There are many reasons why we use earplugs in our homes…
For example, they’re great if your partner is a snorer or if you happen to live in a noisy neighborhood or part of town…
However, as these earplugs sit conveniently on your nightstand, they might seem like an attractive treat to your doggie, encouraging them to munch on one or two of them…
So, what happens if your dog ate an earplug? And what should you do?
In today’s article, we’ll walk you through a brief guide with everything you need to know about managing such a situation…
In the end, you’ll know how to assess if your dog is in any danger, and you’ll also know exactly what to do to ensure that your dog stay’s safe and healthy…
Let’s jump right in!
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Are Earplugs Toxic to Dogs?
The first concern you might have if your dog swallows an earplug is whether the swallowed object is toxic or not…
Ideally, commercial earplugs are usually made from 3 common materials, which are:
- Silicone
- Foam
- Rubber
Luckily, these three items aren’t toxic if they’re ingested by a dog or come in contact with their digestive fluids…
Moreover, most earplugs made from these materials are non-digestible in the dog’s stomach, which means that they won’t break down into other toxic chemicals…
So your dog shouldn’t suffer any form of poisoning just from swallowing an earplug made from these materials.
What Are the Risks of Dogs Swallowing Earplugs?
Although commercial earplugs aren’t generally made from toxic materials, that doesn’t make them completely safe if they’re ingested by a dog…
The problem here is that despite being generally safe, an earplug can still cause some health problems if it causes an internal obstruction upon ingestion…
This means that the bowel movement of your dog will be interrupted and blocked off due to the earplug…
For the same reason, the earplug can also be a choking hazard if it gets lodged into your dog’s trachea while swallowing…
Of course, such risks are usually more common and likely to occur in the case of smaller dog breeds than larger ones…
This is because they generally have smaller digestive tracts, which increases the chances of the earplug getting stuck at any point through its journey inside your dog’s bowels.
What Increases the Chance of Complications When Dogs Eat Earplugs?
The previously mentioned risks (choking and obstruction) are typically unlikely to happen in most cases…
The reason why is because earplugs are quite small and will usually pass easily through most dogs’ digestive canals…
Yet, the chances of these risks may increase in a few situations, such as:
- The dog eats multiple earplugs at once: This increases the general bulk of the earplugs, which makes them more likely to get stuck inside of the digestive canal.
- The earplug features a string attachment: The string will coil around itself or the earplug, increasing its width and making it harder to pass. The strings can also get entangled around the canal, posing risks to the dog’s blood circulation.
If you suspect that your dog may be in any danger after eating earplugs, you should contact a veterinarian for guidance…
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Will an Earplug Expand Inside the Digestive Tract?
Some earplugs are made from compressible memory foam…
This foam is designed to expand as you squeeze it, and it allows the earplugs to fill the gap in your ear canal and block off vibrations…
Despite that, this shouldn’t be a concern because an earplug won’t expand beyond its original size…
So if your dog swallowed a foam earplug, it’ll always be limited to how big the earplug was at the start, and you won’t have to worry about the earplug absorbing digestive fluids and expanding.
What Should You Expect If a Dog Eats Earplugs?
Despite the risks mentioned above, in most cases, earplugs shouldn’t be a major concern, especially if they’re eaten by accident and not a recurring problem…
Additionally, other factors that can also reduce the chance for a problem include:
- If the dog is of a large breed
- If the earplugs are noticeably small and without any attachments
- If the dog has been acting normal for the following few hours after the incident. For example, he or she is moving around normally and consuming their food and water on time without showing any noticeable signs of distress.
In that case, you should only keep an eye on your pooch and expect the earplugs to come out within your dog’s droppings…
This usually takes anywhere between a couple of hours and up to a few days, depending on the regularity and frequency of your dog’s bowel movement.
What Are the Signs of a Problem if my Dog Eats an Earplug?
Here are some of the most common signs that your dog might show if the earplugs got stuck after ingestion:
Signs of Choking…
- Noticeable retching, coughing, gagging
- Hyperventilation or noticeable breathing difficulties
- Excessive drooling and salivation
- Weird mouth spasms in an attempt to move the stuck earplug
- Pawing at the mouth and rubbing their head against the floor
Signs of Intestinal Obstruction…
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Noticeable loss of appetite
- Whining and hunching
- Excessive panting
- Bloating and diarrhea
- Behavioral changes
If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, you should contact a veterinarian immediately…
>> Click Here To Chat (Online – 24/7) With A Verified Veterinarian In Minutes!
What to Do if Your Dog Eats an Earplug?
The first thing you need to do if your dog eats an earplug is to open his or her mouth and check if it’s still there…
If you can reach it, simply take it out…
Next, you’ll need to do your best to not worry or panic and keep a close eye on your dog. As long as your dog is acting normally, there’s probably nothing to worry about…
That being said, you can help speed up your dog’s bowel movement by feeding him whole wheat bread to help bulk up his bowels and stimulate excretion…
And you can keep doing that until the earplugs show in his droppings…
If your dog is choking, you can try to remove the earplug by hand or by performing the Heimlich Maneuver…
Watch The Video To Learn How To Perform The Heimlich Maneuver On Your Dog…
Taking your dog to the vet immediately is also essential if your dog was choking or if you suspect that your dog has an intestinal blockage.
How to Stop Your Dog from Eating Earplugs in the Future…
The easiest way to prevent your dog from eating earplugs is by simply keeping them out of your dog’s reach…
You can easily do this by keeping them inside a drawer or an opaque box, or in a place that’s high up such as on top of your dresser…
But even better than that is to train your dog to follow the “Leave it!” or “Drop it!” commands…
Now, there are many great training programs out there, but the one I recommend is called Brain Training For Dogs…
I like it because it’s very easy to follow, it works quickly, and you can access the program from the comfort of your own home…
If you’d like to learn more about how Brain Training For Dogs can help you quickly train your dog to be more obedient, click the link below…
>> Click Here To Learn How Brain Training For Dogs Can Help You!
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My Dog Ate An Ear Plug – Final Thoughts…
There you have it! A brief guide with everything you need to know and do if your dog ate earplugs…
As you can see, this usually isn’t a major concern if your dog is acting naturally and normally…
However, if you notice any signs of distress, you should contact a vet immediately to seek medical help.