Dog Got Into the Trash? ER Signs and What to Do Tonight

Dog got into the trash? Often it's just an upset stomach, but bones, cobs, moldy food, xylitol or chocolate need help fast. Here's how to tell.

Go to an emergency vet or call a poison line now if your dog ate xylitol gum or candy, chocolate, grapes or raisins, or anything else you know is toxic, such as thrown-out medicine, batteries, onions, garlic or macadamia nuts; is choking, gagging or has trouble breathing; has pale gums; vomits blood or passes bloody or black stool; keeps vomiting (even water), retches without bringing anything up or has a swollen belly; trembles, wobbles or has a seizure; collapses; or ate bones, a corn cob or foil and is vomiting, straining or in belly pain.

If your dog got into the trash, the next step depends on what was in the bin and how your dog is acting.

Dog got into the trash: what usually happens next

Often, a trash raid ends as nothing worse than an upset stomach, and vets have a name for it. PetMD writes that "Veterinarians affectionately refer to this condition as 'garbage gut.'" According to PetMD, "Generally, the symptoms of food poisoning in dogs include some combination of vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite, lethargy and dehydration."

But PetMD also warns that "any rotten or moldy foods can cause food poisoning in dogs" and that "garbage can also contain bacteria that can lead to more serious illnesses."

Emergency signs: go to an ER or call a poison line now

Go to an emergency vet, or call a poison line, now if your dog:

• ate xylitol gum or candy, chocolate, grapes or raisins, or anything else you know is toxic, such as thrown-out medicine, batteries, onions, garlic or macadamia nuts, even if your dog seems completely fine
• is choking, gagging or having trouble breathing (for example, a bone or a piece of cob caught in the throat)
• has pale gums
• vomits blood, or passes bloody or black stool
• keeps vomiting, or vomits water
• retches without bringing anything up, or has a swollen, tight belly
• trembles, wobbles or has a seizure
• collapses or seems extremely weak
• ate bones, a corn cob, foil or plastic wrappers and is vomiting, straining or in belly pain

PetMD puts it plainly: "If at any time your dog starts vomiting water, seems miserable or shows any neurologic signs at all, take them to an emergency clinic or your veterinarian immediately."

A swollen belly with retching can also mean bloat. Merck Veterinary Manual notes that "signs of bloat may include restlessness, apparent discomfort, rapid breathing, abdominal pain and swelling, repeated dry retching, and excessive drooling."

For a known or suspected poisoning, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Both are open 24/7, and a fee may apply. You can also go straight to an emergency vet. Bring any packaging with you, but never search for it instead of calling.

Go through the bin: what was in it changes the plan

Pick up the spill first, then look for these groups.

Bones and corn cobs

ASPCA notes that "Dogs/cats might sustain injury or obstruction to the gastrointestinal tract when ingesting bones, which could be serious and require surgery." For cooked bones, our guide on what to do when a dog ate a chicken bone covers the next steps. Treat a swallowed corn cob like a bone. Any bone or cob plus vomiting, straining or belly pain means an emergency vet now. If your dog seems fine, call your vet or an emergency clinic now.

Fat trimmings, grease, gravy and skin

PetMD explains that "for dogs that are sensitive to fat, even a small snack (whether given as a table scrap or picked up on a walk) such as a wedge of cheese, hotdog or piece of chicken skin is enough to cause inflammation of the pancreas." PetMD also notes that although pancreatitis can look like food poisoning, "it is often much more severe, and can even be fatal." After greasy scraps, a dog that keeps vomiting, has a sore or swollen belly or seems miserable needs an emergency vet now. For a single vomit of food (not water or blood) in a dog that otherwise seems bright, call your vet or an emergency clinic right away.

Moldy leftovers and compost

Pet Poison Helpline warns that "ingestion of moldy food may result in gastrointestinal distress (e.g., vomiting, drooling), neurological signs (e.g. agitation, incoordination, tremors, seizures), fever, and organ injury (i.e. liver or kidney failure)." After moldy food, call a poison line or go to an emergency vet right away, and any trembling or wobbling means the ER now. Our article about a dog that ate a moldy pumpkin goes into more detail.

Wrappers, foil, paper towels and plastic

Treat swallowed foil, plastic or wrappers like a bone: any vomiting, straining or belly pain means an emergency vet now. Our article on whether candy wrappers will pass or cause a blockage explains what to watch for. Read every wrapper you find: if it held xylitol or chocolate, call a poison line now.

Xylitol, chocolate, grapes and other toxic foods

These are poison-line calls first, even if your dog is acting normally. ASPCA explains why:

• Xylitol, a sweetener in some gum, candy and baked goods: ASPCA notes that it "can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and potentially liver damage depending on the amount ingested."
• Chocolate: "The darker (higher cacao percentage) the chocolate, or the higher the caffeine content, the greater the risk for toxicity."
• Grapes and raisins: "Since dogs are not able to process tartaric acid, exposure to grapes/raisins can lead to kidney damage."
• Onions, garlic and chives: "Allium species can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage, which can lead to anemia (low red blood cells)."
• Macadamia nuts: "Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, incoordination, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs."

Thrown-out medicine, for people or pets, and batteries are poison-line calls too.

What to do in the next few hours at home

If nothing on the emergency list applies:

• Clear up the spill and close off the kitchen.
• List or photograph what is missing, and keep every wrapper and package.
• Note roughly when the raid happened.
• Don't offer a big or fatty meal, and let a vet tell you about water and food.
• Don't make your dog vomit, and don't give any human medicine.

Then watch closely through the night: energy, gums, breathing, belly and walking. Note every vomit and every stool, and look for pieces of wrapper, foil or bone, and for blood.

Merck Veterinary Manual says that with a small-intestinal obstruction, "Signs usually include lethargy, loss of appetite, and vomiting." After bones, a corn cob, foil or wrappers, a dog that turns lethargic or won't eat needs an emergency vet now.

If any sign from the emergency list appears, go to an emergency vet now. Don't wait for morning.

How a vet checks a trash raid in person

A hands-on exam lets a vet feel the belly for pain or swelling. Merck Veterinary Manual notes that "Abdominal x-rays may reveal foreign objects, masses, obstruction, abdominal fluid, or bloat."

Bring your list, photos and any wrappers. Merck advises: "Be sure to tell your veterinarian about any tendency your pet has to eat bones, garbage, or other hard matter."

What a RexVet online vet can and cannot do when your dog got into the garbage

Anything on the emergency list means an emergency vet now, or a poison-line call now for a known or suspected toxin; a video visit is not the right first step.

A video visit is for a dog with no emergency signs and no known or suspected toxin, when you're not sure what was eaten. On camera, a RexVet veterinarian can go through the bin and the wrappers with you, look at your dog's gums, posture, breathing and walking, and look at photos of vomit or stool. Then the vet can help you sort out ER now, a clinic exam in the morning, or watching at home with a clear list of warning signs.

A video vet cannot feel the belly by hand, take x-rays, run bloodwork, give fluids, make a dog vomit safely, or remove an object. That is why a known or suspected poisoning or a possible blockage goes in person. If the veterinarian decides medication is appropriate, they can prescribe where state rules allow.

RexVet's veterinarians are licensed in Florida, New York and Virginia. They are available 24/7, and a video visit is $64.99. If there are no emergency signs and no known or suspected toxin, and you can't tell what was in the bin, you can book a RexVet video visit.

October in Florida, New York and Virginia: what ends up in the bin this month

With Halloween on October 31, candy wrappers that can hide xylitol or chocolate end up in the trash. Fall cooking adds grease and meat trimmings, yard clean-up leaves compost piles open, and carved pumpkins go soft and get thrown out.

PetMD's prevention advice: "Put away anything that isn’t safe, lock up the trash and don’t leave foods out on the counter that your dog may try to grab." For compost, Merck notes that "Control of tremorgenic mycotoxin exposure hinges on preventing animals' access to moldy foods, feeds, and food waste, including compost."

When to be seen in person in Florida, New York or Virginia

Anything on the emergency list means an emergency vet now, or a poison-line call now for a known or suspected toxin.

If there are no emergency signs and your dog swallowed no bones, cobs, foil or wrappers, diarrhea that keeps coming back or a dog that still won't eat needs a hands-on exam soon.

In Florida, when the first exam is by video, Florida Statutes 474.2021 says the vet must give you a statement that includes "the contact information for at least one physical veterinary clinic in the vicinity of the patient’s location."

If nothing on the emergency list applies, no toxin is known or suspected, and you are not sure whether your dog needs to be seen tonight, a video visit can help. RexVet's veterinarians are licensed in Florida, New York and Virginia and are available 24/7. A video visit is $64.99, and you can book a RexVet video visit now.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long after eating garbage will my dog get sick?

Timing depends on what was eaten: for moldy food, Merck Veterinary Manual notes that signs such as tremors can start "within 1–2 hours or up to several hours." If he ate moldy food, xylitol, chocolate, grapes or raisins, or anything else you know is toxic, call a poison line or go to an emergency vet now, even if he seems fine. Go to an emergency vet now if he chokes, gags or has trouble breathing, has pale gums, vomits blood or passes bloody or black stool, keeps vomiting or vomits water, retches without bringing anything up or has a swollen or painful belly, trembles, wobbles, has a seizure or collapses, or ate bones, a corn cob or foil and is vomiting, straining or in belly pain. After bones, a corn cob, foil or wrappers, call your vet or an emergency clinic now even if he seems fine; otherwise, watch him closely through the night and the next day.

My dog ate from the garbage but seems fine. Does he still need a vet?

It depends on what he ate: xylitol, chocolate, grapes or raisins, onions or garlic, macadamia nuts, thrown-out medicine, batteries or moldy food mean calling a poison line or going to an emergency vet now, even if he seems fine. After bones, a corn cob, foil or wrappers, go to an emergency vet now if he is vomiting, straining or in belly pain, and call your vet or an emergency clinic now even if he seems fine; after greasy scraps or ordinary leftovers, watch him closely and ask a vet tonight. Go to an emergency vet now if he chokes, gags or has trouble breathing, has pale gums, vomits blood or passes bloody or black stool, keeps vomiting or vomits water, retches without bringing anything up or has a swollen or painful belly, seems miserable, trembles, wobbles, has a seizure or collapses.

Should I make my dog throw up after he raided the trash?

No, don't try to make your dog vomit at home. If he ate xylitol, chocolate, grapes or raisins, thrown-out medicine, batteries or anything else you know is toxic, call a poison line or go to an emergency vet now, even if he seems fine, and follow their instructions. Go to an emergency vet now if he chokes, gags or has trouble breathing, has pale gums, vomits blood or passes bloody or black stool, keeps vomiting or vomits water, retches without bringing anything up or has a swollen belly, trembles, wobbles, has a seizure or collapses, or ate bones, a corn cob or foil and is vomiting, straining or in belly pain. Otherwise, ask a vet what to do.

Can a dog get pancreatitis from eating garbage?

Yes. As PetMD explains, in dogs sensitive to fat even a small fatty snack can inflame the pancreas, and pancreatitis is often much more severe than food poisoning. After greasy scraps, go to an emergency vet now if your dog keeps vomiting or vomits water or retches without bringing anything up, has a sore or swollen belly, seems miserable, chokes, gags or has trouble breathing, has pale gums, vomits blood or passes bloody or black stool, trembles, wobbles, has a seizure or collapses, or also ate bones, a corn cob or foil and is vomiting, straining or in belly pain. For a single vomit of food (not water or blood) in a dog that otherwise seems bright, call your vet or an emergency clinic right away.

Can I give my dog something for an upset stomach tonight?

No, don't give your dog any human medicine at home. If he ate something you know is toxic, call a poison line or go to an emergency vet now; go to an emergency vet now if he chokes, gags or has trouble breathing, has pale gums, vomits blood or passes bloody or black stool, keeps vomiting or vomits water, retches without bringing anything up or has a sore or swollen belly, trembles, wobbles, has a seizure or collapses, or ate bones, a corn cob or foil and is vomiting, straining or in belly pain. Otherwise, ask a vet what to do tonight. If the veterinarian decides medication is appropriate, they can prescribe where state rules allow.