If your pup ingested only a small amount of butter – perhaps just some licks from you or the edge of their dish – no cause for alarm is warranted; however, if they ingested an entire stick it could be cause of digestive issues.
These symptoms can include vomiting and diarrhea that last 1-2 days.
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Side Effects
Butter is typically harmless to most dogs if fed as part of a balanced diet or eaten alongside other food, although large amounts can cause stomach upsets, diarrhea, or pancreatitis if consumed in excess. Furthermore, its wrapper may present a serious choking hazard for any canines who get their paws on it and try to consume it directly.
If your pet is not vomiting or diarrheant, their digestive system should return to normal fairly quickly. However, if severe stomach pain, lethargy or an unusual smell emanating from their butt become apparent it’s time to visit a veterinarian; such symptoms could indicate pancreatitis which is potentially life-threatening condition. Here are some of the side effects from eating butter:
Vomiting
Dogs are notorious for grabbing anything they can get their paws on, including foods that they shouldn’t be eating such as butter. While butter may not be toxic to them, it may still cause digestive upset; if your pup accidentally grabs some from off the counter or consumes an accidental stick that fell onto the floor, they may vomit to rid their system of extra butter.
Butter contains dairy that dogs are lactose intolerant and when consumed by your pup can lead to gas, diarrhea and other digestive issues in his or her system. If this occurs multiple times or the signs become concerning it is best to contact a vet immediately for advice. Furthermore, too much butter consumption could cause obesity which in turn could lead to health issues like heart disease and pancreatitis in your pup.
Diarrhea
Butter can be highly fattening for dogs who are unfamiliar with its fattening effects, leading to diarrhea as their bodies try to expel it through vomiting or otherwise. Consumption of excessive butter intake could even result in pancreatitis – an extremely severe condition which could even prove fatal for the dog in question.
As most dogs are lactose intolerant and butter is a dairy product, they may experience bouts of diarrhea after eating it. Other symptoms could include stomach cramps and increased flatulence. If your pet ate its wrapper as well, depending on their size and material of composition they could face bowel obstruction risks that require prompt medical intervention; in such instances call your veterinarian immediately.
Gastroenteritis
Butter is a dairy product containing lactose, and dogs who are lactose-intolerant may experience digestive side effects when eating it – such as vomiting and diarrhea.
The severity of these side effects depends on both the quantity and concentration of butter consumed by your pet as well as his/her overall health status and any underlying issues they have; for instance, dogs experiencing pancreatitis will find digesting fatty foods such as butter more challenging.
So long as a dog does not consume an excessive amount of butter, they should experience no serious repercussions. Still, it is wise to seek professional guidance tailored specifically for your pet from their veterinarian in order to provide care and attention tailored to the individual pet if any overeating has taken place; that way they will be able to prescribe medications or provide other necessary treatment if required.
