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Do you take your dog hunting? Do you use bullets when hunting? If so, you may want to read this article. Dogs will eat just about anything that grabs their fancy, including bullets! Why would a dog eat bullets? No one’s really sure. It could be due to pica or just out of curiosity. But it has been known to happen. But what happens if a dog eats bullets?
Has your dog eaten bullets? Are you worried the bullets will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog eats something like this.
We’ve put together some information about bullets and whether they can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
What are Bullets?
Bullets are projectiles that may be shot from a variety of guns. Bullets may be made of different materials, such as wax, copper, lead, steel, polymer, and rubber. They’re also made in various shapes and can be used for hunting, target practice, and more.
Bullets usually contain something inside, such as gunpowder or cordite. However, they may also be “blank” and contain no gunpowder.
While bullets can be safe when used correctly, what happens if a dog eats bullets?
Bullets & Dogs
Unfortunately, bullets can be very bad for dogs. For one thing, if the dog chews on the bullet casing, he could be poisoned by the material in the casing (may contain lead or other materials). Then there’s the danger of ingesting the gunpowder or cordite that many bullets contain.
In addition, bullets could cause an intestinal obstruction anywhere along the dog’s digestive tract. So, eating bullets could cause a life-threatening medical situation.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Bullet Ingestion in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten bullets:
- Seizures
- Blindness
- Paralysis
- Abnormal body posture
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain & swelling
- Irritability
These may be symptoms of lead poisoning and/or intestinal blockage. If your notice these symptoms in your dog, call the vet immediately. This is an emergency.
The vet may run blood tests and take images to see where the bullets are in the dog’s digestive tract. In some cases, emergency surgery may be needed to remove the bullets from the dog’s system. If there are also signs of poisoning, the vet will treat the dog for this issue, too.
Chances are your fur baby will require an IV for fluids and to administer medications. And he will probably have to remain hospitalized until he’s stable.
It’s best to keep bullets stored safely out of your dog’s reach. We always say prevention is the best medicine.
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Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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