Has your dog eaten a butter wrapper? Are you worried the butter wrapper will make your dog sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place!
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In this article, we’ll take a look at butter and butter wrappers, whether these can be bad for your dog, as well as what you need to do if your dog has swallowed a butter wrapper. Let’s get started!
Butter & Butter Wrappers
Butter is a dairy product made from churned cream. Butter may include salt or be unsalted and usually has a very creamy flavor and texture. Butter is used in all types of cooking, from pan-frying to sauteing, baking, and more. It can also be used on its own on toast, veggies, rice, and more. Butter is a great thing! However, can it make your dog sick?
The short answer is yes; butter can make your dog sick. This is because of its high-fat content. Dogs who have sensitive stomachs may experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. However, butter can also set off pancreatitis in other dogs.
But what about the butter wrapper?
Butter Wrappers & Dogs
Dogs love butter! And a dog that’s serious about butter may not stop to tear off the wrapper before eating what’s inside. Instead, some dogs eat the butter, wrapper, and all!
Some butter wrappers are made from wax. If a large dog eats a wax wrapper, chances are the butter wrapper will go through his system with no problem. The wrapper should eventually make an appearance in your dog’s poop!
However, if you have a smaller dog, there’s a danger that the wrapper can cause choking/gagging, become lodged in the stomach or the intestines. If the wrapper becomes lodged, it causes a medical problem called an intestinal blockage. An intestinal blockage is a life-threatening medical emergency.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of an Intestinal Blockage in Dogs
If your dog has swallowed a butter wrapper, he may show these symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Abdominal swelling & pain
- Excessive drooling
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, then call the vet immediately. This could be a life-threatening medical emergency.
Treatment of Intestinal Blockage in Dogs
The vet will run some imaging tests, such as an x-ray. The images will show the vet exactly where the blockage is located and whether or not the butter wrapper is causing complete blockage of the intestines.
If the blockage is complete, then your dog will more than likely need emergency surgery. The surgery removes the blockage safely.
The good news is that in most cases, a dog will make a full recovery after surgery for a blocked intestine. In the future, it’s probably a good idea to keep your dog away from butter wrappers. You may want to invest in a dog-proof wastebasket to keep wrappers away from your dog in the future!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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