before taking your dog in, depending on the situation. If you know your dog had tampons within the last hour, you may want to induce vomiting.
If your dog isn’t displaying signs and symptoms of acute blockage and discomfort, your veterinarian may advise you to feed your dog little amounts of food and monitor for signs of the tampon passing through its feces. Don’t feed your dog until you’ve spoken with your veterinarian about the best course of action.
What Will The Vet Do If My Dog Ate A Tampon?
The treatment given to your pup is determined by its condition. Your pet’s vitals will most probably be checked, and the veterinarian will conduct a basic exam. Your veterinarian will inquire about your pup’s behavior and the details surrounding the incident. The veterinarian will then examine your dog’s mouth for any evidence of tampon.
If your vet thinks it’s necessary, they’ll use X-rays to identify the exact location of the tampon. A fiber optic endoscope can also be used to eliminate the tampon if the position is favorable.
Surgery may be required in instances when the digestive tract has been damaged, or the tampon is positioned deep within the digestive system. Your pooch will be given pain meds when the procedure is completed, and the tampon is removed. It’s also possible that a follow-up will be scheduled.
Gut Blockage Surgery
Your veterinarian will provide general anesthesia to your pup to eliminate any obstruction. They’ll cut open your dog’s stomach to find the tampon. The tampon will be cut over, pulled out, and the gut will be sewn up again.
Usually, your dog may go home within a day or two following a simple retrieval surgery and will be back to their regular shenanigans within a week or two. The risk is increased if your surgeon has to remove the bowel because of a serious blockage though most dogs should be alright.
How To Prevent Your Dog From Eating Tampons?
If your pooch consumes tampons on a regular basis, you should take steps to prevent it from continuing this disgusting and filthy habit. As a rule of thumb, keeping your pooch from stealing your tampon is the most effective approach to avoid such mishaps.
In addition to these, here are some tips to get you started:
Maintain Cleanliness
Keep your dog away from unused or used tampons, as well as anything that smells like blood, such as your undergarments. Garbage cans should be covered with lids and kept out of sight.
This is important in bathrooms, where garbage cans often contain used tampons. So, these cans should be secured to prevent your dog from knocking them over and spilling their contents out, and be closed properly to keep these tampons out of reach.
Have Training Sessions With Your Dog
Teach your dog the “NO” command in order for them not to go near the things that may pose harm to them, including tampons. A dog trainer may also be able to stop them from doing this behavior using specialized training techniques.
Consult A Canine Behaviorist
Seek advice from a canine behaviorist. In the instance of a compulsive behavior disorder, a professional’s assessment may be required to determine the reason for the behavior.
For dogs who have been exhibiting compulsive behavior for a significant duration, medications, such as fluoxetine, can be administered.
Engage Your Dog With Physical Activities
Since eating a tampon is likely a boredom-related habit, increasing your pup’s physical activity and taking it on more walks will have a beneficial impact and lessen their need to eat weird objects.
