Share
Its every pet owners worst nightmare coming home to find that your dog ate a tampon.
The information provided herein is for informational purposes only.
yo refer to ourdisclaimerfor more details..
Why did my dog eat a tampon?
Share icon
Image credits:Natracare
Dogs are naturally curious animals with a heightened sense of smell.
Your dog probably ate a tampon because it had an exciting scent and looked like a potential snack.
Additionally, our canine friends are scavengers by nature.
Dogs cant resist the stench of decaying materials or bodily fluids like blood and discharge.
This could be due to behavioral disorders such as boredom or nutritional deficiency.
Bored dogs may eat tampons in search of excitement and stimulation.
Can a dog die from eating tampons?
These digestive tract complications can eventually lead to death.
Additionally, chemicals in tampons, such as dioxin and glyphosate, can cause cancer and developmental problems.
If not addressed promptly, this could be life-threatening for your dog.
Are used tampons more dangerous than unused tampons?
Both used and unused tampons pose significant risks if ingested by dogs.
On the other hand, bloody tampons contain bodily fluid that can lead to bacterial infections.
This can lead to diarrhea, gastrointestinal upset, digestive tract infections, and even toxicity in your dog.
However, any kind of tampon can become stuck and pose a severe health issue.
What could happen when a dog has eaten a tampon?
Intestinal blockage
A dog that has swallowed a feminine hygiene product is at risk of bowel obstruction.
The absorbent nature of these products allows them to swell when exposed to moisture.
The mass formed can then become stuck in the digestive system.
This can delay the typical passage of food, fluids, and waste through the intestines.
In some cases, surgery may be required to remove the obstruction.
You must seek veterinary care immediately if you suspect your dog has swallowed any foreign object.
Poisoning
Chemicals, additives, or fragrances in tampons can be toxic to dogs.
Ingestion may result in poisoning, manifesting as symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
These chemicals could also trigger severe allergic reactions in some dogs.
The possibility of choking depends on the size and texture of the tampon and the dogs size.
Hence, small dogs that swallow tampons are more prone to stop than larger breeds.
This is more likely to happen if your dog swallows an unused tampon.
This is because, within the digestive tract, a new tampon will expand more than a used one.
Notethat the symptoms seen usually depend on the location of the tampon within the dogs digestive system.
If your dog shows any of these signs, seeking veterinary assistance is essentialto prevent further complications.
Such dogs may pass the tampon with their feces without showing noticeable symptoms or discomfort.
What should you do if your dog ate a tampon?
No judgment, it happens.
But now, its action time.
Here is what you should do in such a case.
Stay calm
Panicking wont help anyone, especially not your pup.
Breathe, gather your thoughts, and lets tackle this together.
Assess the situation
Its time to ask the right questions.
Figure out if your dog ate a used or unused tampon.
You should also figure out how many tampons your dog ingested.
Your veterinarian may need this information to decide on the best line of action.
They may suggest X-rays to determine if the tampon has caused an obstruction.
Treatment options may include surgical removal if necessary.
If the ingestion occurred recently, they might also consider inducing vomiting as a solution.
If the tampon was eaten within the last hour, the veterinarian may recommend inducing vomiting at home.
In most cases, vets recommend using hydrogen peroxide for this.
However, the dose matters, so contact your veterinarian before attempting this.
Your vet may also suggest feeding your pet small amounts of food and monitoring your dogs bathroom habits.
This is usually in hopes that the tampon will pass in the dogs stool.
Use secured trash bins and be mindful of where you dispose of used tampons and other hygiene products.
Knowing your dogs behavior and providingmental and physical stimulationcan also help prevent such incidents.
