Gorilla Glue Poisoning in Dogs

Gorilla Glue is one of the first polyurethane glues available to the general public and is present in many households. The sweet smell and taste of this and other polyurethane glues can be an attractant to your canine companion. When this glue reaches the gastric juices in the stomach a volatile reaction happens and the glue expands as foam and then hardens. The resulting obstruction cannot generally be ejected by vomiting and requires surgery to remove.

Gorilla Glue is a polyurethane glue, which can expand and harden dangerously if ingested. If your pet ingests any polyurethane glue you should take your canine into the veterinarian’s office.

Gorilla glue, like other polyurethane glues, reacts strongly to the presence of stomach acid. When the two combine the glue expands into a large amount of foam, then hardens. The effects, which in some cases take place in an hour or less, can be catastrophic for anything that swallows even a small amount of the adhesive. 

• Abdominal pain
• Coughing
• Distended stomach
• Excessive drooling
• Loss of appetite
• Pawing at mouth
• Retching
• Vomiting

Types 

There are several brands of glue that have polyurethane based products in their line-up. Most of these companies have several varieties of polyurethane adhesive. Polyurethane is used in several varieties of glue as well including wood glue, construction glue, foaming glue and hot melt glue. 

• 3M
• DAP
• Elmer’s
• Excel Glue
• Franklin Titebond
• Gorilla Glue
• Liquid Nails- Rhino Ultra Glue
• Loctite
• Surehold        
• V-Tech

The polyurethane based products can taste sweet, making them attractive to your pet. Steps you can take to keep your pet safe from ingesting this product include:

• Clean spills promptly and thoroughly
• Ensure that handymen, contractors, and other workers around your home and yard are being cautious with their adhesive products or remove your dog from the area while they are working
• Keep the glue in a sturdy lockbox, in a secure cabinet or drawer, or a sturdy elevated shelf
• Keep your dog away from your work area when working with polyurethane adhesives

The health background, dietary habits, access to garbage or potential toxins, oral medication and current symptoms are all likely to be covered when you first go into your veterinarian’s office. A physical exam will be performed with particular attention to the stomach and abdomen area. The mass in the stomach is likely to be palpable as the glue expands very quickly once exposed to the gastric juices. There is often a chemical odor to the breath as well if it was ingested and irritation to the skin or mucosa is often visible. If the ingestion of the glue wasn’t witnessed a complete blood count, biochemistry profile, and urinalysis may be recommended for analysis based on the symptoms. Vomit will show no evidence of the glue itself as the glue balls up in the stomach and is unable to be ejected by vomiting. X-ray or ultrasound imaging will probably be recommended to get a clearer of the shape and size of the mass.

Ingestion

Inducing vomiting is not recommended if your pet has ingested polyurethane glue, including Gorilla Glue, and activated charcoal can increase the likelihood of aspiration. Treatment of ingestion of polyurethane glue, therefore, usually involves surgery along with the administration of gastroprotective medications. 

Eye

Rinsing continuously with saline or water often corrects general eye irritation from the glue but separation under sedation may be required if lashes have adhered to the skin. Topical medications may be given in the event of physical damage to the corneas. 

Skin

Clipping of fur around the glue and cleaning of the area with warm soapy water is usually sufficient to treat skin exposure. 

Ear

Polyurethane glue has been known to expand in the moisture of the ear canal and a hydrogen peroxide or acetone solution and a cotton swab is likely to be required to remove the obstruction. The ear will then be flushed with water or saline.

After any surgical operation, it is important to keep the site clean and free from dirt and debris. You will need to keep your pet from interfering with the site of the operation, and examine it regularly for swelling, bleeding or pus. Keeping the recovering patient in a calm and quiet environment will help speed healing, as will having appropriate food and water within reach of them.  Specialized feeding and care instructions may be given by your veterinarian to facilitate healing to the incision. Antibiotics are often required to prevent infection and the full course should be taken as prescribed by your veterinarian, and pain medications will be prescribed as needed.