What To Do If Your Dog Gets Glass In Its Mouth

It's common for dogs to get things in their mouths that they shouldn't, but one of the most dangerous things they can bite down on is glass. Glass in your home, whether it's in bottles, panes of glass, or something in your home has shattered, sending glass everywhere, these hazards can all put your dog's health at risk. If you think your dog has gotten glass in its mouth, or you just want to be prepared in case it ever happens, check out this guide. 

The Danger of Glass

If your dog has gotten glass in its mouth, it can cause a wide variety of serious health problems. Glass can get lodged in your dog's gums, tongue, or cheeks, or it can be swallowed and cause serious damage to the intestines and gastrointestinal tract. Because of this, you should alert your vet right away and get ready to take your dog to the vet as quickly as you can.

Assess The Situation

Before or during your call to the vet, assess your dog's situation as best as you can. Your vet can start developing a plan of action if you can answer questions like this:

  • What Kind of Glass Did Your Dog Get Ahold Of? - Some glass is thicker, like window panes, and it may cause more serious damage to the dog's intestines.
  • Is Your Dog Bleeding? - Bleeding from the mouth may mean that the glass is wedged in your dog's mouth.
  • How Much Time Has Passed? - If you have a general time frame, your veterinarian can determine where any swallowed glass may have migrated to in the intestines. Since surgery to remove the glass may be necessary, this is an important thing to know.

Take Away Food, Water

While it may seem a bit cruel, you shouldn't supply your dog with water and food while you prepare for departure to the vet. Unfortunately, drinking or eating can either force the glass further into the tissues in your dog's mouth, or it can loosen glass shards and send them into your dog's esophagus and digestive tract. While glass is always dangerous for dogs to consume, it will cause far more problems if your dog actually swallows it. However, never cut your dog off from water and food for prolonged periods of time; it's important to get to the vet immediately.

Your veterinarian will perform a physical examination upon your arrival and determine what kind of wounds, if any, your dog has experienced. They may also perform a veterinary ultrasound to locate glass in your dog's body, and surgery may be required to remove it if any is found, or to remove it from your dog's mouth and to repair wounds. Always try to avoid letting your dog come into contact with any kind of glass in order to avoid this danger entirely.

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