My Dog Ate an Eyeliner Pencil What Should I Do?

We spoil our dogs with tons of toys and affection and more. Still, they have a way of finding things they shouldn’t get into and proceed to get in trouble one way or another!

One common problem we found was that dogs seem to enjoy chewing up eyeliner pencils! This seems to be a very common problem!

But are eyeliner pencils toxic for dogs? Can an eyeliner pencil make your dog sick?

What is an Eyeliner Pencil?

Eyeliner pencils are found in many women’s makeup bags. This is a common product used by people to help enhance their eyes.

This type of makeup has been in use for thousands of years. It was used in ancient India and ancient Egypt and even in Mesopotamia. It wasn’t only used to make the eyes look good; eyeliner was also used to protect the skin around the eye from the fierce desert sun. It was also sometimes worn to avert the evil eye.

The eyeliner we use today first became popular in the late 20^th and early 21^st century.

Eyeliner is usually applied around the eyes. It’s often used to create different looks, as well as enhance certain aspects of the eyes. Eyeliner is sometimes used only on the upper eyelid; however, some people use it on both the upper and lower lids. It’s used to make the lashes look thicker and longer while drawing attention to the eye area.

Eyeliner comes in a wide range of colors and it comes in different formulations. The eyeliner we’re discussing in this article is eyeliner pencil.

Eyeliner pencils can be made of plastic or wood. And the good news is that the contents of the eyeliner are not toxic to you or your dog!

But can eyeliner pencils make your dog sick?

Eyeliner Pencils & Dogs

While the contents of the eyeliner pencil are not toxic, the outer casing of the pencil could cause problems for your dog.

For instance, plastic or wood eyeliner pencils can shatter into small, sharp pieces when chewed up. This can be dangerous for your dog. The reason is that the sharp pieces could become a choking hazard, cause tears and wounds in the mouth, esophagus, and intestines, or cause an intestinal blockage, which is a dangerous medical condition.

Symptoms of an Intestinal Blockage in Dogs

You may notice these symptoms if your dog has developed an intestinal blockage:

• Loss of appetite
• Dehydration
• Abdominal pain & swelling
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation

If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, if having breathing difficulties, or other concerning symptoms, then call your vet immediately. This is a life-threatening medical emergency.

In most cases, dogs who receive prompt medical care will make a full recovery. And in the future, be sure to keep your makeup where your dog can’t access it!