Super Glue Poisoning in Dogs

Super Glue contains cyanoacrylate, which is an acrylate resin that quickly bonds with almost any surface. Although this glue is not really toxic, per se, there are other ways that Super Glue can be dangerous to your dog. If your dog gets Super Glue in his eyes, it will cause irritation and pain, as well as possibly gluing your dog’s eyelids together. The glue that sticks to the lid can also scratch the cornea, which can be very painful and cause loss of vision in that eye. Super Glue itself can cause damage to the eye, eyelid, and even lead to blindness. Ear pain and ulcers can occur if Super Glue gets in the ear canal. It can also cause loss of hearing due to the mass of glue in the canal. If the Super Glue is stuck to your dog’s skin, it might be a mild irritant. However, your dog may hurt the skin even more just trying to remove the glue. Never use any kind of Super Glue removers to try to remove the glue from your dog. This can make things worse because of the solvents they contain.

Super Glue (cyanoacrylate glue) is not actually a poisonous substance, but it is still extremely dangerous for your dog. If your dog ingests cyanoacrylate glue, it causes irritation, vomiting, coughing, and it may cause parts of your dog’s gums to be sealed shut. If swallowed, this glue can become a large mass in your dog’s esophagus, stomach, or intestines. While this may not be life-threatening at first, swallowing the glue that comes loose from the mouth or skin can cause an obstruction that can be fatal. If your dog has ingested or chewed on Super Glue, it is best to make a trip to the veterinarian quickly to be on the safe side.

The symptoms of Super Glue poisoning vary greatly depending on the method of contact, although there are some general symptoms that are the same in all cases. These are:

General

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

Oral

• Abdominal blockage
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Eyes

• Inability to open one or both eyes
• Rubbing face on walls, carpet, etc.
• Scratching at eyes

Ears

• Crying/whining
• Scratching ears
• Tilting head when listening

Topical

• White spots on fur or skin
• Chewing on affected part of body

 Types

• Oral
• Eyes
• Ears
• Skin

Super Glue poisoning is caused by having contact with Super Glue (cyanoacrylate) from:

• Chewing on or eating glue
• Sniffing glue tube or something recently glued
• Rubbing head on something recently glued
• Playing with Super Glue tube

It can be difficult to know if your dog has swallowed or come in contact with Super Glue unless you actually see it happen. However, if you know (or suspect) that your dog has ingested Super Glue, you should visit your veterinarian for an examination. The veterinarian will do a thorough check of your dog’s entire body, paying close attention to the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Abdominal palpation will also be done to feel for any large masses from a blockage caused by the Super Glue. Your dog’s heart rate, weight, blood pressure, body temperature, and oxygen levels will be checked as well. The veterinarian may also do a complete blood count (CBC), biochemical profile, urinalysis, and stool sample. If there is any question of ingestion or Super Glue in the ear canal, the veterinarian will also get some images with radiographs (x-rays), CT scans, or MRI. An abdominal ultrasound may also be done to check for intestinal obstructions.

Your dog’s treatment depends on the area affected and what the veterinarian determines from the examination and tests. If there is no obstruction or other physical injury from the Super Glue, no treatment is necessary. If your dog has an obstruction, the veterinarian will have to perform abdominal surgery to remove it.

If your dog’s eye is sealed shut, the veterinarian will apply a sterile eyewash and gently pry the lids apart. Your dog will probably need to be sedated for this procedure. Topical antibiotic cream or drops will be prescribed to prevent infection. For ear exposure, the veterinarian will use a mild hydrogen peroxide or acetone solution and continue to flush the ear with warm water until the ear and the ear canal are free from Super Glue.  Again, sedation will likely be needed for this procedure.  

For skin exposure, the veterinarian will clip the hair from the area that is affected and cleanse the area with a mild acetone solution and rinse with water. The veterinarian will gently peel the remaining residue from your dog’s skin. Your dog will probably need to be sedated for this procedure as well.

Regardless of the exposure, if your dog got treatment right away, the prognosis is good. However, if your dog had to get surgery to remove an abdominal mass, there are always risks, such as infection. Your veterinarian will provide you with antibiotics, so be sure to follow the directions and make sure you finish all of the medication. Call the veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns. To prevent this from happening again, always keep Super Glue and other dangerous products out of the reach of your dog.