Dogs are notorious for trying to eat anything they can find. Usually, giving them a rubber chewing toy can help reduce this habit. A chewing toy will also prevent boredom and provide stimulation to your dog. However, your dog might end up eating one of those things.
Hence, if you find that your dog is chewing on a rubber mat and eating it, there are a few things you need to do to ensure safety. This detailed guide will help you know what to do. So, read on.
Contents
What Should You Do If Your Dog Ate a Rubber Mat?
Here is what you need to do if your dog ate a rubber mat:
1. Make Sure Your Dog Is Safe
The very first thing that you should do is take your dog to another comfortable place. This will make your dog feel safe as they might begin to feel sick and vomit.
Additionally, keeping your dog away from where they ate the rubber mat will ensure that they do not go back. Your dog might be tempted to go back and eat more of the rubber mat or other objects.
2. Try to Induce Vomiting
Before you try to induce vomiting, make sure to clean your dog’s mouth with a wet cloth. This will prevent your dog from choking on any small pieces of the rubber mat that might still be in their mouth or throat.
If your dog ate the rubber mat less than two hours ago, it is likely that the pieces are still in their stomach. Use an irritant like hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting in your dog.
However, before you do so, make sure to give your dog a proper meal. The food will help in cushioning the rubber mat pieces and make the process easier for your dog.
If it has been more than two hours, the object has most likely entered the intestines. So, vomiting will not make it come back up. If the rubber mat pieces are small enough, they will pass out through your dog’s feces without causing any harm.
3. Contact Your Veterinarian
The most important thing to do is seek your veterinarian’s advice.
Although, in most cases, dogs are easily able to pass out small objects like rubber mat pieces. However, the rubber mat might cause problems like intestinal blockage that only your veterinarian will be able to identify and provide a solution to.
Therefore, you must not skip contacting your veterinarian. Some other solutions that they might suggest are getting an endoscopy. This will help in removing the rubber mat pieces before they get too far in your dog’s system.
4. Help Your Dog Pass The Rubber Mat
If your veterinarian has suggested that your dog will be able to pass out the rubber mat pieces, there are a few things that you can do to aid this.
Firstly, make sure that you feel your dog well over the next few days. Food will create a cushion around the rubber mat pieces and cause them to pass out of the intestines more easily.
Additionally, an adequate amount of food will also help in releasing more digestive juices. This will help in breaking down the rubber mat pieces inside your dog’s stomach and intestines.
Feed your dog bread and other foods rich in starch. You can also give them a spoon of coconut or olive oil to help clear out their stomach. Additionally, feeding your dog pieces of canned pumpkin will also make the process easier.
5. Keep an Eye Out For Symptoms
Of course, after consuming something that is not meant to be eaten, your dog will experience some symptoms of sickness. In most cases, your dog will only have mild symptoms that will go away in a few days.
However, it is also possible that after eating a rubber mat, your dog might have severe problems like intestinal blockage or an infection. So, you should keep an eye out for any symptoms that your dog might exhibit over the next few days.
Later in this article, there is a detailed list of symptoms that you should look out for and what they indicate about your dog’s health.
Is Rubber Mat Toxic to Dogs?
No, a rubber mat is unlikely to release any toxins in your dog’s system.
Dogs are often given chew toys made out of natural rubber. Natural rubber is non-toxic and elastic. This makes it safe to be chewed on by dogs.
Additionally, natural rubber does not contain any PVC, petroleum, phthalates, or heavy metals. However, the same cannot be said about a rubber mat. The rubber mat that your dog ate might not be made of natural rubber.
Your dog might develop an abdomen infection after eating the rubber mat. But when it comes to toxins, it is not very likely that your dog will experience poisoning.
Symptoms to Look for After Your Dog Eats a Rubber Mat
There are some mild symptoms that your dog might exhibit after eating a rubber mat. It is normal for your dog to experience them. They should go away in two to three days.
These symptoms include:
- Vomiting
- Change in appetite levels
- Change in activity levels
- Discomfort
- Digestive problems
- Coughing
If these symptoms do get better in more than three days, you should consult your veterinarian. Additionally, if your dog is displaying any of these symptoms in an excessive amount, it is a good idea to seek professional advice.
Another possibility is that your dog may experience serious consequences after eating a rubber mat. The pieces might be causing an intestinal blockage, which can cause serious problems if left unattended.
Here are some symptoms that suggest intestinal blockage:
- Excessive vomiting
- Excessive drooling
- Excessive coughing
- Loss of appetite
- Restlessness
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Loss of interest in daily routine
The rubber mat pieces might also end up staying in your dog’s stomach. This can lead to an abdomen infection known as Peritonitis.
Here are some symptoms that indicate Peritonitis:
- Excessive panting
- Excessive vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Black stools
- Unwillingness to sit at ease
- Abdominal pain
If you notice your dog exhibiting symptoms of peritonitis or intestinal blockage, consult your veterinarian immediately.
Can My Dog Get Sick After Eating a Rubber Mat?
Yes, your dog can get sick after eating a rubber mat.
After all, they ate something that is not meant to be consumed. This will naturally cause symptoms as your dog’s body will try to get rid of the rubber mat.
Apart from monitoring the symptoms listed above, you will also need to check whether your dog has passed the rubber mat pieces or not. If your dog does not pass out the rubber mat after two to three days, take them to the veterinarian.
One way to check whether your dog has passed the rubber mat is by visually trying to spot rubber mat pieces in your dog’s poop. Moreover, you can either use a strainer to detect the rubber mat pieces or use a plastic fork to shift through your dog’s poop.
How Will the Veterinarian Remove the Rubber Mat?
If your dog becomes seriously ill or is not able to pass out the rubber mat, it will need medical assistance. There are a few things that your veterinarian might suggest.
Also, if the rubber mat pieces have not gone too far inside your dog’s system, your veterinarian might be able to remove them with an endoscopy. But, if it has been a few days, your veterinarian will first take a radioscopy to know where the rubber mat pieces are inside your dog’s system.
You must know what different symptoms mean so that you know when to consult your veterinarian. Here are some symptoms and what they suggest:
- If the rubber mat is still inside your dog’s stomach or intestines, they will vomit until the blockage is removed. The food that they eat will have to pass around the rubber mat pieces.
- If the blockage is severe, your dog will exhibit sudden and constant vomiting over days. Your dog will vomit as soon as they eat anything and begin to refuse food and water.
How to Prevent Your Dog From Eating a Rubber Mat Again?
Of course, after all the trouble that it may have caused you, you do not want your dog to eat a rubber mat ever again. The good news is that there are certain ways to make sure that your dog never eats any random object ever again.
Here are some ways to prevent your dog from eating dangerous objects again:
1. Dog-Proof Your House
To dog-proof your house, you will need to keep potentially dangerous objects like make-up, toxic foods, medicines, etc out of your dog’s reach. This way, they will not get the opportunity to be near such objects ever again, let alone eat them.
Moreover, you can dog-proof your house further by swapping your trashcan for one with a lid that your dog cannot open, removing all kinds of clutter, etc.
2. Teach Your Dog The “Leave It” Command
An even more effective way to prevent your dog from eating any random objects is by teaching them the “Leave It” command.
This will ensure that even if your dog finds a dangerous object, they will leave it when you ask them. So, you won’t have to worry about your dog chewing on them.
Conclusion: Can a Dog Eat a Rubber Mat?
It goes without saying that dogs cannot eat rubber mats.
But, if you ever find that your dog has eaten a rubber mat, this article will come to your rescue. Hopefully, you now know exactly what to do if such a situation occurs (again).
