Dogs like to eat anything that smells good to them. It can be food items like fish, eggs, meat, or even inedible things like ointment, moisturizers, makeup products, you name it! It may seem adorable that your dog loves to nibble on whatever they can find. But sometimes, dogs can put themselves in danger by eating things with harmful chemicals.
If your dog has eaten Aquaphor, you do not need to worry. Aquaphor is a topical ointment that can be used on your dog to treat a range of superficial skin issues, including cuts and abrasions, as well as hot spots, rashes, and dry skin.
It does not contain antibiotics, but it does provide a semi-permeable barrier (allowing oxygen and water to pass through) that helps to avoid contamination, keep the wound moist, and encourage the body’s natural healing process.
Aquaphor is unlikely to cause any severe damage upon ingestion. However, keep reading this article to know what side effects you should be expecting and how to keep your dog from eating Aquaphor ever again.
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What Should You Do if Your Dog Ate Aquaphor?
Do not panic if you see your dog eating anything that they are not supposed to. There are several things that you can do to deal with such a situation.
Here is what you should do if your dog ate Aquaphor:
1. Determine How Much Aquaphor They Ate
The first thing that you should do is try to determine how much Aquaphor your dog ate.
If you catch your dog eating Aquaphor, try to take it out as much as you can before they swallow it any further. The amount of Aquaphor your dog ate will give you an idea of how severe the side effects will be.
Eating or licking a small amount of Aquaphor will not pose any danger to your dog as Aquaphor does not contain any toxic chemicals. You may not notice any symptoms at all.
However, Aquaphor is still not suitable for ingestion or internal use. Your dog may experience adverse effects if they eat too much Aquaphor.
2. Look Out For Symptoms
After you determine how much Aquaphor your dog ate, you should monitor for any symptoms that may arise.
If the amount of Aquaphor your dog consumed was minimal, the only symptom that may appear is looser poop. Small amounts of Aquaphor will otherwise just pass out of your dog’s body without causing any trouble.
If you detect any unusual extra symptoms, such as bloody diarrhea, excessive panting, or a bloated stomach, you should take your dog to the veterinarian for a professional examination.
As Aquaphor contains petroleum and oils, it mainly affects your dog’s digestive system. Therefore, it may show up in symptoms like an upset stomach, changes in appetite, diarrhea, etc.
3. Give Your Dogs Medicines
If your dog has eaten a substantial amount of Aquaphor, you should not wait for symptoms to arise before giving them medication.
You can solve most of the side effects after eating Aquaphor with medicines that you may already have at home. These include diarrhea, stomach ache, bloating, vomiting, etc.
Not only will this make the symptoms much easier for your dog to deal with, but it will also save you the clean-up involved.
4. Change Your Dog’s Diet Temporarily
As Aquaphor affects your dog’s digestive system, you will need to take measures to make the process of passing it out easier by changing your dog’s diet.
Giving your dog bland and easy-to-digest foods will also help in easing diarrhea and vomiting. This includes foods like bread, rice, baby food, cooked and unseasoned meat, etc.
If your dog vomits or experiences diarrhea when you feed them, it is best to withdraw food for a few hours. Then, slowly start giving them water and nutrition to help them build their appetite.
5. Keep Your Dog Hydrated
It is essential to ensure that your dog remains hydrated.
Between the Aquaphor in their system, the discomfort, medicines, vomiting, and diarrhea, your dog must drink adequate water. It will not only keep them healthy but also help in passing out the Aquaphor.
Your dog may not want to eat or drink anything because of the side effects and discomfort, but there are specific ways in which you can ensure that they get enough water.
For example, when feeding them rice or meat, add extra water while preparing. This will make the food softer, easier to digest and hydrate your dog without a fuss.
6. Contact Your Veterinarian
It is best not to take matters into your own hands if there are any adverse and prolonged effects after your dog eats Aquaphor. Your veterinarian will conduct any medical tests required and advise you on how to deal with the situation.
What Happens if Your Dog Ate an Aquaphor?
Aquaphor is obviously not meant to be eaten. So naturally, your dog will experience certain side effects after they eat Aquaphor. Therefore, you must know what to expect so that you can deal with the symptoms accordingly.
Here are some of the symptoms that you may notice after your dog eats Aquaphor:
- Vomiting
- Excessive thirst
- Stomach irritation
- Change in activity levels
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Change in appetite
- Weakness
- Sticky saliva
It is normal to experience these symptoms for 2 to 4 days after eating Aquaphor, but if your dog does not appear to get better, you should seek the advice of your veterinarian.
Specific side effects indicate that your dog’s health is seriously affected by eating Aquaphor. If you notice your dog exhibiting any of the following symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian immediately:
- Bloody diarrhea
- Breathlessness
- Abdominal bloating
- Excessive vomiting
- Difficulty in moving
Why Do Dogs Eat Aquaphor?
Dogs have an appetite utterly different from ours. It may seem like they try to snack on anything that looks shiny, tasty, or just remotely edible to them.
However, there are a few reasons that can explain why your dog always seems to eat inedible and potentially dangerous things like Aquaphor:
1. Hunger
Hunger might be the most likely explanation for why your dog wants to eat anything that they see in their sight. Therefore, make sure that you feed your dog the sufficient amount of food that they need.
2. Boredom or Curiosity
Dogs use their mouths to investigate the world, and they may ingest things they pick up, some of which may be harmful. You need to make a clear distinction for what your dog can eat and cannot eat. It is helpful to teach your dogs commands to tell them to stay away from anything harmful.
3. Habit
Pica is when your dog feels compelled to eat things that aren’t food. Your dog may have a specific object or a selection of objects that he or she craves. Pica in dogs most commonly manifests as coprophagia, the medical name for eating feces.
4. Anxiety
When your dog is upset, such as from being left alone, it may find solace in chewing on objects or eating non-food items.
Can You Use Aquaphor on Dogs?
It is completely safe to use Aquaphor on dogs. There are many purposes for which you can use Aquaphor on dogs:
1. Treat Any Rashes, Scratches, Cuts, or Burns
It is recommended to apply a thin coat of Aquaphor on dogs’ skin twice a day to treat their skin from such problems.
2. Help Soothe Hyperkeratosis or Dry Nose
Apply a small amount of Aquaphor on your dog’s nose with your fingertips to help with dryness. Be careful not to get the Aquaphor inside your dog’s nose.
3. Treat Dry and Cracked Skin and Paws
Aquaphor is excellent when it comes to smoothening cracked and dry paws. It is also suitable for treating dryness and chapped skin and lips in dogs.
4. Heal Injuries and Scabs
Aquaphor works well as an ointment as a moisturizer. It creates a thin layer on cuts and scabs that allows oxygen and moisture to pass. This makes injuries heal faster and with ease.
Note that Aquaphor should be reserved only for external use. It is not safe to use Aquaphor inside your dog’s ears, nose, or mouth. Consuming Aquaphor can cause problems like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, etc.
How to Prevent Your Dog From Eating Aquaphor Again?
There are a few things that you can do to make sure your dog never eats Aquaphor again:
Tip 1: Command Your Dog to “Leave It” or “Drop It”
This is the best way to prevent your dog from eating anything that it should not. If you haven’t already taught this command to your dog, you should start as soon as you can. It will save you from any future incidents of your dog eating things that are harmful to them.
Tip 2: Use Moisturizers or Ointments Other Than Aquaphor
If you use Aquaphor to moisturize your dog’s dry skin and they end up eating it, consider a substitute. For example, you can use natural moisturizers like coconut oil or shea butter.
Tip 3: Keep Aquaphor Away From Your Dog’s Reach
It is the simplest solution for keeping your dog away from Aquaphor or other dangerous chemicals or foods. Puppy-proof your kitchen and house by keeping such things on high shelves or containers that are hard to open.
Tip 4: Add Spices to Aquaphor to Keep Your Dog Away From It
If your dog has a repeated habit of eating Aquaphor, you can condition them to begin disliking it. Simply add spices or any other bitter-tasting food to the box of Aquaphor so that your dog starts hating the taste and leaves it alone.
Is Aquaphor Safe For Dogs?
Aquaphor is a dog-friendly product. It doesn’t harm you if you eat it, however, it can cause diarrhea or an upset stomach. Aquaphor ingestion can happen if your dog gets a hold of a jar or licks it off after you apply it to their skin.
It’s worth noting that licking may or may not be an issue. It depends on how quickly your dog’s interested mouth can access the region being treated.
Because Aquaphor is safe for dogs, you can mix it with cayenne pepper to help puppies with their destructive chewing habits. Use the mixture as a deterrent on anything your dog likes to chew on, such as table legs and baseboards.
Conclusion: Can Dogs Eat Aquaphor?
If your dog gets into your jar of Aquaphor or Vaseline, it’s never a beautiful sight. The result usually teaches your dog to never eat the ointment again, as well as to never keep it out where your dog can reach it.
Although Aquaphor is non-toxic to dogs, the mineral oil component inside might induce stomach problems such as severe diarrhea and vomiting if consumed in large quantities. Once your dog has done so, there isn’t much you can do but wait it out—and it will.
Medications like Pepto-Bismol and Omeprazole can be used to relieve your dog’s pain for the few days it is affected, but make sure it continues to drink lots of water because dehydration is the most serious concern.
If your dog’s symptoms linger after 2 or 3 days, it’s time to take him to the veterinarian for an examination and treatment.
