There are some dogs who will get into and eat anything. I’ve met dogs who have swallowed socks, tinfoil, and even an entire stuffed animal. Even if your dog is not the type of dog who gets into things, sometimes the temptation is too great. This is especially true if there is something your dog can grab that has food in it, or even just smells like food. One of these common household items that your dog may ingest is Saran Wrap. While Saran Wrap itself isn’t toxic, there is the potential for gastrointestinal upset or even an obstruction, so it is recommended to contact a veterinarian to get their advice and next steps.
Potential Risks of a Dog Eating Saran Wrap
Some people will use plastic wrap on containers of their leftover food at home. Other times, plastic wrap will be around slices of cheese, sausage, or other products purchased at the grocery store. Your dog may be attracted to these items because they contain and/or smell like food. Some dogs may pass the plastic wrap normally through their GI tract and defecate it out in a day or two. You may not even know your dog ingested it until you see it in their stool.
Sometimes, the presence of a large amount of foreign material in the stomach may cause irritation and nausea. Your dog may stop eating or vomit up the plastic wrap. Once out, your dog may start to act completely normal as the foreign material is now gone. However, sometimes the vomiting persists and your dog may need medications to help control the nausea.
Other times, as with many different household items, we may become concerned that the plastic will become stuck within the GI tract somewhere, causing an obstruction. This is most common in smaller dogs who may have ingested a large piece of Saran Wrap, or even larger dogs if the wrap becomes balled up on itself, making it difficult to pass.
Signs of Ingesting Plastic Wrap
The most obvious sign is finding remnants of the container or food item on the floor. Maybe your dog got into the trash or you witnessed them eating something. Either way, you should watch your dog carefully if you know for a fact they are guilty.
Other times your dog may just stop eating or have a decreased appetite. The irritation from the Saran Wrap may cause discomfort anywhere along the GI tract, from the stomach to the colon, making your dog nauseous and/or uncomfortable. Your dog may develop diarrhea and/or strain to defecate (tenesmus). This frequently will occur before or after an animal successfully passes a foreign object or material in their stool. If your dog successfully vomits or defecates the wrap out, their abnormal signs may resolve on their own.
If an obstruction occurs, the most frequent signs of this are vomiting, nausea, lack of stool, anorexia, and abdominal pain. If your dog is straining to defecate and not passing anything, not attempting to go to the bathroom, or is otherwise unable to keep anything down, you need to seek veterinary care for them as soon as possible.
The 6 Steps to Take If Your Dog Ate Saran Wrap
1. Figure Out What Food They May Have Ingested With the Wrap
Some food may be completely harmless if ingested, especially in a large dog. Other times, the combination of certain foods (e.g., food with bones, corn cobs and/or high fatty foods) and the Saran Wrap being ingested may be a harmful combination. Try to remember and figure out exactly what your dog ingested.
2. Contact Your Veterinarian, a Telehealth Company, or Poison Control
Once you figure out exactly what your dog ate and the time frame, it’s time to contact an expert for advice, whether that be your veterinarian, a vet telehealth company, or animal poison control. Give them the above information and your dog’s approximate weight, and the time your dog may have ingested all of the items. Those things combined will help the veterinarian determine if your dog should be seen in person or not.
3. Follow the Veterinarian’s Advice
If the veterinarian you contact recommends you take your dog to be seen to induce vomiting, then please follow those recommendations. We only recommend this in dogs that we are concerned may have further problems if the items are not vomited up. Please do not wait for hours to have your dog seen, as the window of opportunity may then be gone. Trust me when I say it’s much cheaper to have your dog vomit up the Saran Wrap than to pay for surgery due to an obstruction.
4. Monitor for Vomiting, Diarrhea, Anorexia, and Abdominal Pain
Pending what the advice is of your veterinarian, you may be able to just monitor your dog at home. They may have you increase the fiber in your dog’s food to help push any foreign material through, or just monitor for abnormal signs. If you notice any of these things, then seek veterinary help.
5. Do Not Administer Enemas, Oils, or Other Products
Do not administer anything by mouth or rectally to try to get the ingested Saran Wrap to pass through your dog’s guts. The only thing we sometimes recommend is increased fiber in the diet, but this is on a case-by-case basis. Oils, enemas, and other over-the-counter (OTC) products may cause your dog severe harm.
6. Look for the Wrap in the Stool
Sorry folks, there’s no way around this. Monitor your dog’s stool for any ingested wrap or other products that pass. You may be surprised to find out that your dog ingested other unknown items with the Saran Wrap! Grab some gloves and go outside.
Conclusion
Ingestion of Saran Wrap by your dog may or may not cause a problem. Saran Wrap itself is non-toxic. However, the food item(s) that were wrapped in the plastic wrap may be. While the wrap may pass normally through the intestinal tract, other dogs may develop irritation, nausea, a decreased appetite, and diarrhea. Sometimes the wrap may even cause an obstruction, resulting in the need for surgery. Always consult with your veterinarian or a Poison Control Center to make a plan that is best for your specific dog.
Featured Image Credit: Veja, Shutterstock