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My dog ate lanolin balm and plastic bottle. Is it dangerous?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Australian Shepherd | Male | neutered | 11 months and 15 days old | 34.6 lbs

My dog got a hold of my Lanolin balm and chewed up the plastic bottle as well as digested the balm. Should I be worried? I believe it’s nontoxic but just want to be sure.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Penelope Graben, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 12th, 2018

Hello there! The lanolin itself is not toxic, but may cause some temporary, greasy diarrhea. I see that he is an Australian Shepherd- since he is long haired, I will give you the gross warning that there may be a smelly bath in his future after the lanolin passes. As long as he did not ingest any large pieces of plastic, I would not be concerned. If you're not sure if he got any large pieces, the signs of a serious problem from ingesting plastic would be: not wanting to eat, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you see those signs, I would recommend a vet visit and an x-ray to make sure he does not have any plastic stuck in his intestinal tract. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 9th, 2019

    This could cause some damage to the GI tract or may give Ares a little stomach upset, but he should be fine. If you see vomiting, diarrhea, blood in his poop, loss of appetite, or lethargy, have him seen by a vet.

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