Sometimes, dogs may eat plastic unknowingly while trying to get their teeth on something delicious or when playing with some plastic toys. Plastic ingestion is not always a serious problem since it will be passed without affecting the dog’s digestive system or releasing harmful chemicals. Often very small pieces will pass right through your dog’s system. But in other cases, it can cause very serious health problems. Some dogs may even die after eating plastic. In this piece, we introduce you to the tips you need to have to deal with extreme cases of plastic ingestion.
What to Do When Your Dog Eats Plastic
Consider the steps listed below if you discover that your dog has eaten plastic.
- Check your dog’s condition
First of all, do a round check to determine the seriousness of the incidence. First of all, try to determine how much plastic was ingested and determine how it has affected them. in addition, check the dog’s normal body functions like breathing to ensure they can handle the situation as you wait for the vet. This is done to ensure that your dog is breathing normally and that he isn’t choking on any of the plastic.
- Try to remove any plastic present
If you get to the scene as the dog is ingesting the plastic, try to remove any plastic present in the dog’s mouth to reduce the seriousness of the situation and avoid more danger. Make sure that none of the plastic is stuck between his teeth or stuck to the roof of his mouth.
- Try to induce vomiting
Vomiting is a good way to remove already swallowed plastic from the system before it advances further into the digestive system. In some cases, inducing vomiting is the best way to remove the plastic from your pet’s body although this depends on the size and sharpness of the plastic, so it will vary on a case-by-case basis.
- Contact your vet
When the situation is very serious like in cases of choking, we recommend consulting an expert like the vet to get professional help. The vet will consider all of the relevant factors, determine the relative risk of serious problems, and recommend a prudent course of action.
Conclusion
Plastic ingestion is common in dogs and needs to be handled with care depending on the seriousness of the case. We recommend considering the above tips when you encounter them with your dog.
References: PawP, VeterinaryEmergencyGroup, K9ofMine
