Why would a dog eat a tampon? Dogs love to eat strange things as they often chew new objects as a way of interacting with them. Unfortunately, this sometimes means they can swallow items of feminine hygiene, which are often soft and novel for them. Without meaning to sound disgusting, if ‘used’ these items can seem even more intriguing to a dog’s nose! Both used and unused tampons can present a danger to dogs, so treat them equally. In this article, we will discuss what can happen if your dog swallows a tampon, and what to do about it.
Is my dog in danger if they ate a tampon?
Anything that your pet eats that isnât part of a balanced, regular diet could be considered dangerousâtampons included.
This is especially true if the object poses a choking hazard, which tampons do. There are also several other reasons why your dog could potentially be in a vulnerable situation as a result of eating a tampon.Â
Its essential that once you know your pet consumed this product, you reach out to a vet as soon as possible. This will allow your pet to get the medical treatment they need and give them the best chance of making a speedy recovery.
Dont wonder. Get a vets opinion â for free.
While this list is not exhaustive, heres what can happen if your dog eats a tampon.
Close your bathroom door
Make it a habit to close your bathroom door, which is where your pet likely got access to the tampon originally.
Along with this, you should make sure that tampons are secured away or high up enough that theyâre not reachable for your pet should they get into the bathroom. You can also put them behind a closed medicine cabinet so they inaccessible to your pets.
Will My Dog Be OK If He Ate a Tampon?
Tampons are designed to withstand being inside the body for a long time and are usually made of cotton or plastics. Applicators are usually plastic too, although some are made from cardboard. This means both tampons and tampon applicators aren’t able to be digested by the gut. They’ll need to come out, one way or another, in pretty much the same condition they went in. Tampons are even worse than other foreign objects, as unused tampons will swell in the stomach, making them larger and more difficult to pass.
If your dog ate a tampon and it passes out of the stomach into the gut, it may scrape along the lining of the guts, causing pain and bloody diarrhea. At certain sections of the gut, often when it narrows or turns a corner, the tampon can become stuck. This is known as a blockage or bowel obstruction, which can rapidly become life-threatening.
FAQ
Will my dog be OK if he ate a tampon?
Why does my dog eat my used tampons?