ToxicEmergency
Dog ate expanding glue (polyurethane)? Toxic: what to do now
Swallowed expanding glue foams up in a dog's stomach into a hard mass that almost always needs surgery to remove.
If your dog ate or touched this, call your vet or a pet poison line now
United States
Poison lines in other countries: United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, JM, PR, Singapore, Switzerland, TT, VI
Expanding glue (polyurethane) and dogs: key facts
- Verdict
- Toxic · Emergency: get help now
- What it can do
- Vomiting, painful belly, not eating, low energy and not pooping.
- What to do now
- Call your vet or a pet poison line now. All steps
- Sources
- ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline, PDSA. Reviewed 9 October 2026.
What should I do if my dog ate expanding glue (polyurethane)?
- Call your vet or a pet poison line now.
- Keep the glue container and bring it with you.
- Go even if your dog seems fine. The glue keeps expanding as it hardens.
Don't
- Don't make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
- Don't give food or water until you have talked to your vet.
Symptoms to watch for
- Vomiting
- Painful belly
- Not eating
- Low energy
- Not pooping
Why
Polyurethane glue expands to several times its size as it hardens, forming a cast inside the stomach that blocks it and can damage the stomach wall.
Sources
- ASPCA: Dog Undergoes Emergency Surgery After Swallowing Construction Glue
- Pet Poison Helpline: Expanding Polyurethane Glue
- PDSA: Gut Blockage (Foreign Body) in Dogs
Guide reviewed 9 October 2026. Page updated 7 November 2026.
General information from the sources above, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, call your vet.