Can drywall dust make a dog sick?
But what about the dust that kicks up from drywall and plaster? Can this harm your dog?
Well, yes, and no. Let me explain why…
Drywall dust particles have a variety of microscopic elements to them. Whilst the dust is not known to be poisonous, if inhaled in large quantity, can cause problems.
For example, with asthmatic humans, or those with propensity for allergic reactions, you would not want drywall dust in your eyes and mouth – for obvious reasons. And it’s the same with dogs.
Dogs that inhale a large cloud of drywall dust, or even a little, could be sick. The reaction could be more intense in dogs who have existing health issues.
As with anything, if your dog has taken in drywall dust, they could be sick as their body’s way of getting rid of the irritants to their throats and stomach.
What Happens When Dogs Eat Drywall?
If your pup eats small amounts of standard drywall then it should pass through them without issue. Many dogs consume very little of the actual material in the destruction process.
If a large amount of drywall has been eaten, it can cause a physical obstruction. The gypsum inside the consumed drywall can become stuck together when wet and form a large mass. If your dog has gypsum stuck in his stomach or small intestine, it causes a blockage and prevents food and water from passing through. This blockage and the irritation around it will cause food to be vomited back up again. Blockages can happen when dogs ingests any foreign body, including birds, or man-made items.
Your dog may also stop being able to pass feces. Alternatively, your pup may have diarrhea or blood in his stool due to the inflammation in his gastrointestinal tract. You may notice small pieces of chewed drywall in the vomit or stools.
Dog’s with blockages are usually off-color and won’t want to eat or drink much. They will also become lethargic. Some dogs might even collapse completely. Abdominal discomfort may be seen, your pup might be looking at his stomach more often than normal.
Your pup may adopt a different way of positioning himself to try and get more comfortable. This is often known as ‘prayer positioning’, where he has his front legs/chest lying on the ground and his rear end up in the air, to try and alleviate his discomfort. He may also be whining, whimpering, or crying.
You must call your veterinarian for advice immediately if your pet shows any of these signs after eating drywall:
Is it bad for dogs to eat drywall?
If your dog ate drywall mud or chunks, the majority of the time they should be ok. Drywall isn’t poisonous – unless it has asbestos in it or is the rogue Chinese batch from the early 2000s.
But that doesn’t mean you dog won’t get ill or even die after eating drywall. For example, I found this tragic Facebook post in a group I am in:
Whilst the poster of this comment didn’t explain the actual cause of death according to the vet, other commenters drew some conclusions.
Here’s a selection of the best replies:
As far as I can tell, most of the time eating drywall won’t be bad for your dog as there are no toxic elements. However, in some rare cases it can cause serious harm to your dog and provoke a serious reaction, for example:
If you suspect your dog has eaten any form of drywall including inhaling the dust, please do consult with your vet immediately. Symptoms can include lethargy, difficulty breathing and excessive coughing.
I would always err on the complete side of caution as you never know if eating drywall is going to be bad for your dog or not.
What Keeps a Dog From Biting the Walls? : Dog Behavior & Health
When you have a dog, you get used to all the weird things your pooch ends up putting in their mouth sooner or later.
If your dog ate drywall, a preventive call to your veterinarian is always a good idea.
Although most of the time drywall doesn’t entail dangerous consequences, there are some exceptions that should be taken into consideration.