How to Care for Dogs with Battery Acid Digestion
Battery acid is a caustic chemical that can harm your dog's skin, tongue, throat and stomach. Dogs generally may ingest battery acid in two ways: they may lick clean any skin that has come in contact with car battery acid, or they may chew up a battery found in a remote control or watch. Quick treatment will end your dog's pain and even save his life.
Instructions
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Inspect your dog for any symptoms of battery acid poisoning if you did not catch it in the act of eating batteries or drinking battery acid. Symptoms may include white-colored burns, reddish raw skin, vomiting, refusal to eat, pain in the mouth and stomach, heavy drool and foul-smelling breath.
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Call your veterinarian or local emergency veterinary service immediately to schedule an emergency appointment. If your veterinarian is unavailable, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for guidance at (888) 426-4435. A consultation fee may apply to your ASPCA call.
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Treat your dog with milk of magnesia, vegetable oil or milk if it is still able to drink. Use 1 tbsp. for every 10 pounds of your dog's weight. Do not induce vomiting as the battery acid can cause additional damage coming up your dog's throat.
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Flush any areas of the skin that contain battery acid with large amounts of cold water. Remove as much of the acid as possible, then take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear gloves to avoid getting battery acid on your skin.
Do not wait for your dog to start exhibiting symptoms of battery acid poisoning. Symptoms may not appear for up to 12 hours after ingestion.
Rush your dog to veterinary care if he is unconscious.
Batteries are still dangerous even if they are not chewed up or broken. They can obstruct your dog's digestive system and need to be removed.
