Dogs love to eat things that they know are off-limits, including personal hygiene products.
If your dog ever eats one of your tampons, you should know exactly what to do.
This information could help save your dog from some terrible health consequences.
Are Tampons Dangerous to Dogs?
The main danger that tampons pose to dogs is that they are made of highly absorbent material. This means that when your dog swallows a tampon, it begins sucking up all of the digestive fluids, and therefore expands. This poses a serious threat to your dog’s health.
Why Dogs Eat Tampons
You might be wondering why your dog can’t seem to help itself when it comes to eating your tampons. There are actually a number of explanations that are interesting to say the least.
They are Curious Animals
The curious nature of dogs can get them into trouble from time to time. These animals don’t have hands like humans, so they often use their mouths to investigate things that seem interesting. The same thing can be said about sharks or just about any other creature.
Just because they put their jaws around something doesn’t mean it’s because they think it is tasty. Sometimes your dog just wants to gnaw on something to find out what it is.
It is Their Natural Instinct
Dogs are scavengers, so they are naturally attracted to things that have the scent of decay on them. This can range from band-aids to nasal tissue.
They are Attracted to Your Scent
Your used tampons definitely have your scent, which is why your dog might be so obsessed with them. These particular items tend to have a very pungent aroma, so it doesn’t take much for your dog to sniff it out. After all, a dog’s sense of smell is typically thousands of times more powerful than our own.
Steps to Take if Your Dog at a Tampon
You will need to know which specific steps to take if your dog has managed to eat a tampon. This will increase your chances of keeping your pet healthy and avoid any unnecessary medical complications.
1. Stay Calm
It is important that you try to stay calm and avoid panicking, because it won’t do anyone any good. You’ll have some time to take action, so don’t feel like you only have a matter of seconds to make your next move.
2. Look for the Symptoms
There are certain symptoms that you should look for after your dog has eaten a tampon. Keep in mind that not all dogs exhibit the same symptoms under these circumstances.
Some of the things to look out for with your dog after it eats a tampon include:
- Vomiting
- Bloating of stomach
- Constipation
- Reduced appetite
- Disorientation
- Difficulty breathing
- Lethargic behavior
3. Call Your Veterinarian
When in doubt, it is best to call your veterinarian. They can provide you with helpful advice to get through this situation. Be prepared to answer a few basic questions, such as how much of the tampon your dog ate. They will also want to know if your dog is currently exhibiting any of the symptoms listed above, and how long it’s been since they ate it.
4. Going to the Vet
If you call your veterinarian and they tell you to bring your dog in, you’ll want to know what to expect. They are most likely going to run some tests to determine how serious the situation really is.
This usually means doing an endoscopy, which involves putting a special tube with a camera on the end down your dog’s throat. This provides the vet with a complete view of your dog’s intestines, so they can determine if there is a blockage.
Your veterinarian might also want to do an X-RAY to find out where exactly the tampon is in your dog’s body. While these tests can be fairly expensive, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Prevention
You’ll want to do a number of things to ensure that your dog does not eat any of your tampons in the future.
Don’t Leave the Bathroom Door Open
One of the simplest ways to prevent your dog from eating any of your tampons is to simply keep the door to the bathroom closed. This way your dog won’t be able to get in.
Use a Repellent Product
There are lots of repellent sprays that you can use to keep your dog from getting into your tampons in the future. All you have to do is spray it around where you keep your tampons, or even just the bathroom door. This should be fairly effective when it comes to keeping them from doing this again.
Invest in a Better Waste Basket
If your dog is capable of getting into your current waste basket, you’ll want to think about buying a new one. There are waste baskets that are “pet proof”, so you will want to look into some of them. This will guarantee that your pooch won’t be able to get their jaws on your tampons once you have thrown them away.
Conclusion
- Tampons can be very dangerous to dogs, as they tend to expand once in their stomach.
- Dogs eat tampons for many reasons, including sheer curiosity.
- It is also possible that your dog does this simply because it is attracted to your scent.
- If your dog has eaten a tampon of yours, you’ll want to stay calm.
- Look for symptoms of a severe reaction, including vomiting, lethargy, problems breathing, and lack of appetite.
- Call your veterinarian immediately to get advice on what to do next.
- If you have to take your dog to the vet, they will probably want to perform an endoscopy on them.
- The best way to keep your dog from eating your tampons in the future is to keep the bathroom door closed.
- You can also get a pet-proof waste basket so your canine companion can’t get into the contents, including tampons.
