What if my dog eats Gorilla Glue? Simple and Effective Tips

Symptoms of Gorilla Glue Poisoning in Dogs

Gorilla glue, like other polyurethane glues, reacts strongly to the presence of stomach acid. When the two combine the glue expands into a large amount of foam, then hardens. The effects, which in some cases take place in an hour or less, can be catastrophic for anything that swallows even a small amount of the adhesive.

  • Abdominal pain
  • Coughing
  • Distended stomach
  • Excessive drooling
  • Loss of appetite
  • Pawing at mouth
  • Retching
  • Vomiting
  • Types

    There are several brands of glue that have polyurethane based products in their line-up. Most of these companies have several varieties of polyurethane adhesive. Polyurethane is used in several varieties of glue as well including wood glue, construction glue, foaming glue and hot melt glue.

  • 3M
  • DAP
  • Elmer’s
  • Excel Glue
  • Franklin Titebond
  • Gorilla Glue
  • Liquid Nails- Rhino Ultra Glue
  • Loctite
  • Surehold
  • V-Tech
  • Certain types of glues pose a large poisoning risk to dogs and cats when ingested. These include certain types of wood glues, construction glues, and high-strength glues which are known as diisocyanate glues (commonly known as the popular Gorilla Glue®). Diisocyanate glue ingestions can result in irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. When this type of glue mixes with stomach fluid/acid, the glue rapidly expands into a very large, foam, firm foreign body obstruction in the stomach due to glue expansion. When ingested, clinical signs of drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite, distended stomach, retching, etc., may be seen. Often, diisocyanate glue ingestions require surgery to remove the foreign body.

    If you suspect your dog or cat ingested Gorilla Glue, call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately for treatment advice.

    Dr. Nicholas spent many years as an emergency and general practice veterinarian obsessed with keeping pets safe and healthy. He is the author of Preventive Vet’s 101 Essential Tips book series.

    Our mission is to help save dogs and cats’ lives through our educational content. To support our efforts, this page may contain affiliate links. We earn a commission for qualifying purchases – at no cost to you.

    Dr. Nicholas graduated with honors from The Royal Veterinary College in London, England and completed his Internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. He currently lives in the Pacific Northwest.

    What Happens When Dogs Eat Gorilla Glue®

    We all know our pets shouldn’t eat things that aren’t pet food, but sometimes they can’t resist eating something they shouldn’t!

    It may seem obvious that Gorilla Glue is one of the top items to keep out of reach, but toxicity surprisingly isn’t the main concern with this common adhesive—it’s how it works.

    Once swallowed, Gorilla Glue begins to expand and harden in the stomach. It becomes impossible for the pet (or even human) to pass or vomit it, causing a serious blockage. It can only be removed surgically and even then it needs to be addressed quickly.

    Here, we see board-certified surgeon, Dr. Yonathan Buks,with what looks like a geode. A closer look reveals it’s actually a lump of solidified Gorilla Glue surrounding some kibble that he removed from a puppy’s stomach.

    Be sure to keep non-food items away from your pet’s reach, and to call your veterinarian immediately if they come in contact with a dangerous substance.