Dealing with Dogs Eating Cat Litter

Scent is incredibly important to dogs. Dogs' nostrils are 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than our feeble human noses, according to experts. The world lives in fragrance for a dog, and placing such a sensory unit, the litter box, in such an accessible spot just beckons a dog to investigate. Dogs are also scavengers that seek for new experiences. If your pet is out in the yard and comes upon a dead animal, the same rules apply. For dogs, opportunity and curiosity collide frequently, with varied results.

Can My Dog Get Sick from Eating Litter?

The answer is both yes and no. Different varieties of litter contribute to the plethora of odors, as does the presence of excrement and urine from the cat, for better or ill. Newspaper pellets, corn cob granules, hardwood pellets or shavings, and clay litter are just a few examples of the many forms of litter. Clay additives, like as sodium bentonite, are commonly used in clumps litters to bind the huge amount of cat urine to the surrounding litter particles.

Many dogs, however, may ingest cat litter and cat excrement with no harmful effects or minor gastrointestinal symptoms such as loose stool. Dogs prefer to eat excrement over litter however, owing to the closeness tiny amounts of litter are also ingested. If you know your pet used the litterbox, keep an eye on their bowel movements over the following 24 hours to make sure they haven't developed an impaction.

Bring your pet to a veterinarian right away if you observe them vomiting or arching their backs in discomfort. Large volumes of litter consumed by your dog might develop a blockage in the stomach, requiring surgery to remove the affected litter in the worst-case situation.

Parasites can be a problem, especially if your cats don't get yearly intestinal parasite screens (fecal testing) at the vet. Also, cats that go outside are more likely to have intestinal parasites, which they might unwittingly pass on to your dog if they gorge themselves in the litterbox. A widespread misunderstanding is that a pet parent would recognize when their dog or cat has parasites; however, this is not always the case.

How to Keep Dogs from Eating Litter

Physically blocking access to the litter box is the simplest and safest technique to keep your dog to ingest cat litter. As responsible pet owners, it is our responsibility to be proactive in our pets' health, and this is a feasible option for any home, regardless of size.

First, determine where your cat's litter boxes are currently located. A dog-proof (but cat-friendly!) baby gate may be installed across the doorway of a spare bathroom or bedroom. Remember that cats need easy access to their litterboxes, so if you're using baby gates, think about your cat's needs.

Your canines may be lured to your cat's private business out of pure curiosity, keeping their bodies occupied. When they are bored, they like to eat and play with cat feces. You must keep your pets occupied with other healthy choices to prevent this issue.

Several times a day, clean the litterbox. Finally, keeping the litterbox clean is a good way to deter dogs from eating litter. Your cat will enjoy it as well!

Managing many pets requires some ingenuity, but with a little planning, you may have some peace of mind knowing that everyone is secure.