My Dog Ate a Coaster Will He Get Sick?

Many of us have cork coasters at home, and they’re great for soaking up the moisture from a glass. The coasters protect your furniture and are very lightweight. They’re just great!

While they’re great to set a glass on, coasters are not good for your dog to eat. Accidents happen and dogs are notorious for eating the strangest things! But what happens if your dog eats a cork coaster?

Cork Coasters & Dogs

Cork isn’t toxic to dogs; however, it doesn’t digest well inside a dog. So, if a dog eats a very small piece of cork, it will probably pass right on through his digestive tract without a problem. In fact, you’ll probably see the cork piece(s) in your dog’s poop! That’s a good thing and they will look pretty much like they did going in. In other words, the cork pieces will be very recognizable.

However, a serious issue can arise if a dog eats a lot of cork, even if the pieces are small. The problem is that because the cork doesn’t break down in the digestive tract, a lot of small (or larger) pieces could bunch up and become stuck. This causes a medical condition that’s called an intestinal blockage.

Another issue is that some types of cork can expand when they become wet. If this happens inside your dog, there’s a possibility the cork could swell and cause an intestinal blockage.

Either way, an intestinal blockage is a very serious, life-threatening medical emergency.

Symptoms of an Intestinal Blockage

• You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten cork:
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Straining to have a bowel movement
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Burping
• Abdominal pain/bloating

If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, then this could be a life-threatening medical emergency. Call the vet immediately. Your dog needs prompt medical treatment now.

Treatment of Intestinal Blockage in Dogs

Note: Do not induce vomiting unless this is recommended by the vet.

When you reach the vet, they will perform a physical exam of your dog. If your fur baby has recently eaten the cork, the vet may try to induce vomiting. However, if your dog is already showing signs of an intestinal blockage, then this will not work.

The vet will run some lab work and x-rays (or other types of images). The x-rays will show where the blockage is. In most cases, your dog will need to be hospitalized and may require surgery to remove the blockage.

The good news is that dogs who receive prompt medical care have an excellent chance of a full recovery.