Household object
Button and Coin Batteries
A true emergency. A lodged battery can burn through tissue within hours.
Life-threateningDogsCatsBirdsSmall mammals
AI-generated editorial illustration of the subject; not a photograph of a specific animal, product or case.
What to do right now
- 1.Go to an emergency vet or animal hospital straight away
- 2.Do not wait for symptoms to appear
- 3.Do not try to induce vomiting, as this can worsen burns if the battery is still in the oesophagus
Symptoms
- Drooling and pawing at the mouth
- Vomiting
- Reluctance to eat
- Lethargy
- Signs of pain
Details
- Category
- Household object
- Toxicity
- Life-threatening
- Species affected
- Dogs, Cats, Birds, Small mammals
- Routes of exposure
- Swallowing batteries from remote controls, toys, hearing aids or watches
- Urgency
- A true emergency. A lodged battery can burn through tissue within hours.
Veterinary notes and prevention
Batteries generate an electrical current in moist tissue that causes chemical burns and can perforate the oesophagus or stomach. X-rays confirm location and urgent removal is often needed.
Prepare the information your vet needs
- For Button and Coin Batteries, report the exposure route: Swallowing batteries from remote controls, toys, hearing aids or watches. Tell the clinic the time, possible amount and your pet's species and approximate weight.
- Photograph the packaging, ingredient list or plant if safe. Do not handle contaminated material without protection or delay the call to identify it perfectly.
- Keep other animals away from the source. An animal may appear normal before signs develop; do not wait for symptoms or calculate a home 'safe dose'.
- Follow the clinic's transport instructions. Do not give food, medicines or home remedies unless instructed, and take packaging with you if available.
Educational reference, not an individual diagnosis or a verified professional review. Read our editorial policy.
Guidance libraries and further reading
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