Dog Ate Makeup Wipe? [Emergency at Home?]

Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.

Have you ever come home to find that your dog has gotten into something it shouldn’t have? I know I have. Numerous times (shakes head).

Maybe it was a piece of Reese’s chocolate left on the counter or a sock left on the floor.

But what if your dog ate makeup wipes? While it may seem strange, dogs have been known to eat all kinds of unexpected things, including makeup wipes.

The reasons they do so include boredom, curiosity, or in an unfortunate case, Pica. When this happens, the makeup wipe can possibly cause an obstruction in your dog’s intestinal tract and develop into something serious.

In this post, I want to share with you why they do this and the steps you should take if you are in this position.

Why Did Your Dog Eat a Makeup Wipe?

Curiosity

Dogs are curious creatures. If you have makeup wipes lying around your house, your dog can easily get his mouth over them.

When your dog eats a makeup wipe, it doesn’t mean he finds it delicious. It can be that he’s merely curious about what it is.

Appealing smell

A makeup wipe usually has an artificial strong scent that just appeals to your doggy’s sensitive nose.

Sometimes, dogs assume that a strong smell means great food.

Boredom

Your doggy is bored with nothing better to do. He sees an interesting new thing which is a makeup wipe, so the first thing he’d do is play with it until he decides to eat it.

Hunger

Hunger makes dogs do silly things like eating something not good for them like a makeup wipe.

Now, I know you won’t let your doggy get hungry to the point he’ll eat something inedible. But dogs are dogs, and they love eating and chewing on anything they find interesting.

Pica

Another possible reason why your dog may have eaten a makeup wipe is a condition known as Pica.

Pica is a term used to describe the behavior of consuming non-food items, such as dirt, rocks, and even clothing.

While the exact cause of Pica is unknown, it is believed to be associated with various underlying medical conditions, including nutritional deficiencies, gastrointestinal disorders, and even behavioral issues.

What should you do if your dog ate glitter?

What Should You Do if Your Dog Eats a Makeup Wipe?

Remain calm.

I know it’s worrisome to find out your dog has eaten something he should not.

Your mind will start racing, thinking of the worst-case scenario and all that.

But if your dog sees you panicking, it might feel more anxious as well causing him to have more difficulty in breathing.

Being calm in this situation lets you think of quick solutions too.

If you know how to do a dog Heimlich Maneuver, try it on your dog. If not, call your vet right away for assistance.

Don’t try it on your own if you know you don’t know how to properly do it!

If your dog has eaten a makeup wipe but seems to be fine with no choking or vomiting happening, monitor him or her in case any reactions ensue later.

Doggy says, consider reading this too: Cocker spaniel not eating?

Should you induce vomiting?

You should not induce vomiting when your dog eats a makeup wipe.

There are just too many risks that can happen if you incorrectly induce vomiting in your dog.

One thing is that you might scratch or injure the throat of your dog.

The retching will surely irritate the esophagus of your dog, exposing him to more pain.

There is also a huge threat of aspiration when your dog tries to vomit the makeup wipe unsuccessfully, which may lead to the vomit entering the lungs.

Doggy says, consider reading this too: My dog ate a cricket

What Problems Can Happen if Your Dog Ate a Piece of Makeup Wipe?

Gastrointestinal blockage

If your dog managed to eat a bigger piece of makeup wipe, he is in for a serious gastrointestinal blockage.

The makeup wipe can block the digestive tract of your dog, causing vomiting, pain, and diarrhea.

Toxicity ingestion

There are makeup wipes that contain toxic substances like essential oil that are bad for dogs.

If your dog managed to ingest toxic things from the piece of makeup wipe, poisoning can happen.

Have you wondered, what if your dog ate chalk?

What Are Some Signs of Obstruction in a Dog’s Gastrointestinal Tract?

Your dog will likely be vomiting. 

The obstruction in your dog’s gastrointestinal tract is making it hard for him to keep his food down, causing him to vomit.

A dog experiencing obstruction will lose his appetite since his tummy will be in pain too.

He’ll feel hungry, but he won’t be able to eat or probably only eat half of its food due to the discomfort he is feeling.

You gotta know as well that if your dog is pooping too much, it’s a sign of diarrhea. And diarrhea is another symptom of obstruction.

But there are also times when dogs with blockage have a hard time pooping.

I would say that the bottom line is that if you notice your dog behaving abnormally, you should be consulting a vet for further advice!

Doggy says, you might be keen to read this too: my dog ate wood chips and is throwing up, now what?

How Long Does It Take for a Dog to Pass a Makeup Wipe?

The time it takes for a dog to pass a makeup wipe depends on the size of the makeup wipe he swallowed.

If it’s a smaller piece, he’ll be able to pass it within 24 hours especially if it didn’t cause any blockage. 

If larger, it’ll take him more days to pass it.

What to Give a Dog to Help Them Pass an Object?

Give your dog a big serving of dry food to help him pass the object quicker inside his digestive tract.

Canned pumpkin also helps to regulate your dog’s bowel movement.

Offer your dog lots of water to keep his digestive system hydrated to help soften the object to pass.

How Much Does It Cost to Remove an Object From a Dog’s Stomach?

It costs $1,500 to $10,000 to remove an object from a dog’s stomach, and this number will vary depending on the type of surgery the dog will need.

If the vet simply uses endoscopic procedures to remove the object, it will cost cheaper, ranging from $1,500 to $3,500.

This is used if the object has not yet gone deeper into your dog’s tummy.

However, if an open surgery is needed, it can cost up to $10,000 since stronger anesthesia and more instruments are needed.

I know these expenses can hurt your pocket, but if it’s the life of your fur baby we’re talking about, you’ll surely find ways to cover the bill.

Doggy says, you might be interested to read this too: My dog ate a whole bag of Greenies!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In Conclusion: Dog Ate Makeup Wipe

I think the fact that something like this happened serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of being vigilant about what our furry friends ingest.

As dog owners, it is our responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of our beloved companions.

Although it’s tempting to overlook certain behaviors or assume that our dogs know better, accidents can happen at any time, which is why it is a MUST to keep hazardous items out of reach and to be proactive about monitoring our pets’ behavior to prevent any potential incidents.

Check out other dog care tips such as what to do if you accidentally feed your dog twice, should you put your dogs’ crates next to each other, , and many more on our blog!