What To Do If Your Dog Eats A Bath Bomb
You walk into your bathroom and see a wrapper on the floor, and your dog’s mouth covered in purple chunks and sparkles. He’s mighty proud of himself, and you can’t believe what you’re seeing. It’s enough to make your heart stop. We all know that panicking won’t do you any good, but if you’re a first-time dog owner, or if this is the first time your dog has been involved in shenanigans, you might be confused about what to do.
It’s hard to think clearly in the moment, but don’t worry, we’ve managed plenty of dog emergencies, and we’ll walk you through the steps so you can stay calm for your dog. Let’s talk about what to do if your dog eats a bath bomb.
What To Do If Your Dog Eats A Bath Bomb
- When you find the evidence that your dog has eaten a bath bomb, you need to immediately assess the situation. How is your dog acting? Does he look proud of himself and not in any immediate distress? Or does he seem like he might be sick or having a reaction? The condition of your dog will determine your next step.
- If your dog seems to be okay, try to figure out how much of the bath bomb he has eaten. Determine if he also ate the packaging. In some cases, consuming the packaging is more dangerous than eating the bath bomb itself as foreign objects may cause blockage and you will need to watch for symptoms. If your dog seems to be having a reaction whether vomiting, irritation, drooling, or if something just doesn’t seem right, call your vet and tell them you have an emergency. If it is after hours, find an emergency vet in your area.
- Try to find the ingredients in the bath bomb. You may need to use Google, but if you know the ingredients, this is very helpful information for your vet. The more information you can provide for a vet, the better. If your dog is having a reaction, you may need to do this from their office or have a friend help while you’re driving your dog.
- If your dog is still happy and perky, call Animal Poison Control ((888) 426-4435). Animal control will let you know the reactions, if any, to watch for. Give your vet a call as well. They may ask you to come in even if your dog is not showing any problems. More likely, they will ask you to observe your dog.
- Keep an eye on your dog for the next 24 hours. The most common symptoms you will see are stomach upset. Limit your dog’s water for about 6 hours. Keep an eye on your dog for the next 24 hours. If they don’t experience symptoms within 8 hours, chances are, they got off scot-free.
What If The Bath Bomb Was Dog Safe?
Even if the bath bomb is dog safe, like Fido Fizzies dog bath bombs, you should follow the steps above. The ingredients are meant to be topical, not ingested. Think of it as calling poison control because your (human) child drank a bottle of bubble bath. It's safe to use, but you aren’t supposed to eat it.
But don’t worry! If your dog is in the bathtub and drinks a small amount of the water, it’s nothing to freak out about. The ingredients have been diluted so much that a few small licks are highly unlikely to have any effect on your dog. If your dog drinks large amounts of bathtub water with a bath bomb, it’s always best to hedge your bets and give your vet a call.
What Should I Watch For If My Dog Eats A Bath Bomb?
The chances of your dog having a serious reaction to a bath bomb are very low - especially if you have a larger dog. Most dogs experience GI upset that resolves itself within a few hours or days. Your dog will most likely have nausea and vomiting that can start right away or within a few hours. Your vet will tell you how long to give your pup’s tummy to settle before a trip to the office is necessary.
All dogs are different, so if your dog has an allergy or a severe sensitivity to any of the ingredients, they may have worse symptoms than an upset stomach. If your dog shows any of these signs at any point after eating a bath bomb, get them to the vet ASAP.
- Lethargy
- Dehydration (white gums, sunken eyes, and skin that doesn't immediately snap back into place signal dehydration)
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Ataxia (stumbling or uncoordinated movements)
- Seizures
- Coma
Preventing Your Dog From Eating A Bath Bomb
Don’t think an upset stomach will keep your dog from snacking on bath bombs again. How many times have they eaten weird things in the yard or been in the trash and had diarrhea? It’s time to dog proof those bath products!
You may have thought they were in a safe place before, but dogs can be tricky, especially if something smells good. If you don't have a cabinet to put them in that your dog can’t reach, place them in a dog proof container. Something with a lid that screws on or latches will be more effective than a lid that just snaps on.
Dogs are masters of making us worry. Getting into chocolate cake on the counter they don’t usually jump on, chasing suspect snakes in the backyard, getting stuck in the blinds during a thunderstorm, or eating a bath bomb. Phew! It can sometimes feel like we have to work really, really hard to keep them alive and healthy.
The best way to handle any of the things our fur kids like to throw at us is to keep a cool head. Take charge of the situation right away by refusing to panic, keep your emergency numbers where you can easily get to them, and when in doubt, call your vet.