Dog ate paper towel how long to pass: We love our dogs, but sometimes they eat things they shouldn’t. One common concern among dog owners is when their furry friend eats something they shouldn’t, like a paper towel. In this blog post, we’ll explore what you should do if your dog eats a paper towel, how long it might take to pass through their system, and when you should be concerned.
Dog ate paper towel how long to pass
1.Dog ate paper towel how long to pass
If your dog has ingested a paper towel, it’s important to monitor them closely for any signs of distress. In most cases, a small piece of paper towel will pass through your dog’s system without causing any harm. However, if your dog has eaten a large piece or if they start showing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or loss of appetite, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
Read more: DOG ATE PAPER TOWEL: WHAT TO DO NEXT
While you wait for your veterinarian’s advice, you can try to encourage your dog to drink plenty of water. This can help to lubricate their digestive system and may help the paper towel pass through more easily. However, do not try to induce vomiting unless instructed to do so by your veterinarian, as this can sometimes cause more harm than good.
It’s always best to err on the side of caution and seek professional veterinary advice whenever your dog ingests something unusual. Additionally, to prevent future incidents, it’s a good idea to keep paper towels and other potential hazards out of your dog’s reach.
2. Check Your Dog
Depending on the amount and content of the paper towel consumed, dogs may react very differently. Some may appear perfectly fine and continue their day as normal, including eating and drinking without difficulty.
Others may start to vomit, particularly if they have eaten a large volume of paper towel, or if it contains substances such as grease or bleach. They can be quiet, appear uncomfortable and unable to settle, and refuse to drink water or eat food. If they have eaten a lot of paper towel, their bellies can look bloated, which may be tender when touched.
If several hours have passed after eating the paper towel, your dog may have diarrhea since it can irritate the lining of the intestines as it passes through the digestive tract. They can strain to go to the toilet and may pass small pieces of the paper towel in their stool. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
No matter how your dog is currently behaving, it is always best to contact your vet for advice as sometimes, it can take a few hours for the damage to be noticeable, especially if your dog is stoical.
3. Ring Your Veterinarian
Once you have done some detective work and figured out what and how much your dog ate, when they ate it, and how they are looking, call your vet. If they’re not open, call your nearest open veterinary clinic, which may be an emergency clinic.
They will ask you the questions that have been mentioned above so they can provide the best care possible for your dog. If it is a small amount of clean kitchen roll or toilet paper, you may not need to take them in. However, if your dog ate a large amount of paper towel, has eaten any amount of paper towel with a harmful substance, or is unwell, vomiting, or having diarrhea, your vet will probably want to see your dog immediately. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
4. Provide a High-Fiber Diet
In some cases, your veterinarian may recommend feeding your dog a high-fiber diet to help move the paper towel through their system more quickly.
5. Encourage Hydration
Make sure your dog has access to plenty of fresh water. Staying hydrated can help move the paper towel through their system.
6. How Long Does It Take for a Paper Towel to Pass Through a Dog’s System?
The amount of time it takes for a paper towel to pass through a dog’s system can vary depending on several factors, including the size of the paper towel, the size of your dog, and your dog’s overall health. In general, however, most small objects will pass through a dog’s system within 24 to 48 hours. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
Read more: Spotting the Signals: Rapid Recognition and Treatment of Dog Kidney Stones
7. When to Be Concerned
While most of the time, a dog will pass a paper towel without any issues, there are some cases where it can cause a blockage. If your dog is showing any of the following symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Abdominal pain or swelling
8. What Happens if a Dog Eats a Paper Towel?
If a dog eats a paper towel, it can cause various health issues depending on the size of the paper towel and the dog’s size. In many cases, a small piece of paper towel may pass through the dog’s digestive system without causing any problems. However, if the paper towel is large or if the dog ingests multiple paper towels, it can lead to serious complications. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
Large pieces of paper towel can cause an obstruction in the dog’s digestive tract, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite. In severe cases, an intestinal obstruction may require surgery to remove the blockage. Even if the paper towel passes through the digestive system without causing an obstruction, it can still irritate the dog’s stomach and intestines, leading to discomfort and gastrointestinal upset.
If you suspect that your dog has eaten a paper towel, it’s essential to monitor them closely for any signs of distress. If your dog shows symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. In some cases, your vet may recommend monitoring your dog at home, but if there’s any concern about an obstruction, they may recommend bringing your dog in for an examination and possible treatment. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
Dog ate paper towel how long to pass
9. Giving Your Dog an Injection to Make Them Sick
Your vet can give your dog an injection to make them sick as long as the paper towel was eaten within the last 2–3 hours. This injection is much safer than inducing vomiting in a dog at home—it’s much more likely to work, it’s safer to use, and your vet is on hand to make sure the process is as safe as possible.
Read more: Dog ate paper towel
10. Putting Your Dog Under a General Anesthetic to Remove the Paper With an Endoscope
As previously mentioned, vets can pass a long, flexible tube called an endoscope into your dog’s stomach to remove objects. This is not always possible—some vets don’t have access to this equipment, some dogs are too big or too small to use it, and some paper is too fragile to be pulled out like this. This technique can also only be used where the object has been in the stomach for less than a couple of hours, as once it is in the guts, the scope can’t reach it. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
11. Taking a Blood Test to Check Organ Function and Hydration
If cleaning products were on the paper or your dog is already showing symptoms, your vet might want to check your dog’s blood for signs of a problem. This involves taking a blood sample from the arm or neck and running it through a machine. The machine measures levels of enzymes and chemicals in the blood that might indicate a problem with the organs. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
12. Putting Your Dog on a Drip if They Are Dehydrated or if Toxins Need to Be Flushed Out
If your dog has been vomiting already or they have eaten something toxic, your veterinarian might recommend that your dog is placed onto a drip. This involves putting a needle into their veins and giving them fluids to rehydrate them. This is especially important for vomiting dogs who might not be able to keep water down.
13. Sedating or Giving Your Dog a General Anesthetic to Take an X-ray Image of Their Stomach and Intestines and Check for a Blockage
If your dog ate a paper towel and is showing symptoms, your vet will want to know where in the intestines the paper is and whether it looks like it’s stuck. Taking an X-ray can help. X-rays don’t show paper towel, but they will show any build-up of gas behind a blockage.
If your vet isn’t sure whether the X-rays show a blockage, they may recommend hospitalizing your dog and looking again in a few hours to check whether the gas is still moving. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
14. Performing Surgery to Remove the Paper Towel
If your dog does get a blockage, removing the blockage by surgery is the only option. You cannot get a dog to pass a blockage any other way.
The paper is often so stuck that the guts are stretched to their limit—blood doesn’t move through them properly and the gut wall begins to die or tear from the pressure. Your veterinary surgeon can open the guts and remove the blockage and may even need to take some damaged gut out as well.
15. Paper Towels vs. Kleenex vs. Toilet Tissue
Paper towels, Kleenex, and toilet tissue are three essential paper products used in households and various settings. Paper towels are designed for cleaning up spills and messes in the kitchen and other areas of the home. They are usually thicker and more absorbent than other types of paper products, making them ideal for tasks that require quick absorption of liquids.
Paper towels are also commonly used for general cleaning tasks, such as wiping down surfaces and drying hands. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
Kleenex, on the other hand, is a brand of facial tissue that is specifically designed for use on the face. It is softer and more delicate than paper towels and is commonly used for tasks such as blowing the nose or wiping away tears. Kleenex is often preferred for its gentle texture, which is less likely to irritate the skin, especially during cold and flu season when the nose may become irritated from frequent wiping.
Toilet tissue, also known as toilet paper, is designed for use in the bathroom. It is softer and more absorbent than both paper towels and Kleenex, making it suitable for use on delicate areas of the body. Toilet tissue is typically biodegradable and flushable, making it safe for use in plumbing systems. It is an essential item for personal hygiene and is used by people of all ages on a daily basis. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
16. Will Eating Paper Products Hurt My Dog?
Whether or not paper products will harm your dog largely depends on their size and how much has been eaten. In many cases, dogs simply rip up or destroy paper products rather than eat them. When tissue, paper towels, or Kleenex is swallowed in small amounts, it should not cause harm to your four-legged friend.
Tissue or toilet paper that has been ripped up or shredded will most likely pass through the digestive tract without incident. You may only realize what your dog has been up to when you find evidence in their stools. It’s when there are large quantities consumed that you have a problem.
If Kleenex or toilet tissue is eaten in large amounts, it has the potential to get stuck and cause a blockage somewhere in the digestive tract. If a blockage occurs, this can be very serious and could make the dog very unwell. Surgery might be needed to correct the problem and relieve the obstruction. Symptoms of a blockage might include lethargy or vomiting. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
Be particularly cautious if the tissue had been discarded after being used with cleaning products or chemicals such as nail polish remover. If you find evidence your pup might have eaten tissue that has chemicals on, seek veterinary advice without delay. There is greater potential for this situation to be problematic, and it is wise to err on the side of caution.
17. Reasons Your Dog Eats Paper Products
Teething Pain and/or Curiosity
Puppies are curious creatures eager to explore the world. Puppies will often use their mouths to chew or investigate objects. When puppies experience teething pain, they will mouth or chew objects in an attempt to relieve discomfort. While a chew toy can help satisfy teething urges, they aren’t always enough. Puppies will often chew anything they can get hold of easily around the house, and this can include tissue paper. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
Boredom
Of course, chewing up or shredding Kleenex or toilet paper can also be fun for puppies or dogs. If a dog does not have enough mental stimulation then it might start to look for ways to alleviate boredom, this could include chewing or ripping up a box of tissues. Such behavior will attract negative reactions and for a bored dog, this could satisfy their desire for attention.
Anxiety
An anxious dog, perhaps struggling with separation anxiety, may become destructive when left alone. This could include ripping up or shredding paper. Shredding paper might lead to the dog actually swallowing the tissue. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
Pica
There are medical problems that can be associated with eating unusual things. Pica is a condition characterized by the consumption of non-food items and can be caused by underlying behavioral or medical problems While Pica is common with dogs eating grass, or their own feces, a dog with pica may ingest cardboard, Kleenex or toilet tissue as part of the condition.
Nutritional Deficiency
Of course, nutritional deficiencies or an insufficient diet could lead to a dog seeking out and eating objects which are not food. Tissue is easily accessed in many homes. This makes it an easy target for a dog trying to satisfy its appetite. (Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
Taste
In some cases, the dog might be interested in tissue because of what’s on it. This could be a paper towel or napkin with bacon grease from the trash. In this situation, the dog may eat paper because frankly, it just tastes delicious. But it is much more likely to cause secondary effects such as vomiting and diarrhea.
18. Why Are Paper Towels Dangerous To Dogs?
Bored dogs will find almost anything to entertain themselves. So, if they can reach a roll of paper towel, they may pull at it and yank off several sheets. Before you know it, they’re feasting on a pile of paper towels.
In the stomach, the foreign material can rub against the lining or clump together and obstruct the gastrointestinal tract. All of this happens because dogs can’t digest the wood pulp-based materials.
To discourage boredom that can lead to eating paper towels, try providing your furbaby with a puzzle toy or chew toy. You can also crate your pooch when you’re not around to supervise him and keep paper towels out of reach.
(Dog ate paper towel how long to pass)
Conclusion
When a dog ingests a paper towel, it’s natural to be concerned about potential complications. The time it takes for a dog to pass a paper towel depends on various factors such as the size of the dog, the size of the paper towel, and the dog’s gastrointestinal system.
In general, small amounts of paper towel are often small enough to pass through a dog’s digestive system without causing any issues.
However, it’s crucial to monitor your dog closely for any signs of distress such as vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, or lethargy.
If your dog shows any of these symptoms or if the paper towel doesn’t pass within 24 to 48 hours, it’s essential to contact your veterinarian immediately. In some cases, a large amount of paper towel or if it gets stuck in the digestive tract, it can lead to a blockage which may require medical intervention.
In conclusion, while small pieces of paper towel may pass through a dog’s digestive system without causing harm, it’s crucial to monitor your dog closely and contact your veterinarian if you notice any signs of distress.
It’s always better to be cautious and seek professional advice if you have any concerns about your dog’s health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs easily pass tissues or paper towel?
Tissue is of course soft, and in most cases can easily pass through the digestive tract without causing any issue. You might notice remnants of the tissue in the feces as it unlikely to be digested. Dogs will often rip or chew the tissue into small pieces, which makes it easier to pass. However, if eaten in large enough amounts tissue paper could swell or potentially cause a blockage.
Is it bad if a dog eats toilet paper?
Toilet paper isn’t designed to be swallowed, and there is certainly no nutritional benefit to it being eaten. Ideally, tissue or toilet paper should be kept out of reach of your dog to avoid a problem. In most cases, it won’t cause a serious issue if your four-legged friend decides to eat some tissue. Again, the biggest risk is a bowel obstruction for your canine companion.
Why does my dog tear up toilet paper before eating it?
For some dogs, ripping apart toilet paper or tissue becomes a fun game or a way to relieve boredom. In some cases, separation anxiety will manifest as destructive behaviors where the dog will rip apart items it has access to which could include toilet paper. Puppies are particularly prone to chewing up items they come across. This is, in part, exploration but can also be down to teething.
What are the signs of bowel obstruction in a dog?
If a dog swallows a large wad of paper towel, it is known as a foreign body. This object might then cause a blockage or obstruction of the digestive tract, which is an emergency. Symptoms of obstruction might be subtle at first and might include lethargy, listlessness, and lack of appetite. Signs and symptoms may then progress to vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, and straining to go to the toilet. If your pup is showing signs of a bowel obstruction, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Can a paper towel cause a blockage in my dog’s intestines?
Yes, a paper towel can potentially cause a blockage if it gets stuck in your dog’s intestines.
What should I do if my dog is showing signs of distress after eating a paper towel?
Contact your veterinarian immediately. They may recommend bringing your dog in for an examination to check for signs of an obstruction.
How can I help my dog pass a paper towel?
Your veterinarian may recommend feeding your dog a high-fiber diet to help move the paper towel through their system more quickly.
Should I give my dog any medications if they ate a paper towel?
Only give your dog medication if it has been prescribed by your veterinarian.
What if my dog ate a large piece of paper towel?
-Large pieces of paper towel are more likely to cause a blockage, so it’s important to monitor your dog closely for any signs of distress.
Can my dog pass a paper towel on its own?
Yes, in most cases, a dog will pass a paper towel without any issues.
should I be concerned if my dog ate a paper towel but is acting normal?
While it’s good that your dog is acting normal, it’s still important to monitor them closely for any signs of distress.
Will my dog need surgery if they ate a paper towel?
In most cases, surgery is not necessary, but it may be required if the paper towel causes a blockage that cannot be passed naturally.
How can I prevent my dog from eating paper towels in the future?
Keep paper towels and other potentially dangerous objects out of your dog’s reach.
What other objects should I be concerned about my dog eating?
Other objects that can potentially cause a blockage include socks, underwear, toys, and bones.
What should I do if my dog ate something else besides a paper towel?
Follow the same steps as you would if your dog ate a paper towel: monitor them for any signs of distress and contact your veterinarian if you have concerns.
Can a paper towel pass through a dog’s system without causing any problems?
Yes, in many cases, a paper towel will pass through a dog’s system without causing any problems.
Should I feed my dog a different diet if they ate a paper towel?
Your veterinarian may recommend feeding your dog a high-fiber diet to help move the paper towel through their system more quickly.
How can I tell if my dog has a blockage?
Signs of a blockage include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain or swelling.
Will my dog be in pain if they have a blockage?
Yes, a blockage can be painful for your dog, which is why it’s important to contact your veterinarian if you have any concerns.
What will the veterinarian do if my dog has a blockage?
Your veterinarian may recommend X-rays or an ultrasound to determine the location and severity of the blockage. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the blockage.
Can a paper towel cause a blockage in a small dog?
Yes, a paper towel can cause a blockage in dogs of any size.
How can I make sure my dog doesn’t eat a paper towel again?
Keep paper towels and other potentially dangerous objects out of your dog’s reach.
Can a paper towel cause an infection if my dog eats it?
While it’s possible for a paper towel to cause an infection if it gets stuck in your dog’s intestines, it’s not common.
Should I give my dog anything to help them pass the paper towel?
– Your veterinarian may recommend feeding your dog a high-fiber diet to help move the paper towel through their system more quickly.
Will my dog need to stay overnight at the veterinarian if they ate a paper towel?
– It depends on the severity of the situation. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on the best course of action.
Can my dog die from eating a paper towel?
– While it’s unlikely, it is possible for a paper towel to cause a blockage that could be fatal if left untreated.
How common is it for dogs to eat paper towels?
– It’s not uncommon for dogs to eat things they shouldn’t, including paper towels.
Can my dog pass a paper towel if it’s stuck?
– In some cases, a dog may be able to pass a paper towel if it’s stuck, but in other cases, surgery may be necessary to remove it.
How can I prevent my dog from eating things they shouldn’t?
Keep potentially dangerous objects out of your dog’s reach, and make sure they have plenty of toys and other safe objects to chew on.
