Dog Ate a Tampon, Pad or Diaper: What to Do Right Now

What to do when a dog swallows a tampon, pad or diaper, and why acting normal isn't proof.

Quick answer: If your dog swallowed a tampon, pad or diaper, get it seen in person now, even if it acts normal: your own vet if available right away, otherwise an emergency vet. A tampon can swell and its string can catch in the gut, and diaper gel can expand. Any vomiting, not eating, belly pain or straining means the ER now. Don't make your dog vomit at home.

This article is general information, not a diagnosis. If you think your pet is in danger, go to the nearest emergency animal hospital.

What should I do right now if my dog ate a tampon, pad or diaper?

If a dog ate a tampon, pad or diaper, close the bathroom door, note the time, and get the dog seen in person now by your own vet or an emergency vet, even if it seems fine.

1. Count what is missing against the box or pack, bring it or a photo, and tell the vet it was a tampon with a string; if you can't tell, treat it as swallowed. Missing pills, a medicine patch, sugar-free gum or mints or baby dental wipes (often xylitol), or any unknown product, mean a poison line call on the way to an emergency vet; missing floss, thread or a razor blade means the ER now.
2. Never pull or cut cloth or a strand at the mouth or rear; pulling can cause a perforation.
3. Don't reach down the throat or make your dog vomit at home; keep your dog calm and away from food, and don't take water away.

Go to an emergency vet now for any vomiting or retching, not eating, water that won't stay down, a swollen or painful belly (a hunched back, the prayer position, or biting or growling when the belly is touched), straining with little or no stool, lethargy, weakness or collapse, fast or labored breathing, fever or a body that feels cold, choking, gagging, drooling, pawing at the mouth, repeated swallowing, bringing food back up, bloody or coffee-ground vomit, black tarry stool or bloody diarrhea, pale, white, gray or blue gums, or any strand at the mouth or rear, including a tampon string.

Poison lines: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply); Pet Poison Helpline, (855) 764-7661 (a per-incident fee applies). Call on the way, not instead.

Item	Risk	Do this
Whole tampon	Swells, blocks	In person now
Tampon string	Strand-like	ER now
Plastic applicator	Cuts, blocks	In person now
Whole pad	Gel, plastic	In person now
Pad nibble	Small piece	Call a vet
Whole diaper	Gel swells	In person now
Cloth diaper	Can block	In person now
Diaper gel, lick	Low toxicity	Call a vet
Diaper pin	Sharp metal	ER now
Dental floss	Can cut gut	ER now
Wrapper only	May pass	Call a vet

In person now means your own vet if they can see your dog right away, otherwise an emergency vet. ER now means an emergency vet now, even if your dog seems fine. Call a vet means call your own vet now, or an emergency vet or a poison line if yours is closed, not watch and see or wait for morning. The nibble, lick and wrapper rows apply only when the rest of the item is in front of you and an adult dog is acting normally; a puppy, a small dog, an unknown amount, more than one missing item or any filling you can't account for means in person now. Any vomiting, not eating, belly pain, straining, wobbliness or tremors means the ER now.

Will a dog pass a tampon on its own?

A dog may pass a swallowed tampon, but no one can predict which will stick, and a tampon can swell and its string can bunch the intestines, so a vet should decide after an exam and imaging, not a wait at home.

The Merck Veterinary Manual says a string-type object anchors at one end while the rest moves on, bunching the intestines until it can saw through the gut wall. Puppies and small dogs can block on less, but size or age does not change the plan, as with a swallowed sock.

In a 2018 case report from Konkuk University in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, a 27 kg Golden Retriever swallowed a used tampon and pad; in that one dog, vomiting began about three days later. Ultrasound and CT showed about 5 cm of material with no blockage, the owner declined removal, and the dog improved by its third day in hospital, relapsed on the fourth, and needed surgery for about 30 cm of bunched, perforated intestine. The dog recovered; a big dog was not exempt, it looked better with the item inside, and watching failed.

Used or unused tampon: does it matter?

Used or unused, a swallowed tampon means in person now: a used one is not safer, and an unused one can still soak up fluid and expand in the gut.

The Konkuk team suspected, but did not prove, that bacteria on the used products played a part in the dog's bloody diarrhea, so treat blood in vomit or stool as an emergency. An applicator, plastic or cardboard, also means in person now; plastic edges can cut.

My dog ate a pad or panty liner. What now?

A dog that swallowed a whole pad or panty liner needs an in-person vet now, because a pad's absorbent filling, plastic backing and adhesive can block the gut; a small nibble from a pad that is otherwise in front of you, in an adult dog acting normally, means a call to a vet now.

A 2018 North Carolina State University paper notes that pads and disposable diapers use superabsorbent hydrogels that hold large amounts of liquid. A swallowed pad can swell as well as block.

My dog ate a diaper or the gel inside. Is the gel toxic?

Diaper filling is a superabsorbent polymer made to hold large amounts of liquid, so a large piece or a whole diaper means an in-person vet now, while a lick of gel from a diaper that is otherwise in front of you, in an adult dog acting normally, means a call to a vet or poison line now; a puppy, a small dog or an unknown amount means in person now.

Diaper filling is generally low in toxicity; the main risk is blockage, but wobbling, tremors or seizures after eating a lot of gel mean the ER now, with a poison line call on the way. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center says a large amount of a single diaper, multiple diapers or cloth diapers can form a blockage that may need surgery, and that cloth-diaper pins can injure the gut; it adds that baby wipes eaten in large quantities can lodge in the stomach and intestines and block them, so several missing wipes also mean in person now.

Diaper filling is not silica gel from a do-not-eat packet or the scented gel beads of an air freshener; those beads mean a poison line call now, and the ER now for a puppy, a small dog, more than a few beads or any vomiting (see what to do if a dog ate an air freshener). Gel from a dog cooling pad or gel wrap is different again: the ASPCA warns that some of these gels can expand after swallowing and that seizures and deaths have been reported, so any of that gel means the ER now, with a poison line call on the way. If you can't tell which gel it was, use that stricter ER-now rule. Diaper cream alone means a poison line call now (the ASPCA says zinc oxide irritates the gut and often causes vomiting); cream plus any diaper, pad or wipe material means in person now; tell the vet about the cream. Any vomiting means the ER now, as do hives, facial swelling, coughing or hard breathing, or dark red urine, pale or yellow gums or weakness in the following days.

Should I make my dog throw up a tampon?

Never make a dog vomit at home after it swallows a tampon, pad or diaper: Pet Poison Helpline warns that bringing up something sharp or large can get it stuck or damage the esophagus, so only a vet should decide, in the clinic.

Give no hydrogen peroxide or salt. Give no leftover anti-nausea, calming, sedating or pain medicine either: in 495 dogs given a vet-administered emetic in hospital (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2019), it worked less often the longer the gap after swallowing, and less often in dogs given opioid pain medicine, sedatives or anti-nausea drugs beforehand. See when making a dog throw up helps or harms.

What are the signs a tampon, pad or diaper is stuck, and how soon do they start?

Vomiting, refusing food, belly pain, lethargy and straining with little or no stool are the main signs of a stuck tampon, pad or diaper in a dog, and they can start soon after swallowing or come and go for days; any of them means an emergency vet now.

A partial blockage, which the Merck Veterinary Manual says string-type objects cause more often, can look like on-and-off vomiting over days.

What you see	Means	Do this
Seems fine	Can still be stuck	In person now
Any vomiting	Often upper gut	ER now
On-and-off vomiting	Can be partial	ER now
Not eating	Can be blocked	ER now
Straining, no stool	Can be blocked	ER now
Gagging, drooling	Throat or gut	ER now
Dry retching, big belly	Bloat or block	ER now
Pale gums, weak	Possible shock	ER now

A piece in the stool, normal-looking stool or a clear first X-ray does not prove everything passed; see intestinal blockage in dogs. Straining can also be a urinary blockage. A dog that vomited up a tampon or pad piece needs an emergency vet now, and one that passed a piece in the stool still needs an in-person vet now, because more may be inside. A dog that was treated, improved or was sent home and then vomits again, stops eating or seems dull needs an emergency vet now.

What will the vet do?

A dog that swallowed a tampon, pad or diaper gets a belly exam and imaging; the vet may make it vomit if the swallow was recent, or remove the item with an endoscope or surgery, avoiding an endoscope when a string is suspected.

A tampon or pad is soft, cloth-like material that can be hard to see on a plain X-ray, so the vet may add ultrasound or a CT scan. After surgery, call the surgeon or go to an ER now for any vomiting, a worse appetite, lethargy, fever, a draining incision or a swelling belly in the first 5 days, because the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) says a leak can happen in that window.

How do I stop my dog raiding the bathroom trash again?

To keep a dog out of tampons, pads and diapers, use a lidded or cabinet-enclosed trash can, close the bathroom door and empty diaper pails often, especially when guests stay over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For a repeat swallower, ACVS advises an object-free room or crate when unsupervised and a basket muzzle.

What if my cat got into the tampons or dental floss?

Cats more typically swallow string-type objects while playing, the Merck Veterinary Manual says, so a cat that swallowed a tampon, string, pad piece or dental floss needs an emergency vet now, even if it is eating normally.

VCA Animal Hospitals calls perforation the main complication of a linear foreign body in cats. Don't make a cat vomit, and never pull or cut anything hanging from the mouth or bottom; see what to do if a cat ate string.

When a video visit helps and when it does not

A video visit cannot find or remove a swallowed tampon, pad or diaper, so a dog that may have swallowed one needs to be seen in person now, even if it seems fine.

RexVet, a nonprofit online vet service, is a 501(c)(3) that serves pets located in Florida, New York and Virginia by video visit. A video visit fits only when nothing could have been swallowed, or after your dog has been seen in person:

• Chewed, nothing missing. Every tampon is counted against the box, or the pad or diaper is whole with no filling pulled out, and your dog is bright, eating, drinking, not vomiting and has a soft belly. The veterinarian can look at your dog and the item and say whether to go in, but video can't confirm that nothing was swallowed; if you can't tell how much is gone, go in person now.
• After treatment. Your dog was treated for a swallowed tampon, pad or diaper, you can't reach the treating hospital or its after-hours line, and your dog is alert, eating as expected, not vomiting and any incision is dry; the veterinarian goes over the discharge plan alongside the treating vet, not instead of them. Rechecks and medicine refills stay with the treating hospital. Later vomiting, not eating, belly pain or straining means the ER now.
• A repeat bathroom-trash raider. Nothing is missing now, and you want a prevention plan for boredom, stress or a pica habit; the veterinarian may recommend an in-person exam and bloodwork.

On camera, the veterinarian can watch breathing, gum color, energy and belly shape, and point you to an emergency clinic nearby; X-rays, ultrasound, a hands-on belly exam, making a dog vomit, an endoscope and surgery need an in-person vet. No prescription is promised, and no medicine is suggested for a dog that may be blocked; the state limits are in the FAQ below.

If your pet is located in Florida, New York or Virginia during the visit, you can book a $64.99 live video visit with a licensed RexVet vet when a slot is open; the visit is with a veterinarian licensed in your pet's state. Live video slots run from about 8 AM to 11 PM ET; a same-day slot is not guaranteed, and holiday hours may differ. Outside those hours, if no slot is open, or if anything is getting worse, go to an emergency vet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take a dog to pass a tampon?

No one can predict whether a tampon will pass, so there is no safe time to wait: have your dog seen in person now. A tampon can swell and its string can bunch the gut, so going early gives the vet the most options.

My dog ate a tampon and seems fine. Do I really need to go in?

Yes, go now: your own vet if available right away, otherwise an emergency vet. The Merck Veterinary Manual says the exam of a dog with an obstruction can be unremarkable. Signs can start soon after swallowing or come and go for days.

My dog ate part of a diaper. Will the gel hurt him?

Diaper filling is generally low in toxicity; the main risk is blockage, so a large piece or whole diaper means an in-person vet now. A lick of gel, with the diaper otherwise in front of you and an adult dog acting normally, is a call to a vet or poison line now; a puppy, small dog or unknown amount means in person now. Any vomiting, not eating, belly pain, straining, wobbling or tremors means the ER now.

Should I give my dog bread or oil to help a tampon pass?

No. Don't give bread, pumpkin, oil, fiber, petroleum jelly, a laxative or an enema; get your dog seen in person now. Don't take water away, and don't give leftover anti-nausea tablets, calming or sedating medicine, or any human stomach, antacid or anti-diarrhea medicine, because home treatment can hide a dog that is getting worse.

There is a string hanging from my dog's bottom. Can I pull it out?

No. Never pull or cut a string at the mouth or rear: keep your dog from chewing it and go to an emergency vet now. The Merck Veterinary Manual says a string-type object in the mouth must never be pulled, because pulling can cause a perforation; a tampon string is treated like thread or dental floss, ER now even if your dog seems fine (see what to do if a dog ate string, tinsel or ribbon).

Can an online vet help if my dog ate a tampon in Florida, New York or Virginia?

No. A video visit can't find or remove a swallowed tampon, pad or diaper, so your dog needs an in-person vet now. For a pet located in Florida, New York or Virginia, a licensed RexVet vet can check energy, breathing, gum color and belly shape on camera and point you to an emergency clinic, but X-rays, an endoscope and surgery need an in-person vet. No prescription is promised. If medicine comes up for something else: in Florida (s.474.2021), a prescription after a video-only visit is limited to FDA-approved animal drugs used as labeled, for up to 14 days (1 month for products labeled only for fleas and ticks), with no renewal without an in-person exam; human-labeled drugs, controlled drugs and compounded antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral or antiparasitic drugs need an in-person exam. Federal rules require an in-person exam before any vet prescribes a human or off-label drug. In Virginia, the exam behind a prescription may be done electronically, but the veterinarian still decides whether video is enough. New York's rules for veterinary video care, including prescribing, are not settled, so a visit there may cover less. RexVet is not a pharmacy; a pharmacy transfer fee applies if a prescription is sent to an outside pharmacy.