This dog article will answer the major question, “Can dogs eat soap?” we will also talk about the reasons why dogs eat soap, whether bar soap is dangerous for your dog, and what you can do if your dog eats soap.
Can dogs eat soap?
No, dogs cannot eat soap. Soap is not a form of food that your dog can eat. Soap is dangerous for humans as well as for dogs. Soap has oils that can be very dangerous for your dog. If you suspect that your dog has consumed soap, then you should take your dog to the vet.
Why does your dog eat soap?
Following are the major reasons for dogs eating soap:
Smell
Soap has a different type of smell. Soap is used by humans so the smell is to please the humans. The dogs are attracted to the smell of the soap.
Dogs are curious to smell and eat soap, so they will eat soap and it will result in toxicity in your dog.
Dogs are very good at using their nose, therefore they are more attracted to the aroma of anything.
Slippery nature
The slippery nature of soap is also fascinating for your dog. Dogs like fascinating things, so they will try to sniff and eat the soap.
It is difficult for your dog to land the paw on the slippery soap. This further increases the curiosity of your dog about the soap.
Exploring
Dogs like to explore the different parts of the house to have an idea of the things around it.
Therefore your dog will take a look at your bathroom where there is soap. This will cause the dog to be attracted by the smell, texture, and slippery nature of the soap, which ultimately leads to soap eating.
Can consuming bar soap prove toxic for your dog?
No, bar soap is not toxic for your dog to eat. Modern bar soap does not have toxic ingredients in it. Your dog will be safe but it doesn’t mean your dog should eat it.
Consuming bar soap can upset the stomach of your dog because it is not the regular diet of your dog.
You should be observing the following signs if your dog has consumed bar soap:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
Consuming too much of the bar soap can cause severe symptoms in your dog.
What are the ingredients of soap?
Soap has oils, fragrances, and other compounds which can prove toxic to your dog if consumed in large amounts.
Pine oil is toxic for your dog to consume and it has severe side effects on your dog’s health.
Following are the major clinical signs of pine oil toxicity in your dog:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Excessive licking
- Pawing at head
It is very important that you check the ingredients of the soap you are buying for your bathrooms.
Most modern soaps are not toxic for your dog to eat. The only thing your dog suffers from will be stomach upset.
What can you do to save your dog from soap toxicity?
The first thing you can do is to check whether the soap has toxic ingredients or not. If the soap has toxic ingredients, you shouldn’t buy it for your bathroom.
The next thing you can do is to keep an eye on your dog so he doesn’t get into the bathroom.
You should also restrict the movement of your dog in other areas of the house where you have soap stock.
What can your vet do to save your dog?
If your dog has consumed too much soap and you are worried about your dog, you should take your dog to the vet.
The vet will take the history and perform a clinical exam of your dog. He will note down all the abnormal signs in your dog and will further go for tests if necessary.
The major tests your vet will perform are X-rays and Ultrasonography to check if there is any blockage in the gastrointestinal tract of the body. The blockage is common in small breed dogs.
The next thing is the treatment, your vet will discuss with you the possible options of treatment.
If your dog has consumed soap recently, then your vet will go for inducing vomiting to remove any undigested soap.
If this is not the case, your vet will try other treatment options such as fluid therapy and antibiotics.
Conclusion
In this dog article, we entertained our major question, “Can dogs eat soap?” we also covered the reasons why dogs eat soap, whether bar soap is dangerous for your dog, and what you can do if your dog ate soap.
