The fact that dogs love to eat a lot is no shocking news, and because of the love of eating, some dogs may be drawn to eat inedible objects around them. A common inedible thing that some dogs usually eat is the Mr. Clean magic eraser. This has nothing to do with your feeding habits or the type of food you give your furry canine.
Sometimes dogs in their eager, curious and excited state may mistake the magic eraser for their chew toy, and in the process of chewing, it may swallow the magic eraser in whole or in bits.
Some conditions like Pica could make your dog have the strong urge to eat non-food or inedible objects. Sometimes dogs chew the magic erasers into tiny sponges, which can’t harm them if they are swallowed because they are small enough to be passed out in poop.
Since Mr. Clean magic erasers are not toxic, the main danger to your dog’s health is when the magic eraser is swallowed whole or in large chunks. This can lead to gastrointestinal blockage with symptoms like vomiting and constipation; the best thing to do is call your veterinarian.
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What Should You Do if Your Dog Ate a Magic Eraser?
Every true dog owner knows just how much their pets love to eat. This often leads to dogs trying to eat non-food items, so you shouldn’t be surprised when you find out that your dog had eaten a Mr. Clean magic eraser.
Although Mr. Clean erasers are non-toxic substances, they can still harm your dog if your dog ate a big piece of it. Your dog could be at risk of experiencing a gastrointestinal blockage.
But if your dog tore it to tiny pieces before eating, your dog should easily pass it out of its body through its poo. Nevertheless, if you think your dog has a blockage which can be seen when your dog doesn’t poo for long or experiences uneasiness, call the vet and follow the instructions given to you to make sure your dog can pass out this ingestion without harm to its health or pain.
Some symptoms of gastrointestinal blockage include vomiting, pain in the abdominal region, lethargy, loss of appetite, constipation, increase in temperament (due to pain), and diarrhea. If you see one or multiple of these symptoms happening to your dog, take your pet to the vet immediately or ask for professional advice.
Why Would a Dog Eat a Magic Eraser?
Dogs have always been known to do crazy things out of boredom or just curiosity; this may lead to your dog eating non-food items, which often include magic erasers.
But boredom and curiosity aren’t the only reason some dogs love to eat non-food or inedible items. There is a psychological condition known as Pica that you should watch out for in your dog.
Pica is a psychological condition that leaves your dog with an extremely strong desire to eat non-edible items or objects. This can occur as a result of psychological or even physical problems. If you think your dog has Pica, call your veterinarian for professional advice.
Pica, when ignored or neglected, can be dangerous to your dog’s health because your dog will eventually eat something inedible that will get stuck in its digestive system. or worse, they could consume something which could be lethal to them.
This can put your furry canine in a critical situation, thereby endangering your pet’s life. Pica, when noticed in the early stages of the condition, can be stopped through training. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you think your dog’s health or well-being could be in danger or at risk because of gastrointestinal blockage or Pica.
How Can You Prevent Your Dog From Eating a Magic Eraser Again?
The best way for you to stop your dog from eating another magic eraser again in the future is to find a place out of your dog’s reach to store all your cleaning materials. Use the same method for all the inedible objects you think your dog might try to eat.
Some steps to help you keep your canine from consuming non-food items are listed below:
- Store all inedible materials, e.g. magic erasers; you think your dog might try to eat out of its reach.
- Always keep your dog leashed when out on walks.
- Block all access to the trash can
- Give your canine bones with meat on them and take it away when all the meat has been eaten, preventing your dog from eating the bone
Some experts recommend pet owners not to give any bones to their pets because some dogs end up swallowing them and causing problems to their digestive system.
Some objects dogs swallow often, and you should be cautious about are:
- Balls
- Toys
- Fishing hooks
- Socks
- Nylon
- Sticks
Objects that are small and smooth when swallowed will be easy for your dog to pass it out, while objects that are large and sharp will cause harm.
Symptoms to Look Out For if Your Dog Ate a Magic Eraser
If your dog ate a magic eraser in large chunks, it would probably cause gastrointestinal blockage. Your pet will need veterinarian help, but it won’t jump to conclusions without observing your canine for symptoms of gastrointestinal blockage. You will need to look out for some of the symptoms of gastrointestinal blockage, which are listed below.
- Vomiting
- Swelling in the abdominal region
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Lethargy
- Changes in behaviour
If you find one or more of these symptoms in your dog, take your dog to your vet. There the vet may do a couple of x-rays to be sure that there is an obstruction. Urine tests might be done to know if there are any other issues with your dog. If your dog is suffering a lot of pain, the vet will administer pain control.
After that, your vet will decide the way out between induced vomiting or endoscopy, where a tube will be inserted through your dog’s throat to its stomach to remove the object. In very rare and severe cases, it could lead to surgery for your dog.
Can it Cause Blockage in the Dog’s Gastrointestinal Tract?
If your dog swallows the magic eraser in small chunks or pieces, it will be passed out in 10-24 hours. However, if your dog eats the magic eraser in large chunks, there is a chance that the eraser will cause gastrointestinal blockage.
Suppose your dog eats inedible or non-food materials, e.g. magic erasers. In that case, it could take longer to pass out, or your dog will require mediate veterinarian attention if the object is swallowed in larger chunks. If you believe your dog ate inedible materials, call your vet.
You can administer two tablespoons of Metamucil mixed with cottage cheese or mashed potatoes. Follow this by giving a single tablespoon of Metamucil every day for three days. You can also do your part from home by inducing vomiting in your dog.
You can do this by soaking bread in milk and giving it to your dog. After that, give your dog one tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide; if your dog doesn’t vomit in 10 minutes, repeat the process.
Note: Call your vet for professional advice before trying this. You can help soothe your pup’s tummy by administering 10 mg Pepcid Ac tablet. If your dog doesn’t stool or is still vomiting and is lethargic after a few days after taking this, seek medical help immediately.
Are Magic Erasers Toxic For Dogs?
Although fake rumors were spread in the past, Mr. Clean magic erasers are, in fact, non-toxic. But this doesn’t mean that they can’t cause harm to people or animals when ingested in large quantities.
Their manufacturer, Procter & Gamble, points out that the magic erasers are sponge-like products that, if ingested, can lead to dangerous gastrointestinal blockage. This means that if your dog consumes or swallows the magic eraser, it could get stuck in your pet’s digestive tract.
The bigger the pieces swallowed, the bigger the chance that they will get stuck and cause harm to your dog. The manufacturer also advises that children or pets should not be around magic erasers without an adult supervising them.
They should be kept away from the reach of children or animals, including dogs and should be reserved in the same place as your dangerous cleaning substances. If your dog eats a piece of the magic erasers, call the vet for professional advice immediately.
Conclusion
Dogs have always been curious and playful; during this process of excitement, dogs are also known to swallow inedible items, and the magic eraser is not exempt. They can easily be mistaken as a chew toy, or your dog could be suffering from the psychological condition known as Pica which leaves dogs with a strong desire to eat inedible or non-food items.
Swallowing of large inedible materials can cause gastrointestinal blockage, which can be life-threatening if poorly treated. If you believe your dog has swallowed an inedible material, e.g. the common Mr. Clean magic eraser, the best thing to do is call the vet for professional advice or help.
