Can dogs and cats eat Batteries?
Chewed batteries can leak corrosive material, and swallowed button/coin batteries can burn through the gut lining within hours.
Why
Alkaline/acid contents (chemical burns); electrical current from button batteries; heavy metals
Signs to watch for
- drooling
- mouth ulcers or burns
- pain when eating
- vomiting
- not eating
- fever
Good to know
Don't induce vomiting. Go to your vet right away — swallowed button batteries usually need X-ray and urgent removal.
If you think your pet has been poisoned
If you suspect your dog or cat has eaten or touched something poisonous, contact your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic immediately, even if your pet seems fine – some poisons take hours or days to show signs, and early treatment works best. Do not try to make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to, as this can cause more harm. Take the packaging, label or a piece of the plant with you, and note what was eaten, roughly how much, and when.
Sources
Sources
Checked against these sources in October 2026.