Most people use lip balm at one point or another. It may be during the long winter months when the air inside the house is not humid enough. Or we may use it in the summer to protect against the sun’s rays and when it’s windy outside.
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While lip balm is a common household item, it can be dangerous if your dog eats it. And there’s an additional problem if your canine companion eats the packaging, too.
What is Lip Balm?
Lip balm is a salve or butter that’s used to protect delicate lip tissues. These products usually contain ingredients that help moisturize our lips and keep them from drying out. Most ingredients in lip balm are safe unless they’re ingested.
Lip Balm can be Dangerous for Dogs
Lip balm can be dangerous for dogs because some of the ingredients used in these products are toxic to dogs. There are some brands that don’t contain substances that will harm a dog, but they can still cause stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea.
Here’s are a couple of ingredients that can be toxic to dogs:
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- Xylitol
- Essential oils
- Camphor
- Menthol
- And more
Another problem with lip balm is the packaging it comes in. If your dog eats the lip balm and the plastic packaging, then this could develop into a medical emergency.
The plastic packaging can cause serious digestive tract issues which may include tearing of the stomach or intestines, or an intestinal blockage. Both of these are serious medical issues that can threaten a dog’s life.
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Ask a Vet Live NowWhat to Do If Your Dog Eats Lip Balm
No matter what, it’s highly recommended that you call the vet immediately once you realize what’s happened. If possible, try to remember the brand of lip balm and if the packaging is still available, then have the ingredient list on hand when you call the vet.
Let the vet know if your dog has eaten only the lip balm, or if your fur baby ate the lip balm and the packaging. Your vet will have the best advice on what to do next.
One note: never induce vomiting at home unless your vet recommends this. Inducing vomiting could cause serious medial issues.
Fast action may save your dog’s life, so please call the vet as soon as possible after your dog has eaten lip balm. Accidents do happen but be sure to keep lip balm out of your dog’s reach to avoid this problem in the future.
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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