My Dog Ate Duct Tape What Should I Do?

Reviewed By Julie •  Updated: 12/23/20 •  3 min read
Dog Severe Toxicity Level
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Do you use duct tape around the house? If so, you’re not alone. Duct tape is a great invention that works for many jobs. Did you know they even use duct tape on the space station to make repairs? It’s true!

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What is Duct Tape?

As the name suggestion, duct tape is a strong, flexible sticky tape that’s great for all types of uses. It’s made of a cotton mesh, has a polyethylene coating, and uses a pressure-sensitive adhesive to create a strong bond with many types of surfaces.

Because it’s so strong, duct tape can be used for both indoor and outdoor applications—and even in space! It’s used for everything from home repairs to survivalist applications.

Duct tape is handy to have around, but what happens if a dog eats duct tape?

It is strongly recommended to contact a Pet Poison Helpline or your veterinarian.

Duct Tape Can be Dangerous for Dogs

Duct tape can be dangerous for dogs in many ways. For one thing, it can be a choking hazard. This is because it can be stuck to the back of the mouth or in the throat if eaten. If the dog’s airway’s blocked, he could stop breathing.

Another problem is that the tape, if ingested, can cause an intestinal blockage. The dog’s stomach acid is not strong enough to destroy the tape, which can lead to the duct tape passing into the intestines. There, duct tape can cause a very serious medical condition called an intestinal blockage.

And if the tape does happen to pass through the intestines OK, it can still become lodged and twisted in the digestive tract.

If your dog has eaten duct tape and he’s choking, open his mouth to see if you can safely remove the tape. If not, then head directly to the vet’s office. This is a medical emergency.

And if your dog has completely swallowed duct tape, then you should call the vet immediately. Even if your fur baby seems to be OK, it’s good to have the vet’s guidance on this situation.

Symptoms of an Intestinal Blockage

If your dog is experiencing these symptoms, then call the vet immediately. This is a life-threatening medical emergency.

As you can see, duct tape is a great invention; however, it’s not great for dogs. So, it’s a good idea to keep it out of your dog’s reach at all times.

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Julie

Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.

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