While humans always control what goes into their mouths, dogs do not. They are equal-opportunity eaters as they will put anything that looks or smells edible into their mouth and chomp down on it. This may sometimes be broken shards from light bulbs or glass ornaments.
If you suspect your dog ate glass, it can be worrying, and with good reason. Glass is dangerous considering it is not only indigestible but also sharp. Your face will twist in displeasure, imagining pieces of edged glass shards passing through your puppy’s digestive tract.
Unlike things like baby diapers, vomit, cat poop, socks, and batteries, canines don’t typically choose to chew or eat glass, but they are prone to mistakes and accidents.
Dogs eat glass more often than you might think or notice. Thankfully, in most cases, eating glass is not as harmful to dogs as it may sound.
In this article, we shall discuss further the contributing factors and the effects of your dog eating glass.
Why Do Dogs Eat Glass?
Finding your dog bent over some broken glass shards could have something to do with several things.
- They could have been pulled toward the glass by its scent, color, shine, and overall look.
- Your dog might have come across a tasty snack and taken some glass down with it.
- A dog mistake glass for something they are familiar with, such as a ball, ornament, or other play items and objects around the home.
Your Dog Ate Glass. Now What?
Upon realizing your canine companion may have eaten glass, you must first assess the situation. Examine your puppy’s mouth thoroughly, following the most noticeable indications that will be external.
Do not induce vomiting. When throwing up, there are contractions of tissues. The pressure and force exerted during the vomiting process could lead to the glass causing more harm and damage when going back up the esophagus than it did when going down.
On the brighter side, a dog’s digestive tract and the system have low pressure, making it easy to pass the glass in poop with some help.
In most cases, a dog will not swallow the glass. Once it is in their mouth and they realize their mistake, they will spit it out. In case they do not, and the pieces are tiny, there are high chances that they will comfortably pass them out through the tract.
The degree of the wounds likely to be sustained depends on the size and shape of the broken glass pieces. If they are small, your pup might only get shallow cuts on the lips, tongue, or gums.
In the not-so-lucky cases where the glass shards are more significant and sharp on the edges, your dog might get more profound, severe oral lacerations and internal injuries. The gut lining or the intestinal tract could be cut, causing bleeding from the inside.
Also, your dog may suffer from gastroenteritis or develop a blockage, leaving them swollen in the stomach area and unable to pass anything.
What To Do: Remedies And Solutions
The mouth is easily infected, and oral wounds can become septic if not carefully handled. If you are not a professional, you may want to take your considered course of action through a second audit. What appears to be okay or relatively insignificant to you might have serious consequences in the long run.
Contact your trusted veterinary doctor and seek guidance if you suspect your dog ate glass.
Your vet may recommend that you feed your dog foods that will aid in the passing of the glass by encircling and cushioning it. This prevents the shards from causing your pup harm as they go through the digestive tract.
They may include:
- Mashed potatoes
- A piece of bread
- Canned pumpkin (avoid pumpkin pie filling)
These foods are soft and lose their shape fast; hence, they are a perfect cushion to any sharp glass edges. They also prevent glass shard traces from getting stuck in your pup’s intestinal walls.
Over the next few days, you may be advised to feed your puppy between four to six small meals, with additional fiber, in place of their custom one or two meals daily.
Once you’ve fed your dog either of these foods, be keen around them and look out for the following:
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- Straining during defecating
- Blood in stool or bloody diarrhea
Any of the above may be a sign that all is not well. It could mean blockage, a cut, or a puncture in your dog’s intestines. You may have to patiently watch your dog’s poop for several days before being on the clear.
As you check for the frequency and blood state of your puppy’s stool, runny or not, be sure to know what is contained and not contained in it. Call your vet immediately and let them know if you observe any glistening particles in the poop for the first one or two days.
If you don’t notice any glass shards, the glass did not pass. In other words, the glass is still inside your canine companion, probably causing further destruction. This qualifies for a medical emergency and may even need surgical intervention to fix. Be prompt in your actions.
Is your puppy showing signs of choking because of glass pieces longed in its throat? This you can tell by the gagging or pawing at the neck. Your veterinary doctor may assist by guiding you through the techniques to aid the foreign substance’s movement.
Conclusion
More often than not, accidents happen. You should avoid feeding your dog from glass-wear or allowing them to lurk around or play with glass ornaments, such as Christmas tree decorations.
However, if the accident occurs, do not panic. Also, do not try to induce vomiting. Please take it to the vet clinic for appropriate aid as soon as possible. The earlier you address the issue, the better. The longer the dog remains untreated, the higher the chances of complications.
Pay attention to your dog and welcome intervention from your vet. It will ensure you get through the whole process with minimal discomfort to your pet.