Last Updated on: 24th November 2023, 11:49 pm
Dogs will generally eat anything that appears interesting to them. An interesting scent, dropping a piece of food, or rummaging through garbage are all common ways for dogs to eat what they should. With that in mind, if you have a dog, they can easily end up eating one of your panty liners.
If you find yourself in the scenario where your dog ate panty liner the first thing you'll want to do is call your vet. Since panty liners are not meant to be digested, it could lead to some serious complications for your pup like intestinal blockages and infections.
In this article, we will talk about what do do if your dog has eaten a panty liner, if panty liners are poisonous to dogs, and how to remove the panty liner from your dog.
What Should I Do if My Dog Ate a Panty Liner?
Discovering your dog has ingested a panty liner can be a cause for concern, but taking the right steps promptly is crucial for their health and well-being. This is because a dog could become sick if it gets lodged somewhere in his stomach or intestines. Here’s our comprehensive guide on what to do if you find yourself in this situation:
Contact Your Veterinarian Immediately
The first and most critical step is to call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic as soon as you notice the issue. Provide them with essential details about your dog, such as their size, breed, and any noticeable symptoms.
Observe Your Dog
While waiting for professional advice, closely monitor your dog’s behavior. Look for signs of distress, which can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, or difficulty passing stool. Note any changes and report them to your vet.
Do Not Attempt to Induce Vomiting
It might be tempting to try making your dog vomit to expel the panty liner, but this can be dangerous and may worsen the situation. Only induce vomiting if specifically instructed by your veterinarian.
Professional Diagnosis
Your veterinarian will likely recommend diagnostic tests, such as X-rays or imaging, to determine the exact location and potential damage caused by the panty liner in your dog’s digestive tract. This information will guide further treatment.
Consider Surgical Intervention
In some instances, when the panty liner or another foreign object is causing an obstruction or posing a significant threat, surgery may be necessary to remove it safely. Your vet will discuss this option if needed.
Prevention is Key
To prevent future incidents, store feminine hygiene products and other small, tempting objects securely out of your dog’s reach. Dogs are naturally curious and may be attracted to such items, so proactive prevention is essential.
In Short
Acting swiftly and seeking professional veterinary care is paramount when your dog has ingested a foreign object like a panty liner. Keep your dog’s health and well-being as your top priority, and trust the guidance of your veterinarian to ensure the best possible outcome.
Are Panty Liners Or Underwear Toxic to Dogs?
No, panty liners aren’t poisonous to dogs – they don’t contain any chemicals that will make your dog sick. However, since they are absorbent, they can lead to intestinal blockage when ingested in large quantities, especially in small dogs.
This can cause symptoms like lack of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, and abdominal pain. If left untreated, this can be life-threatening.
When your dog eats absorbent materials like panty liners, underwear, absorbent meat pads, paper towels, tampons, or sanitary towels, they expand while in the digestive tract. This can cause intestinal obstructions that can restrict blood to certain parts of the bowel, causing them to start deteriorating. Beyond that, it blocks the path of any food your dog tries to eat after the fact. This is what causes the symptoms as mentioned above.
The vet will have to do an X-ray to figure out the severity and exact location of your dog’s obstruction. This will help them determine if the foreign materials will pass on their own or your dog will need medical intervention. In some cases, Your dog will require emergency surgery. In these cases, you will need to prepare yourself financially and emotionally for the work it will take to get your dog to its usual healthy self.
Potential Risks If Your Dog Ate Panty Liner
If a dog ate a panty liner, there are several potential dangers and risks involved.
Gastrointestinal Obstructions
Panty liners are not easily digestible, and if a dog swallows one or a portion of one, it can become lodged in the dog’s digestive tract. This can lead to a gastrointestinal obstruction, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition.
Choking Hazard
If the panty liner is large or if the dog attempts to swallow it whole, there is a risk of choking.
Tissue Irritation
The materials used in panty liners, including the absorbent core and the outer layer, may contain chemicals or substances that can be irritating to a dog’s digestive tract.
Toxicity
Some panty liners may contain fragrances, dyes, or other chemicals that could be harmful if ingested by a dog.
Risk of Infection
If the panty liner is soiled with bodily fluids or other contaminants, it can introduce bacteria or pathogens into the dog’s digestive system.
Behavioral Concerns
In some cases, ingesting foreign objects like panty liners may indicate pica, a behavioral disorder where dogs have an abnormal appetite for non-food items. Addressing the underlying behavioral issue is important to prevent future incidents.
Can a Dog Pass a Panty Liner?
Yes, a dog can pass a panty liner, but typically it has to be a bigger dog.
Due to the size of their digestive tract, such dogs have a higher chance of passing a panty liner than their smaller counterparts. To move things along, though, you can feed your dog as usual, but buy some canned pumpkin to add to their food until you see the panty liner in their poop.
Pure canned pumpkin contains soluble fibers that add weight to your dog’s stool and lower the pH in their digestive tract. This ensures helpful bacteria thrive and hasten the digestive process. You need to be careful not to give your dog any pie mixes, though. Unlike their pure counterparts, they contain a harmful chemical to dogs – xylitol.
However, prevention is always better than cure when it comes down to it. So it’s better for you to train your dog not to eat panty liners and other foreign objects instead of having to deal with the aftermath of them doing so. To get things started, you can use a dog chewing deterrent spray. Such sprays make anything you apply them to bitter so that your dog doesn’t chew or eat them.
Symptoms To Watch Out For
If a dog has ingested a panty liner or any foreign object, there are various symptoms to watch our for depending on the size of the object, where it’s lodged in the digestive tract, and the individual dog’s reaction. Common symptoms of foreign object ingestion in dogs may include:
Vomiting
Frequent or repeated vomiting is a common early sign. Particularly, monitor if the animal vomits after it drinks. This can include vomiting back the food, bile, or even the foreign object itself.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea, which may contain blood or mucus, can occur as the body attempts to expel the foreign object.
Abdominal Pain
Dogs may exhibit signs of abdominal discomfort or pain, such as restlessness, whining, or guarding their abdomen.
Loss of Appetite
A dog that has ingested a foreign object may lose interest in food and refuse to eat.
Lethargy
The dog may become lethargic and less active than usual.
Straining to Defecate
If the object has reached the lower part of the digestive tract, the dog may strain while trying to defecate.
Changes in Behavior
Behavioral changes, such as increased anxiety or agitation, can occur due to discomfort.
Dehydration
Repeated vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which may manifest as dry gums, excessive thirst, or sunken eyes.
Collapse or Shock
In severe cases, where there is a complete obstruction or perforation of the digestive tract, the dog may go into shock, which can result in collapse.
When To Go To The Vet
Not all dogs will exhibit all of these symptoms, and the severity can vary. Early diagnosis and treatment can be critical in preventing complications and ensuring the well-being of your dog. Your veterinarian may recommend diagnostic tests such as X-rays to determine the location and size of the object and the appropriate course of action.
Why Do Dogs Eat Panty Liners?
Generally, when a dog loves you, it will be drawn to items that strongly carry your scent. As such, they will eat your dirty socks, underwear, and even panty liners. In some ways, such acts, as gross as they are, can make your dog feel closer to you. Sometimes, your dog even believes that they are protecting you by doing these acts.
Like many other animals, dogs are led by their sense of smell. This means that they can smell your pheromones and get excited when they do so, especially when they’ve missed you. It also means that they view anything that has your strong scent as valuable and wouldn’t want it to end up in the grasp of “enemies .”That’s why they’re attracted to your panty liners and will chew them up without hesitation.
This behavior is often referred to as “pica.” While the specific cause can vary from one dog to another, below you’ll find some common reasons why dogs might engage in pica behavior.
Exploration and Curiosity
Dogs often use their mouths to explore the world around them. They may pick up and chew on objects they encounter out of curiosity, especially when they’re puppies.
Boredom
Dogs that are bored or not mentally stimulated may resort to chewing on objects, including panty liners, as a way to alleviate their boredom.
Anxiety or Stress
Dogs may exhibit pica behavior as a response to anxiety, stress, or separation anxiety. Chewing on objects can be a coping mechanism for some dogs.
Dietary Deficiencies
In some cases, dogs may eat non-food items if they have nutritional deficiencies. They may be seeking additional nutrients that are lacking in their diet.
Attention-Seeking
Dogs are social animals, and they may chew on objects as a way to get attention from their owners, even if it’s negative attention (e.g., scolding).
Medical Issues
Certain medical conditions, such as gastrointestinal disorders, may cause dogs to eat non-food items in an attempt to alleviate discomfort or nausea.
Puppy Teething
Puppies may chew on objects like panty liners as they go through the teething process. Chewing can help soothe their sore gums.
Behavioral Problems
Some dogs may develop compulsive behaviors, including pica, as a result of underlying behavioral problems.
Pica Behaviors
If you notice your dog exhibiting pica behavior or regularly ingesting non-food items, it’s crucial to consult with a veterinarian. Your vet can help identify the underlying cause of the behavior and provide guidance on how to address it effectively. In some cases, behavior modification techniques and changes in the dog’s environment may be necessary to prevent pica and ensure the dog’s safety and well-being.
Conclusion
If there’s one thing you should know about dogs by now, it’s that they won’t hesitate to eat foreign objects, even the grossest ones. So if your dog has eaten a panty liner recently, there’s no reason to panic – it is common and can be handled easily.
In fact, some dogs will even pass the panty liner with no external help. And even if they do need some help, the interventions we have outlined are enough to safely get them to the other side.
