My Dog Ate My Aquarium What Should I Do?

Aquariums can be a beautiful addition to your home and the fish are so much fun to watch! You can become quickly enthralled watching fish do their thing!

But what happens if your dog eats your aquarium? Can an aquarium make your dog sick?

What Can A Dog Eat From An Aquarium?

A regular aquarium for tropical fish contains a lot of stuff. Let’s take a look:

Gravel: to cover the bottom of the aquarium. The gravel may be in very small pieces or could be made of glass, river rock, etc.

Filtration devices and material: this includes filters mounted inside or outside the tank to filter the water and remove toxins, algae, and more. The filtering material may include floss, foam, and/or activated charcoal contained in a plastic, mesh filter.

Under-gravel filter: some people also choose to use an under-gravel filter. This may be made of plastic, which contains small holes that allow water to be filtered through the gravel and the filter, trapping debris under the gravel.

Heater: many people choose a submerged filter, which is a glass tube that contains heating coils. The heating controls are usually a knob on top of the filter, which is above the waterline.

Thermometer: this is a device that’s used to measure the temperature of the water. There are two common types that are used most often. One is the bulb thermometer that sits inside the tank, usually at the bottom, though it can also be attached to the glass of the tank with a suction cup. The other type of thermometer is one that’s flat and sticks to the side of the tank. This type of device contains chemicals that activate at specific temperatures.

Lights & hood: the hood sits on top of the aquarium and is used to keep fish from jumping out. They also work to keep the water from evaporating as fast. Most hoods also contain a light that’s safe to use with fish and live plants.

Decorations: these can include fake, plastic plants of various types, as well as other types of decorations made from something like plaster or plastic.

Air pump: this sends air through the tank, ensuring the fish have enough oxygen to breathe in the water. They may also be used to send air through a tube to the filter.

Plants: some individuals choose to use real plants in their aquarium.

Aquarium chemicals: some people leave the aquarium chemicals next to the aquarium on the stand. Others choose to store the chemicals in a cabinet under the tank. These chemicals are used to test the tank’s water for pH levels, as well as ammonia concentration. Other chemicals may include medications for fish that are sick.

Fish food: this may be in flake or pellet form. However, some people do feed their fish live food such as brine shrimp, worms, and more.

Fish & other freshwater critters: the tank will also include fish and other freshwater creatures.

As you can see, there are many things that could harm your dog if ate the aquarium or any part of it. If your dog eats any part of the aquarium, then you’ll need to call the vet. This could be a life-threatening emergency, depending on what your dog has eaten.