No one ever expects their dog to eat their glasses, but it happens more often than you might think. If your dog ate your glasses, what should you do? What are the consequences? In this blog post, we will discuss what happens when a dog eats glasses and what you can do to help prevent any damage.
What Happens if My Dog Eats My Glasses?
Here are a few things that could happen if your dog ate your glasses:
1. Your Dog Could Choke on the Glasses
If the glasses are large or if they are not chewed properly, they could get stuck in your dog’s throat and cause them to choke. This could happen with one broken piece of glass or with an entire pair of glasses.
You can identify choking by looking for signs such as drooling, gagging, trouble breathing, and purple gums.
2. Your Dog Could Cut Their Mouth, Throat, or Stomach
The glasses could also cut your dog’s mouth, throat, or stomach if they are not entirely broken down during the chewing process.
This could range from topical scratches along your dog’s lining to more serious lacerations.
Look for excessive drooling, trouble swallowing, or blood for signs of a potential cut or scratch.
3. Your Dog May Have an Obstruction
If your dog swallows a large piece of the glasses or multiple small pieces, they could have an obstruction in their stomach or intestines. This is especially true if your dog is a small breed. Some common signs of obstruction are vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain.
You may also notice swelling in the abdomen or that your dog’s stomach feels hard to the touch.
4. Your Dog May Throw Up the Glasses
Vomiting is a common response to eating a foreign object. This could happen because the glasses are irritating their stomach or because they are trying to get rid of a foreign object in their system. They may also throw up to dislodge anything choking them before the glasses even make it to the stomach.
5. You May Notice Blood in Your Dog’s Stool
When your dog eats something sharp like glasses, it can cause bleeding in the digestive tract. This could manifest as blood in their vomit or stool. If the blood is bright colored and fresh looking, this is most likely from an issue associated with the glasses.
6. Your Dog May Be Tired or Have a Lack of Appetite
If your dog is tired or has a lack of appetite, it may be due to the fact that it is not feeling well. This could be caused by the glasses irritating their stomach or by something else entirely. They may skip a meal or two while waiting for the glasses to pass.
7. Your Dog May Act Perfectly Normal
It’s also possible that your dog will act perfectly normal after eating your glasses. If this is the case, you may not even realize that they ate them until you go to look for your glasses and can’t find them.
If your dog ate your glasses and is acting normal, the best thing to do is keep an eye on them and watch for any potential problems.
What to Do if My Dog Eats My Glasses?
If your dog has eaten a pair of glasses, don’t panic. Instead, follow these steps:
1. Confirm That Your Dog Actually Ate Them
The first thing you need to do is confirm that your dog actually ate your glasses. This may seem like a silly step, but it’s important to make sure. If you’re not sure whether or not your dog ate them, look for your glasses in any areas you may have forgotten them.
You’ll also want to look for evidence of chewing or swallowing, such as glass fragments or pieces of the frames. If you can’t find any evidence that your dog ate your glasses, it’s possible they just chewed on them and didn’t actually swallow anything.
2. Call Your Veterinarian
If you’re sure that your dog ate your glasses, the next step is to call your veterinarian. They will be able to give you specific instructions on what to do next.
They may tell you to bring your dog in for an examination or they may tell you to watch for certain signs and symptoms at home.
Either way, it’s important to follow their instructions and not try to diagnose or treat your dog on your own.
3. Don’t Induce Vomiting on Your Own
You may want to get the pieces of glasses out of your dog’s system as soon as possible, but it’s important to wait until your vet gives you express permission or instructions to do so.
Inducing vomiting on your own can be dangerous and it’s always best to let a professional handle it. Sometimes your vet may wait to even try to remove the glasses until they have performed a scan and seen exactly where they are.
This helps to avoid any further injury that could be caused by the glasses moving around or causing an obstruction.
4. Give Your Dog Foods That Could Cushion the Glass
If your dog has swallowed pieces of glass, there is a chance that they could cut or scratch their digestive tract, as mentioned above
To help avoid this, you can give your dog soft foods that will help to cushion the glass and prevent it from causing any further damage.
Some examples of soft foods include cooked rice, mashed potatoes, canned pumpkin, or a piece of bread.
How to Prevent Your Dog From Eating Your Glasses
The best way to prevent your dog from eating your glasses is to keep them out of reach. This means putting them away in a drawer or cabinet that your dog can’t access.
You should also avoid leaving them on low tables or the ground where your dog could easily reach them. If you have a young puppy or dog, you may need to use a baby gate to keep them out of certain rooms or areas of your house.
You could also crate your dog when you’re not home or during times when you know they’ll be left alone. This will help to prevent them from getting into anything they shouldn’t while you’re gone.
If your dog is a known chewer, you will want to keep a close eye on them so that they don’t grab your glasses off of your face or head.
Training your dog with some basic commands will go a long way in helping you to keep them under control.