Confetti is a very popular decoration used for all types of occasions. It’s sometimes used at weddings, birthday parties, and other types of celebrations and parties. But is confetti bad for dogs? Can confetti make your dog sick?
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What is Confetti?
Confetti is small pieces of material that are tossed at celebrations, parades, and more. The practice of throwing confetti seems to go back a long way, even to ancient times. In medieval Italy, confetti was thrown to the crowd during carnival. In those days, confetti was made of mud balls, coins, eggs, fruits, or even nuts. Can you imagine being hit by hard confetti? It must have been common in those days!
Thankfully, these days confetti is usually made of mylar or paper. It may be shiny and may come in different colors and shapes. When you get hit with modern confetti, it usually doesn’t hurt!
However, can confetti make a dog sick? What happens if your dog ingests confetti?
Confetti & Dogs
The good news is that confetti usually isn’t poisonous. That’s the good news. The bad news is if your dog eats a lot of confetti, he could develop an intestinal blockage, which is a life-threatening medical condition.
If your dog has eaten only a few pieces of confetti, chances are he will be OK. He may have some vomiting and diarrhea that lasts about 12 hours or so. Otherwise, he will be OK. If diarrhea and vomiting last longer or other symptoms develop, then it’s time to call the vet.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of an Intestinal Blockage in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten a lot of confetti:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Dehydration
- Abdominal pain and bloating
If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it’s time to call the vet. This is a life-threatening medical emergency.
Treatment of Intestinal Blockage in Dogs
At the vet’s, they will perform a physical exam of your dog, which may include lab work and x-rays. The x-rays will help the vet see where the confetti has become lodged in the digestive tract.
If there’s a blockage, your fur baby will require emergency surgery to remove the blockage.
The good news is that with prompt medical care, your dog should make a full recovery. In the future, prevention will be the best medicine. Be sure to keep your canine companion away from any confetti to avoid this type of issue happening again.
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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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