Emergency Tips: Your Pet Swallowed a Rechargeable Battery

Most of us don't give much thought to the rechargeable battery in our television remote and hardly consider it to be a hazard until the family dog uses the remote as a chew toy. We don't consider the button-sized battery from the table clock to be dangerous until the cat knocks it down, swats the battery around and accidentally swallows it.

Pets, especially young ones, can be playful and curious. Like human babies, they tend to explore the world through their mouths. Dogs are also known for chewing things when they're bored. Rechargeable batteries are very dangerous since they typically contain alkaline to increase their cell life. Alkaline contains a highly corrosive agent called potassium hydroxide which eats through skin and tissue causing significant damage and pain.

Knowing what to do if your pet swallows a rechargeable battery will save his life. Follow these tips to deal with this emergency situation.

Check for Leaks

A broken battery is much more dangerous than one that has been swallowed whole since punctured batteries leak potassium hydroxide. If you're not sure if your pet chewed the battery before swallowing it, carefully examine his mouth and tongue. Usually the sides of the tongue will appear red and raw. There may even be dead skin. You'll be able to tell if the skin was destroyed because it'll look whitish-gray.

Dogs may whimper or cry out in pain, but cats tend to be more stoic. Watch for any change in behavior such as an unusually inactive pet, one that's refusing to eat, or one that seems to be having difficulty chewing and swallowing. Dogs usually drool heavily. Cats may drool as well. Some pets vomit when they've swallowed a rechargeable battery.

Recent Ingestion of a Battery

If you suspect your pet has swallowed a battery recently, the most important initial treatment you need to take is dilute the corrosive fluid. This can be done with small amounts of milk. Larger pets can have more milk than smaller ones, but you need to be careful with the amount you give because too much milk can cause stomach pain and diarrhea.

Contact your veterinarian to find out what to do next. Vomiting should not be induced because if the battery is leaking, the potassium hydroxide may corrode your pet's throat as the bile comes up.

Trip to the Pet Hospital

Your vet will likely request that you bring your pet in to determine if the swallowed battery is intact or in pieces. An x-ray will need to be done to determine this. If the battery is intact and small, your veterinarian may simply suggest a high fiber diet to encourage your pet to pass the battery naturally. A larger battery or one that is in pieces may require surgery to remove.

If significant leaking has occurred, your pet's throat may need to be examined endoscopically to access the damage. The goal is to prevent severe scarring which would make it difficult for your pet to eat. Severe corrosion of the throat or stomach lining may require antibiotics and special diets.