Most of the time, dogs are generally oblivious to what they put in their mouths, which means they may consume some unusual items. So even while you’re learning what to feed your puppy and how frequently to fill the bowls, they may insist on eating strange, distasteful, or harmful things that perplex or nauseate you!
So, what do you do if your furry friend ingests anything potentially harmful, such as a razor? We’ve put together a list of easy measures to take in certain circumstances to assist you in avoiding them. So, read on and understand what you need to do if your dog ate a razor!
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What Can You Do If Your Dog Ate a Razor?
If you ever notice your dog eating anything hazardous like a razor, before calling your veterinarian, responding fast and being prepared is one of the best ways to help your dog.
Here’s what you can do:
1. Command Them To Remove The Razor From His Mouth
We all know that dogs love to please their owners. If you teach them correctly, then they will surely heed your orders. So, you need to train them with some simple commands because it will always save you both from any issue.
Some of the basic commands are:
- Stop: This command is to stop your dog from doing something.
- Leave: This command is to make your dog leave something that he shouldn’t do.
- Drop it: This command is perfect for your dog to drop the razor he is chewing.
- Don’t do: This command can do magic, too, if you have trained your dog well.
2. Look for Symptoms
Razor is definitely one of the most harmful objects your dog can ingest. So, it’s best to take an awful lot of care and look for symptoms that could convey your dog’s condition.
Typically, you should look for the below-mentioned symptoms:
- Pawing at mouth
- Drooling
- Choking or gagging
- Licking the lips repeatedly
- Refusal to eat
- Vomiting
- Lethargy or restlessness
- Distended or painful abdomen
- Inability to defecate
3. Try to Find What The Dog Exactly Ate
Many times it happens that the dog may consume disposable razor and occasionally the blade. So, if you can then try to discover what they ate, you may take the appropriate actions accordingly.
If the dog ate the blade of the razor, it’s an emergency, and you should immediately visit your vet before doing anything. After all, it is an issue that only a professional can solve!
4. Feed Your Dog a Good Diet and Look After Their Bowel Movement
Another thing you can do is that you can feed your dog some soft meals that will help in digestion. Hence, if you are lucky, then the razor will come out with the feces.
- Make a Vaseline Sandwich
Make this by taking a slice of whole wheat bread, spread with vaseline, and then cover with another piece. Then, feed it to your dog bite by bite; otherwise, it may get messy.
- Feed Your Dog a Bland Diet
Feed your dog a bland meal of 50 percent cooked hamburger (or white, skinless chicken), all fats and fluids drained off, and 50 percent boiled white rice.
Ensure that you feed numerous little meals a day to keep your dog’s gastrointestinal system full of cushioning the fragments.
- Add 1 Tablespoon of Metamucil or Canned Pumpkin
These will help to cushion the sharp bits and help push them through. You’ll need to do this for 4 to 5 days. Meanwhile, keep monitoring your dog’s stool.
5. Call Your Veterinarian
If the situation worsens because your dog already chewed the razor, you should call your veterinarian as quickly as possible. Telling your veterinary and taking the necessary steps at the right time will help both you and your dog.
Your vet will initially do an X-Ray so to find out whether the dog swallowed the razor or not. If they found the razor in X-Ray, then they will do surgery. Here, they will try to remove the things that are blocking the dog’s GI tract.
Why Do Dogs Chew on Razors?
You may wonder why your dog chews on a razor as it’s a dangerous object! Well, there are specific reasons for this such as:
1. Out of Curiosity
Dogs are one of the most curious animals. Due to this reason, they may sniff and chew on dangerous things as well. For example, if they see a razor in their vision, they may even chew on it to fulfill their curiosity.
2. Due To Their Owner’s Smell
Dogs are crazy about their owners. So, anything that smells remotely like them becomes their favorite. Consequently, if your dog has eaten a used razor, then this can be the case.
A used razor may have a lingering scent on it that attracted your dog and caused it to chew on it. Therefore, it’s best to dispose of your used razors properly and avoid this situation.
3. Out of Hunger
Hunger may not be the reason if you are feeding your dog proper food, as per their dietary requirements. But, if you feel like your dog isn’t eating sufficiently, they may chew on razor out of hunger.
How Can You Prevent Your Dog From Eating a Razor Again?
While no dog owner wants to think that their dog may have eaten something they shouldn’t, the realization that they have can leave you in a panic! So, acting promptly in these circumstances and being prepared is one of the greatest ways to help your furry friend here.
Some of the ways you can prevent your dog from eating a razor again are:
1. Keep The Sharp Objects Away
The first and foremost thing you should do is keep sharp objects like razors away from your dog’s reach. For instance, you can keep them in cabinets where your dog cannot reach or locked drawers.
2. Dog Proof Your Dustbin
If you are throwing your razors in a dustbin, it is vital to dog-proof your dustbin. This will help you to prevent your dog from eating not only razors but also other inedible things! Moreover, you can buy pet-safe dustbins online too.
3. Train Your Dog
Always train your dog with instructions like a simple, firm “no” anytime you observe it eating anything it shouldn’t. You may also teach your dog to follow a command like “drop it” when they are chewing an inedible item.
Is Razor Dangerous for Dogs?
Yes, a razor is definitely one of the most dangerous items that a dog can eat. It is because when your dog swallows razor blades, they can damage the inner lining of the stomach, intestines, or colon when passing through. But, there are a few things to note.
If your dog consumed the razor blade around two days ago, it might have already gone through if it was attached to any cushioning food particles. So, your dog may be completely fine. However, it’s best to consult a vet and get your dog’s X-Ray done.
Also, it is possible that your dog has not developed any of the usual clinical symptoms of intestinal perforation or cut. For example, if the cut were in the stomach or small intestines, you would typically observe digested blood or a black tint to the stool.
Symptoms to Look Out for if a Dog Ate a Razor
You should look out for specific symptoms if your dog ate any sharp object, like a razor. Some of them are given below:
- Repeated vomiting, especially upon attempting to drink water or eat food
- Vomiting blood
- Dark or bright-red blood in the stool
- A stiff, distended abdomen
- Pain when the abdomen is palpated
- Biting at the flanks, as if in pain internally
- Fever
- Listlessness, depression, and inactivity
- Dehydration
Can Razor Cause Blockage in the Dog’s Gastrointestinal Tract?
Eating razors can create a blockage in a dog’s Gastrointestinal system. Veterinarians devote a significant amount of surgical time and attention to removing non-food objects from pets’ intestines. Hence, there is little doubt that intestinal obstructions may get deadly if not treated.
Something that may surprise you is a dog’s ability to successfully pass all kinds of items through its digestive tract without outside intervention. Most of the time, veterinarians will wait and would only proceed with surgical treatment if complications arise.
Conclusion: Can a Dog Eat a Razor?
Dogs easily take up anything in their mouth and swallow it, be it soil or razor.
Now, dogs can eat disposable plastic parts of the razor, but it may block the gastrointestinal tract. Also, if they eat the sharp part, like the blade, then it’s a thing you should be concerned about as it can hurt your dog significantly.
So, if you don’t want your dog to eat all these kinds of things, you should take some precautions. Try to keep razors away from your dog’s reach, don’t discard them in your house dustbin, and always keep your dog’s stomach full.
