Why does my dog eat toilet paper and kleenex?
Did your dog eat paper towels, toilet paper, or tissue paper?Jo Woodnut outlines your next steps if you aren't sure what to do.
Dogs will sometimes get into things they shouldn't.Puppies and dogs love playing with tissues and toilet paper, with no harm to their health, if advertisements are to be believed.Small bits of paper may not cause harm, but larger amounts can.Understanding what can happen as a result is important.
Many dog owners return home and find toilet paper scattered around the house.When your dog has decided it would be more fun to eat the paper scraps instead of leaving them, what happens?
If your dog has eaten too much paper products can be a problem.When should you be worried and when should it be a recurring problem?Find out if paper products are harmful, why dogs eat paper, and how you can prevent it from happening again.
Let's start with the obvious.If your dog has eaten any type of paper product, you need to get in touch with your vet.When an object is not something your dog can digest, it can cause bowel obstructions.
If you are worried about the long term health of your dog, follow the steps below.
Try to figure out how much tissue was eaten.It's difficult when the paper is shredded.If anything was on the tissue that could be dangerous, you should check it.
You will want to make sure your pup is secured.You will want to put the paper products in a crate or a secure room after you have assessed what could have been eaten.You can calmly respond and then move onto step 3 and focus on that single task.
It is a good idea to seek advice from your vet.If they need to see your pup for a check-up, they will be able to discuss the situation with you.If your dog is monitored at home, they will give you symptoms to watch out for.It is usually free to call your vet.
You might be asked to come to the clinic for an examination.If your dog is small, has eaten a large amount of paper towel, or is showing symptoms, this is especially true.It is more likely that your vet will give you a list of symptoms to look out for.Vomiting or inappetence are some of the symptoms.If your pet becomes unwell, they will likely ask you to call back.
Home remedies can cause vomiting in dogs.If you make a dog sick, toilet paper, Kleenex or paper towel can make them very ill.Most of the time, your vet won't tell you to make your dog vomit.They will tell you to bring Fido for a visit.Wait for direction from your vet before attempting it.
Most Kleenex or tissue paper that people use on their noses is the same density and weight as toilet tissue used in the bathroom.Paper towels can be larger and denser.All three are made using the same ingredients.Most of the three will be shredded before being eaten.
Dogs are more likely to be harmed by paper towels with a thicker density.It depends on how shredded the paper was, how much was eaten, and how big your dog is.Larger dogs can pass things differently.A Mastiff may have an easier time passing toilet paper than a chihuahua.Depending on the density of the paper towel, it can pose a slightly higher risk for obstruction.
You need to follow the same steps regardless of the paper product your dog consumed.Paper Towels are more likely to cause obstructions than other paper products, so an immediate call to the vet is required.
Whether or not paper products will harm your dog depends on their size and how much has been eaten.Dogs destroy paper products rather than eat them.If tissue, paper towels, or Kleenex is swallowed in small amounts, it should not cause harm to your dog.
Tissue or toilet paper that has been shredded will most likely pass through the GI tract without incident.When you find evidence in your dog's stools, you may realize what he has been up to.There is a problem when there are large quantities consumed.
If you eat a lot of Kleenex or toilet tissue, it can get stuck in the stomach and cause a problem.The dog could be very unwell if a blockage occurs.It might be necessary to have surgery to correct the problem.There are symptoms of a blockage.
If the tissue had been used with cleaning products or chemicals, be careful.You should seek veterinary advice if you find evidence that your pup has eaten tissue with chemicals.There is more potential for this situation to be problematic, so it is wise to take precautions.
If you ingest hydrogen peroxide, it can cause unwanted side effects.The dog might vomit a lot if hydrogen peroxide is eaten.There could be irritation of the stomach and esophagus in severe cases.
There are many reasons your dog may be consuming paper products.There is a good chance that your pup will fall into one of the six reasons for wolfing down the Kleenex while you are not watching.
Puppies are interested in the world.Puppies chew or investigate objects.Puppies will chew or mouth objects in an attempt to relieve their teething pain.A chew toy isn't always enough to satisfy teething urges.Puppies chew anything they can get their hands on easily around the house and this can include tissue paper.
Puppies and dogs can enjoy chewing up or shredding Kleenex or toilet paper.chewing or ripping up a box of tissues could be ways to alleviate boredom if the dog doesn't have enough mental stimulation.For a bored dog, this type of behavior could satisfy their desire for attention.
An anxious dog may become destructive when left alone.This could include shredding paper.The dog might swallow the tissue if the paper is shredded.
Medical problems can be associated with eating unusual things.A dog with pica may ingest cardboard, Kleenex or toilet tissue as part of the condition, which can be caused by underlying behavioral or medical problems.
An insufficient diet or lack of nutrition could cause a dog to seek out and eat objects that are not food.Many homes have easy access to tissue.This makes it an easy target for a dog.
The dog might be interested in what is on the tissue.This could be a napkin with bacon grease.The dog may eat paper because it tastes delicious.It is more likely to cause secondary effects such as vomiting.
The dog could be at risk of developing pancreatitis if the tissue paper contains a lot of fat.The smell of beauty products on your pet may entice you to discard Kleenex.Some of the tissue could be eaten.
Prevention is better than a cure.It is likely that preventing your puppy or adult dog from having access to paper products will stop the issue.If the dog is left alone in the house, make sure the bathroom doors are closed and the boxes of tissues are out of reach.Stair gates or dog crates can be used to break the habit of toilet tissue eating.
You should keep waste tissues out of reach.This could mean using a dog-proof trash can.If you catch your dog tearing up tissue or eating it, don't chase them.This could turn it into a game.Try to ignore the behavior and quietly remove the tissue your pet has been tearing apart.
If your dog has a habit of ripping up tissue paper, it is best to try and stop it.There is a risk for the dog to get into trouble if he swallows a lot of tissue because of the mess.If you leave him alone in the house, try to give him access to safe toys.Special treat dispensers or toys can help with boredom or anxiety.
You may still have questions if your dog ate paper products.Most paper products are the same.Questions about dogs and paper products are common.
The soft tissue can easily pass through the GI tract without causing any issues.The tissue in the feces is unlikely to be eaten.The small pieces of tissue that dogs chew makes it easier to be passed.If you eat a lot of tissue paper it could cause a problem.
There is no benefit to eating toilet paper because it is not designed to be swallowed.Tissue and toilet paper should be kept out of your dog's reach.If your dog decides to eat some tissue, it will not cause a serious issue.A bowel obstruction is the biggest risk for your dog.
Some dogs like to rip apart toilet paper or tissue to relieve boredom.In some cases, anxiety separation will manifest as destructive behaviors where the dog will rip apart items it has access to which could include toilet paper.Puppies chew up things they come across.This can also be down to teething.