Most people use lip balm at one point or another. The air inside the house may not be sufficiently humid during the long winter months. Alternatively, we could use it in the summer to block the sun’s rays and in windy conditions.
Although lip balm is a common household item, if your dog eats it, it could be dangerous. Additionally, if your dog also eats the packaging, there is a problem.
Are ChapSticks dangerous to dogs?
There is no quick answer here because there are so many different varieties of lip balm available. There are two main concerns when your dog eats a ChapStick, and unfortunately, most ChapSticks and lip balms are very appealing to dogs – especially if they’re flavoured. One is the lip balm’s packaging, which is made of plastic or tin. The lip balm’s ingredients may also be problematic for your dog.
There is a chance that the packaging will become lodged in your dog’s stomach or intestines if they consume the lip balm tube in its entirety. Larger packaging poses a greater risk, such as some plastic EOS ChapSticks or Vaseline tins, or if multiple tubes are consumed. An indigestible object is referred to as a “foreign body” when it is consumed by a dog and can block its internal organs, resulting in serious harm or worse. You can read more about dogs eating plastic here.
ChapSticks frequently contain several ingredients that can be harmful to dogs. Examples include Xylitol, camphor, sunscreen, essential oils, and phenol. The amount consumed determines how toxic it will be, in part due to your pet. Fortunately, eating a tiny amount of these ingredients from a ChapStick won’t usually result in any issues. Age, liver health, and kidney condition, however, can all have an impact on how severe a reaction is. Additionally, some dogs simply react poorly to very small amounts, while others don’t react at all!
Petroleum (found in Vaseline) is usually relatively harmless. You should always seek advice from your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline if your dog has consumed something they shouldn’t have, regardless of the amount consumed; however, beware of other ingredients in the flavored varieties.
Is Chapstick Dangerous For Dogs?
They certainly could be, but it all depends on what they ate. Ingesting chapstick presents its first possible risk due to the ingredients used to make the balm. There are numerous different Chapsticks and lip balms that can be purchased. Each brand has different ingredients, some of which might be riskier than others.
Typically, chapstick has a sweet flavor or aroma, which is probably what initially drew your dog to eat it. Artificial sweeteners such as xylitol are commonly found in candy. Additionally, they are occasionally used to sweeten lip balms. Dogs should never consume xylitol because it can result in dangerously low blood sugar levels.
Sunscreen, phenols, essential oils, and camphor are additional ingredients that may be problematic. The size of the dog and how much of the Chapstick was consumed will determine whether the ingredients have any negative effects. Pre-existing medical conditions may also influence how a dog responds.
The other problem with Chapstick is that the plastic tube or tin could cause a blockage in your dog’s intestines. Hopefully, most dogs will just chew the tube, but if there are large chunks of plastic tube missing you should be on the lookout for signs of blockages.
My dog ate chapstick that contained a sunscreen agent
Since the lips are one of the body parts that are most sensitive to the sun’s rays, some chapstick companies offer products that both moisturize the lips and provide sun protection.
Zinc oxide and para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) are both common sunscreen agents that can sometimes be included in chapstick with sunscreen.
Unfortunately, both ingredients have the potential to be toxic to both humans and dogs.
Overdose and allergic reactions are both possible reactions, though the former is more typical.
In either situation, symptoms can range from nausea to a skin rash, breathing difficulties to coma.
So it is best to contact your veterinarian or a poison control center as soon as possible for advice if your dog consumed chapstick with sunscreen.
FAQ
What happens if my dog ate lip balm?
Most of the time, eating Chapstick or lip balm won’t be harmful. The likelihood is that your dog won’t suffer any negative effects at all. There could occasionally be minor side effects, such as lethargy and digestive disturbances like vomiting and diarrhea.
Is lip gloss poisonous to dogs?
ChapSticks frequently contain several ingredients that can be harmful to dogs. Examples include Xylitol, camphor, sunscreen, essential oils, and phenol.
Is lipstick poisonous to dogs?
It’s important to note that most cosmetics are not toxic. You’ll probably only need to keep an eye on your pet to make sure they don’t have a severe reaction unless they’ve consumed an excessive amount. However, some products, like beauty blenders, can be more dangerous.