My dog ate a watch battery. Is it dangerous and what should I do?

If batteries are punctured and leak acid they can cause gastric or esophageal ulcers and symptoms would be vomiting, a decreased appetite, or regurgitation. I suppose a larger battery could cause an intestinal obstruction if ingested and the symptoms would be similar. If the battery is not punctured there is also a chance it could pass through the gastrointestinal tract without incident.

Hi, it’s VERY important to have him checked over ASAP. An x ray can be takien which will reveal the presence of the battery in the stomach if ingested. If so further action such as emergency removal will be needed. If left in the stomach, batteries can lead to internal organ damage. I would bring along the other battery to your vet ( if same batteries were used ), as this will also provide useful information.

Hello. Much depends on the size & type of battery, & whether it was swallowed whole or chewed first. Some batteries are in a plastic casing, so if it does not lodge, it may pass in 3-4 days. If the battery was punctured, symptoms of vomiting & diarrhea can begin in hours, but some batteries when swallowed whole may sit a month or so before leakage begins. If you think your pet swallowed a battery, have him x-rayed. Not all batteries show up well on a x-ray film, so try to bring a similar battery with you when you see your vet. I hope all is well with Alex & thanks fir using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. A month is only for a battery that might be encased in a plastic housing. If there is a chance your dog ingested a battery, you do not want to take a chance waiting to see if he develops a necrotic lesion somewhere in his digestive tract. It does not matter what size the dog is. A hole in the stomach or gut is still a major problem that can cause peritonitis & possibly death. If he does start to erode a lesion somewhere in his gi tract, you will see drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea & possibly melena, which is a black stool colored by digested blood. The dog may ingest large amounts of water & vomit it back up possibly with a dark brown substance, an indication the stomach lining is beginning to break down & is bleeding. He will, of course, not want to eat. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I would take Bella into a vet to be safe. Batteries, if punctured, can leak out toxic material that can do damage to a dogs esophagus and stomach, so it's best to have them checked out right away when they chew on one. The vet can decide the best course of treatment for her, please have her seen by a vet ASAP.

OK, just a regular alkaline battery. That does not mean it cannot cause severe ulceration if the battery was to leak, but sometimes these can be managed conservatively. If it has been 4-5 days & your dog is completely well & un-symtomatic, then start feeding him 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin ( not pie filling ) twice a day in his food. This will act like a bulk laxative to hopefully help move the battery out. Yes, it can take up to 7 days for this to pass in the stool. All batteries can be potentially very dangerous, & can cause massive burns to the tissues in the gut. It would be nice to know if you have anything to worry about, but as long as Alex seems to be acting normal, just keep a close eye on his appetite & signs of a black or bloody stool.

Chewed up batteries can cause caustic burns to the oral cavity and GI tract if the contents of the battery are ingested. Typically if a pet ingested or was exposed to a caustic chemical, they will have excess drooling. I would have your vet at least do a full physical exam to ensure Charlie is ok. Best wishes and take care.