Will Dog Eat Mothballs?

One of the most unsettling things a pet owner can say is, “My dog licked a mothball.”
As pet owners go, “my dog licked a mothball” ranks up there with “my cat ate a live mouse,” as the most unsettling things to say. Mothballs are a common home poison that can make any animal (including people) sick, and as responsible pet owners, we never want our dogs to come into touch with them. The topic of today’s blog post is the bond between mothballs and canines.

Could Mothballs be a Magnet for Dogs?

Canine fan of mothballs? Canines are notorious for investigating mothballs through sniffing, licking, and even ingesting them. Dogs will ingest anything that smells or tastes different from what they’re used to, and this includes common household chemicals. Mothballs containing naphthalene are extremely dangerous to cats, but can also be fatal to dogs if they ingest them. Animals, including pets, are equally susceptible to the negative health effects of prolonged naphthalene exposure.

Can dogs be harmed by moths?

Any animal is in serious danger if it ingests mothballs because of the insecticides they contain. The insecticide is toxic and should not be consumed since it can cause organ failure and blood poisoning in animals. If you wouldn’t put bug spray in your mouth, then you shouldn’t give it to your dog either. Mothballs are just solidified insecticides.

Several different health issues can arise from ingesting mothballs. Liver and kidney failure, anaemia, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting are some of the documented side effects. These are all potentially fatal signs that can result from naphthalene ball poisoning if treatment is delayed.

Mothballs, as we’ve already established, are a type of insecticide that uses the slow release of a vapour or gas to keep insects at bay. Long exposure to the gas can be fatal for moths. As a solid product composed of pesticides, mothballs are also effective against gnats and roaches. If you want to make sure your home is completely safe for your pets, mothballs are not the way to go. If you have pets, it’s best not to put mothballs about the house because they may swallow them by accident. However, if mothballs are necessary to preserve your clothing, do so by storing it in sealed boxes and placing them in an area of the house that is inaccessible to pets. Since naphthalene is poisonous and can easily be flared into a fire, it has been replaced in newer mothball formulations with pyrethrum para-floricam (PDF). Do you think this alteration makes mothballs safer to use? No. Even if newer mothballs are less likely to cause fatalities in animals, there is always a chance that they will do so if they are left out in the open, such as to prevent insects from building lines.

Big dogs, too, can get the anxious tremors from the newer mothballs. Your dog will exhibit signs of weakness and trembling, and he or she will also be quite nauseous and throw up frequently. Animals who have accidentally consumed mothballs require immediate veterinarian attention. All cases of possible poisoning should be handled as if they were the worst poisoning in history. Don’t spend any time in bringing your dog to the vet if at all feasible; he or she needs immediate medical attention.

When owners discover their dogs have consumed a potentially lethal substance, some attempt to make them vomit. It’s not uncommon, but does that make it right? In a word, no. Some substances, if vomited by your dog, will do twice or three times as much damage to him, so vomiting should only be done under a vet’s watchful eye. The sensitive lining of the dog’s throat and the inside of its mouth, for instance, can be stripped by the toxin if it is regurgitated. Each form of poisoning has a specific treatment, and your vet may advise you on the best course of action.

Is it harmful to breathe in mothball dust?

All animals should be avoided after exposure to mothballs. While dogs are more likely to accidentally consume mothballs, cats are more susceptible to respiratory distress from inhaling the off-gassing. Dogs can actively seek out and eat mothballs, so we can’t assume that they take them accidently. Dogs do this because their sense of smell and taste is so crucial to how they interact with the world. Many people are curious about new flavours and scents and will want to try them out for themselves. Pet owners should be aware that their pooches aren’t born knowing which foods are safe and which are dangerous. That’s why extra precautions should be taken to store these common household poisons where dogs and other animals can’t get to them. By taking these precautions, you can spare yourself the trauma of rescuing a poisoned pet.

What are the risks of keeping mothballs in the house?

If you have dogs at home, you don’t have to avoid buying basic cleaning products and maintenance materials like mothballs. However, you’ll need to make some adjustments to how you stock these items at home. You must not leave them lying on the ground or any other low surface that pets could access. To add insult to injury, any chemicals that could be harmful to animals must be stored in containers they can’t break into. Traditional naphthalene balls, often known as “classic” or “old-fashioned” mothballs, are the most poisonous type of mothball.

How long do mothballs last when left in the open?

Mothballs, on the whole, have a six-week shelf life if removed from their original packing. There may be an even longer lifespan for the mothballs if the clothing containers are kept airtight. Mothballs will last longer if they are kept out of the elements as much as possible.