My dog ate batteries (button/coin and aa) — what should I do?
🚨 RED — Go to an emergency vet NOW
Button batteries burn the esophagus/stomach within hours; punctured alkaline batteries leak caustic material.
What to do now
- Call an emergency vet or animal poison control right now, even if your dog seems fine — signs can be delayed.
- Head to the nearest emergency vet; call ahead on the way.
- Remove any remaining material and keep packaging/labels — the vet will want product names and amounts.
- Do not induce vomiting unless a vet or poison-control expert tells you to.
- Note the time it was eaten, roughly how much, and your dog's weight.
Why it's a problem
Button batteries burn the esophagus/stomach within hours; punctured alkaline batteries leak caustic material.
Symptoms to watch for
Drooling, mouth burns, vomiting, not eating.
When: Within hours
⚠️ Do NOT induce vomiting.
Frequently asked questions
Is batteries (button/coin and aa) dangerous for dogs?
Yes. Button batteries burn the esophagus/stomach within hours; punctured alkaline batteries leak caustic material. Treat it as an emergency and contact an emergency vet or animal poison control immediately.
What are the symptoms if my dog ate batteries (button/coin and aa)?
Drooling, mouth burns, vomiting, not eating.
How soon do symptoms appear after a dog eats batteries (button/coin and aa)?
Within hours
Is there anything else to know about batteries (button/coin and aa)?
Do NOT induce vomiting.
What should I do if my dog ate batteries (button/coin and aa)?
Call an emergency vet or animal poison control right now, even if your dog seems fine — signs can be delayed. Head to the nearest emergency vet; call ahead on the way.
Who can I call for help?
ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661, both 24/7 (fees may apply), or your nearest emergency vet.
Dose guidance
No reliable dog-specific threshold is published for home use, so any amount should be discussed with your vet or a poison hotline.
Sources
- Pet Poison Helpline: batteries
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Corrosive agents
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Ingestion of Foreign Bodies in Dogs
Last verified against these sources: 2026-10-13. Where sources disagree, PawPanic uses the more conservative guidance.
Also known as: button battery, coin cell, aa battery, lithium battery, hearing aid battery · Category: Object · Last reviewed 2026-10-14