Dog Ate an Absorbent Meat Pad – What to Do Next

The ingestion of absorbent meat pads can pose a health threat to dogs. How much of a danger it is to dogs will depend on a number of factors such as the size of the absorbent meat pad the dog ate and the size of the dog’s body.

What happens when a dog eats an absorbent meat pad?

The main danger has to do with dogs not being able to digest absorbent meat pads, even if the dog chewed it into smaller pieces beforehand. It may cause problems like choking if the size of the absorbent pad is big enough to get stuck somewhere along the dog’s gastrointestinal tract.

Intestinal blockage is an even more serious problem if the absorbent meat pad gets stuck in the dog’s bowel. Dogs with intestinal blockage problem develop a range of symptoms including vomiting, constipation, a loss of appetite, and stomach pains. Their problems will get worse and may eventually turn into serious health problems like bloat.

What to do if your dog ate an absorbent meat pad

Even if your dog is acting normal after eating an absorbent meat pad, it may still be in your pet’s best interest to call the vet for advice. Symptoms don’t always appear immediately. It may take several hours before any blockage symptoms develop. When calling the vet, be prepared to answer questions like the size of the absorbent meat pad you think the dog ate and the dog’s body size.

In the meantime, keep a close watch of your dog, especially when it’s eating or pooping time. Some dogs may get lucky by either vomiting out the meat pad or having the meat pad pass through their whole digestive system with little issue. This isn’t something you want to assume though given the risks involved.