My Dog Ate a Bar of Soap: Our Vet Explains What To Do

As pet parents, we know that dogs like to eat all sorts of weird and wonderful things! A bar of soap is one of the many items around the house that a dog may be tempted to chew! We like our soap to smell good. Unfortunately, this sweet smell is exactly what attracts our canine friends. So, if this happens to you, here’s what you should do.

If your dog ate a bar of soap, remove any leftovers from your dog's reach. If you can do so safely, remove the pieces from your dog's mouth. Then, call your veterinarian, a local clinic, or a pet poison hotline and follow their advice. Keep reading to learn more about your dog and soap!

Is Soap Poisonous to Dogs?

Many soap bars are made from natural ingredients that aren’t poisonous to dogs. Nonetheless, if ingested, they may still cause a tummy ache. However, some soaps contain toxic ingredients. For example, they may contain essential oils, such as tea tree oil and pine oil, which are poisonous to dogs. Some soaps also contain lye, an alkali substance called sodium hydroxide. Lye soaps are dangerous to your pet.

You also need to consider that if your dog ate a large piece or a whole soap bar, it can cause a blockage.

Will Eating Soap Hurt a Dog?

This depends on the type of soap and how much your dog ate. If your dog ate a little bit of a natural soap bar—without lye or any other toxic ingredients—they may not display signs, but they could experience a loss of appetite, drooling more than usual, vomiting, diarrhea, and a tummy ache.

If your dog ate a soap bar with lye, they may show signs caused by the alkaline properties of the lye. The severity of the signs will depend on:

The signs can include drooling, pawing at their face, vomiting, and tummy aches. This is because alkaline substances have a corrosive effect. If your dog eats a soap bar containing essential oils, the severity of signs will depend on the same factors, as well as which essential oil is present.

For example, tea tree oil can cause vomiting, drooling, hypothermia (low body temperature), a wobbly gait, and depression. Pine oil is often used in soaps for its antibacterial properties. If enough is ingested, it can irritate your dog’s digestive tract, leading to lots of saliva, vomiting (with or without blood), a wobbly gait, and weakness. It can also damage their liver and kidneys.

Can a Dog Get Sick From Eating a Bar of Soap?

If your dog managed to eat a large chunk of a soap bar or swallow it whole, the bar could get stuck in your dog’s stomach or intestines and cause a blockage. The signs to watch for include vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, and either diarrhea or a lack of stools.

My Dog Ate Soap – What Should I Do?

What Will Happen If My Dog Ate Soap?

You must always call your veterinarian for advice. Never attempt to make your dog sick at home. This can cause more damage to the esophagus as the offending object comes back up, especially if it contains an irritant (such as lye or essential oils). The soap bar may also get stuck on the way up.

Vomiting can pose a risk of aspiration (breathing in the vomit), which can be very dangerous. Always trust your veterinarian’s judgment as to whether making your dog vomit is viable. If it is, your veterinarian will give your dog an injection and monitor them throughout.

Depending on what type of soap bar and the amount your dog has eaten, your veterinarian may ask you to monitor your doggy at home. You’ll need to be looking out for:

Call your veterinary clinic immediately if your dog develops any of these signs or exhibits any unusual behavior.

Your veterinarian may ask you to come to the clinic. Please follow their advice if they feel your dog needs to be seen, even if they seem okay. Treatment may involve fluids and medicine to protect your dog’s stomach from further damage. Your veterinarian will monitor your dog closely for as long as they feel it is necessary, usually until the signs have resolved.

If your dog eats a large chunk of a soap bar, your veterinarian may take an X-ray or use an endoscope (a special camera that can look inside your dog’s stomach) to check if it is causing a blockage. If your dog is unlucky and your veterinarian suspects a blockage, they will need surgery to remove the soap bar and look for damage.

My Dog Ate Soap – Will They Be OK?

Generally, if your dog eats a little bit of a soap bar, they should fully recover. Is soap poisonous to dogs? Yes, but luckily, the signs are often mild. However, this depends partly on the type and amount of soap eaten. That is why it is crucial to call your veterinary clinic for advice regardless, as some dogs can react badly to even small amounts.

The quicker you call your veterinary clinic, the quicker the treatment can be started if needed. And don’t forget to keep your toiletries and household cleaning products out of the reach of your curious canine.

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