What Happens If a Dog Eats Memory Foam? How to Make Dog Not to Eat Memory Foam?

Memory foams and dogs can be a dreadful combination to many people. The thought of dogs chewing and feasting and memory foam only to get choked scares more of us. Memory foams are highly used to make dog beds too.

Their affordable material and easy-to-cut ability work great in designing dogs’ beds. However, everything comes at a price to pay.

Memory foam can be hazardous for a dog’s health due to the chemicals it contains. Thus, you need to know all the possible facts and solutions if your four-legged child has eaten the memory foam.

Before we discuss the damage done, it would be wise to first check how you can prevent this from happening again in the future.

How To Protect Memory Foam from Dogs?

Memory foam can be like a slow poison to your dog. You may not realize the harmful effects immediately, but your dog will show signs slowly from consuming it. It would be wise to take a few precautions to avoid such incidents from recurring.

  • Do not buy brands you cannot trust for dog beds that are made of memory foam
  • Contact the manufacturer before buying memory foam products and ask them how safe they are to dogs
  • If you are using memory foam mattresses and toppers for your bedroom, restrict access to your room for your pet
  • Keep memory foam away from flammable objects
  • Check all instructions on safety by the manufacturer

What Happens If a Dog Eats Memory Foam?

Memory foam contains chemicals that could be harmful to your dog. Chemicals like polyol (also referred to as polyurethane) and diisocyanate are petroleum-based that can be toxic if consumed by your dog.

Eating more memory foam can cause intestinal obstruction to your dog. Chewing a good amount of foam can cause serious medical conditions for your dog.

If your fur baby has eaten a small piece of memory foam, chances are he will be fine. In the worse scenario, he may vomit or have diarrhea.

Regardless of the amount eaten, you will have to keep a close check on your dog for any symptoms. Perhaps, taking them to a vet immediately is a wise decision.

Below are some more symptoms to note if your dog has swallowed memory foam:

  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Constipation
  • Pain in abdomen
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Lack of energy
  • Excessive sleeping / Feeling drowsy
  • Lethargy / Weakness
  • Lack of interest to play
  • Whining voice

How Much Quantity of Memory Foam Is Dangerous for Dog When It Eats It?

As discussed, a little piece of memory foam consumption and no abnormal or unusual signs or symptoms is fine. However, if you fear your dog has eaten a good amount of memory foam, you must immediately rush to a veterinary center for a health check.

Do not fear being called an irresponsible parent to your dog as these accidents are pretty common in the United States. You must be extremely honest to your vet and let him/her know how much your dog has consumed the foam.

Memory foam chemicals can be toxic to many animals and even human babies. Thus, it is always a wise decision to take the opinion of a medical professional.

Sometimes dogs just like to chew parts of bed, sheets, foam, and furniture. They will most likely throw it after chewing.

Check around if you find your memory foam has just been chewed and thrown around. If you find parts of memory foam missing, then your dog needs medical help.

What Should Be Done When the Dog Eats Memory Foam?

Dogs’ curious nature can make the chew and feast of toxic things; memory foam products are one of those. Regardless of the size and age of your dog or what breed they belong to, call your vet.

You must tell your vet the actual size of your memory foam and approximately how much you think your dog must have swallowed it.

Another reason why you must take your dog to a vet is that some memory foam brands contain carcinogen that is highly reactive.

Moreover, some can even cause serious skin issues and organ damage to your dog. Some manufacturers also put pesticides and insecticides in memory foam to keep away from dust mites, bed bugs, and more.

These chemicals or medicines can be highly toxic for your dog as well. Thus, seeing a veterinarian is the first thing you must do on realizing your fur baby has consumed memory foam.

Other than the symptoms that we discussed related to memory foam and dogs, there is more you need to know:

If your dog has swallowed memory foam within two hours, it will probably be in the stomach. Try feeding your dog at first and check if he/she pukes it out. If your fur baby doesn’t vomit, then you must rush him/her to a vet at the earliest.

If the foam is still there in the belly for more than two hours, it is likely that the foam has passed into the intestines. Vomiting only would not be the solution in this case.

Most objects that move through the abdomen to the intestines reach the feces and move out. However, you must still see the vet ensure if any part or pieces of memory foam is remaining in the abdomen.

Important Tips to Make Dog Not to Eat Memory Foam

Basic training can help your dog to stay away from objects he/she shouldn’t be feeding on. There are many things you can try to make them away from memory foam and other toxic objects.

Let’s discuss a few that have worked well for dog owners:

  • Teach your dog words like, Leave, No, Don’t Do, every time you find him going near the memory foam
  • Reward your fur baby for listening to your command during times he/she is trying to chew memory foam
  • Keep lesser tempting things around your memory foam products so that your pet is bored of going there and have nothing to explore
  • Distract your dog by raising a loud sound every time he/she is distracted to reach your memory foam
  • Play with them in other areas more so that they know their timings and playground well


Final Words:

Most puppies slow down the practice of chewing and munching anything as they grow and get trained. However, you have to be careful all the time and cannot neglect this habit on assumptions.

Keeping a close check and following all that is discussed in the article will help you keep your dog as well as your memory foam protected.

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