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Dogs are curious animals but it’s not common for them to eat sponges. They might tear it to pieces, but it is much rarer for a dog to swallow or actively eat an entire sponge. However, that’s not to say that they won’t ever consume one. Some dogs are a bit odd and will eat a sponge or accidentally consume pieces while tearing your couch apart.
If your dog has eaten a sponge, it usually is not very dangerous. But we highly recommend that you contact your dog’s vet immediately to prevent complications.
Steps to Take
If your dog ate a small piece of sponge, it shouldn’t really be a matter of concern. If your dog looks healthy, does not show any worrying symptoms, and its stool is also normal for the next 48 hours, it should be fine.
The size of your dog matters a lot. It can make a difference between a harmless and a dangerous situation. If your dog is big, then a small piece won’t be a danger but if you have a small-sized dog or a puppy, then even a tiny fragment can cause health issues. You should contact your dog’s vet immediately in this scenario.
It is better to give your dog high-fiber and fatty food when they eat sponges because it helps the dog to expel them through poop. The bulky food will wrap around the sponge inside their stomach, and the body will push it out as stool. Also, check your dog’s poop for the next few days to see if the sponge has left your dog’s body.
It will help if you feed your pet foods like fiber bread, canned plain pumpkin, brown rice, mashed potatoes, bran muffins, and cottage cheese.
Are Sponges Toxic For Dogs?
Most sponges are not toxic but some are made with toxic plastic. A more direct concern for even non-toxic sponges is what’s on their surface. Most people use these items to clean their house, meaning that there can be a host of dirt, bacteria, and cleaning chemicals inside the sponge – and your pet can ingest these dangerous elements.
Kitchen Sponge
Sponges that are used in the kitchen can be dangerous. They might have unsafe traces of soap or detergent. Kitchen sponges also have course rubbing sides that use polyurethane. Polyurethane can be hazardous to your dogs, causing wounds in the intestine and stomach along with possible inflammation.
Beauty Sponge
Beauty sponges usually use foam, and foams are normally not dangerous if ingested (they can present a choking hazard, though). However, the remnants of the beauty products sponge can be toxic and poisonous.
Rather keep these sponges safely out of the way. But it can also help if you research the ingredients in your beauty products and replace any of them with non-toxic alternatives. That way, your pet and your skin might be better off! If your dog has eaten one of your makeup sponges, you should immediately call the pet poison helpline or the nearest clinic and describe to them what the product contains.
What Happens If Your Dog Eats Sponge?
Sponges absorb liquid, and when they do, they tend to enlarge. This increased volume can create a blockage in the dog’s intestine and prevent them from eating anything or passing stool. In this case, the dog might need surgery.
Keep your dog under observation to see if they are showing any signs of discomfort or unusual behavior. Here are some common symptoms to look for, and if any of these occur, contact the nearest vet clinic immediately
Vomiting
If your dog starts to vomit and cough after eating a sponge, then sometimes, the sponge is successfully ejected and your dog will be fine. However, that is not always the case. Vomiting can cause the sponge to become stuck in the dog’s throat and possibly lead to suffocation.
If your dog starts vomiting after a few days of eating the sponge, it probably means the sponge is causing a blockage and this requires emergency surgery.
Constipation
You must keep a check on your dog’s bowel movements. It is common for your dog to have constipation or diarrhea when there is something causing a blockage in the intestine or stomach.
If the blockage gets too severe, your pup won’t pass anything beyond liquid stool. This can be painful and dangerous, so it is important to have your pet checked out by a vet.
Drowsiness and Lethargy
Drowsiness is the most common symptom you might notice. The sponge will create a blockage in your canine’s intestine, and this will result in its loss of appetite, inability to eat, sore muscles, and high fever.
Your dog will feel drained and tired and avoid most activities. Your pet will be weak, low in energy, and might develop anemic due to the loss of nutrients.
Abdominal Pain
If your dog starts having stomach aches after it ate the sponge; then you should take your pet immediately to the nearest clinic as this is a significant warning sign.
Your dog might have lower abdomen pains due to inflammation, indigestion, constipation, or intestinal blockage.
A Quick Summary
Dogs don’t usually eat a sponge but playful puppies or bored adults might tear up one of these squishy things. If you suspect that your dog has swallowed pieces of a sponge, keep an eye on it for any symptoms and immediately take the dog to the vet if the animal shows any abnormal health signs. A sponge can be toxic and even fatal for dogs, so keep them well out of reach!