The first thing to do is to make sure your dog really has consumed a battery. Check the area around them and if you don’t find anything, have a look at their stool.
If you think your dog has eaten a battery, call your vet immediately.
If your dog has just swallowed a battery and you suspect they are in danger, please call your vet immediately to seek medical advice. It’s best if you call ahead so that they can be prepared for this specific situation when you arrive. Though it will depend on the specifics of the battery and how much time has passed since it was swallowed, please be prepared to take your pup to the vet office as soon as possible.
When talking with your vet on the phone, try to gather as many details about the situation as possible before meeting them in person. During this conversation, be ready to answer questions about:
- What type of battery was ingested? (AA? AAA?)
- What size? (If possible, have the battery with you so that you can measure it.)
- How long ago did your dog swallow the battery? (The sooner a dog is treated after ingesting a button battery, the better their prognosis.)
Your vet may tell you to induce vomiting.
Your vet will be able to determine if your dog has ingested a battery, and whether it could be dangerous. In some cases, they may recommend inducing vomiting in your dog to try and expel the battery before it reaches the stomach. If you’re told to induce vomiting in your dog, make sure you follow these steps:
- Get your dog outside as quickly as possible (a concrete area is best).
- Place a small amount of salt on the back of their tongue; this should cause them to throw up.
- Take any vomited matter for testing if you can.
Occasionally, an X-ray will be necessary in order for the vet to determine the location and/or size of the ingested battery.
An X-ray may also be required if a battery is stuck in the esophagus (this can cause irritation and even perforation of the esophagus). An X-ray may also be deemed necessary if your dog is experiencing difficulty breathing or has any respiratory distress.
Once the battery is removed, your dog will remain under observation for up to four days for any complications that may arise.
Your dog’s doctor may keep her at the hospital for up to four days, depending on how severe the damage is. If your dog has complications from surgery or needs to be checked for a blockage, she will be given IV fluids and pain medication.
Dog’s don’t know it’s bad for them to eat batteries and can eat them by accident.
- Call your vet. If you’re unsure if your dog ate a battery, ask your veterinarian for advice. The vet may be able to identify the signs of vomiting and diarrhea caused by battery acid.
- Don’t make him vomit. When dogs swallow something they shouldn’t, you may think you should induce vomiting to get it out of their system. But if the dog has swallowed a battery, never try to make him vomit it up, even if he might have done so on his own previously (the hydrochloric acid in batteries is highly corrosive). He could inhale some of the acid when he vomits and cause significant damage to his esophagus or lungs.
- Take him to the vet immediately if you suspect he has eaten a battery. Your vet will likely want to see an X-ray of your dog’s digestive tract as soon as possible. Batteries can cause burns in both the mouth and intestinal tract after just two hours of contact with saliva – let alone two hours in contact with stomach acid!If the X-ray shows anything unusual (like, say, a pile of AA batteries), then your vet will operate immediately. While under anesthesia, the doctor will perform surgery on your dog’s stomach or intestines in order to remove any foreign objects (like batteries) that are causing blockages or other issues within his body