Okay, so my Corgi managed to chow down on some clumping cat litter (along with the bonus cat funk).

I know when I was younger, dogs would regularly "sample" from the litter box, but I don't remember there being clumping cat litter then. I have no idea how much he ate as I wasn't home at the time, but my husband tells me that it was a pretty good amount.

I'm concerned that he might get an impaction from the clumps and will keep an eye out for that, but does anyone else know if there are any other nasties in this type of cat litter that I should be aware of?

I don't have the box as we finished it and threw it out, so I don't know what other things are in the cat litter. It had those creepy green alien crystals and a foofy scent, I do know that.

It's only been a little over an hour, and so far he's his normal oddball self.

So aside from a good toothbrushing and avoiding any Corgi kisses, anything else you can think of to watch out for?

Many thanks.

Mmmmmmm.....Kitty Roca...

Wait, disregard my last post if anyone saw it.....found some stuff to post......

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/dog-eating-clumping-cat-litter-vets-advice-on-dog-eating-clumping-cat-litter/page1.aspx

I would keep an eye on him and not feed him tonight, make sure his stools are normal and if you can entice him to some water.....

Dogs that ingest small amounts do okay.....but large amounts of the clumping stuff could pose issues.....not to worry you, but that is what I found doing a google search.

I originally posted that he should be fine, but not having had a cat box for years, I decided to look it up after I posted.....

Amber it depends on the type of litter it is. Most clumping litter is clay based, it is naturally derived but not exactly a natural substance after they get through with it. Did it have those crystals in it? What brand?

If he ate litter that didn't have any solid in it then I would be concerned, not to scare you, but yes clumping litter can and does cause deaths in certain animals - including the cats that use it I used to use clumping clay litter and switched to a natural litter because simply the dust from clay based litters can cause serious resperitory problems. I also had a friend lose a ferret to clumping litter - the little guy tried swimming in it and the small amount he got in his nose and mouth while doing so caused an impaction and infection, he couldn't be saved.

Did he eat poo, with a light coating of the litter? Or did he eat a pee clump, or just the litter, or all of the above? If he ate a urine clump (blech) the litter already has moisture and much more will cause it to break down some, unless it is a premium clumping litter and then it will just keep soaking up more. It really depends on the litter and how much he managed to eat.

Ok.. edit.. I just saw that it was a scented crystal litter and you don't have the box.. do you remember the brand, though?

Edited by Jennifer Marshal (01/06/2008 03:35 PM)
Edit reason: spelling!

 Quote: Carol Boche

I think the clumping stuff is just or mostly sand isn't it?

I don't know...it certainly didn't look like sand, or anything else from this planet, actually.

I figure he'll probably be okay, but I if you look at how big the clumps can be in the catbox, and then apply that to clumps in the stomach...well, I'm just a little worried.

I actually think he'll be okay since this Corgi is built like a tank with a stomach to match, but I just thought I'd post anyway...better safe than sorry.

I'm trying to get him to drink, and thinking about baiting some water because he's not a big drinker.

No, clumping litters are clay based and once they get to your house they've gone through several processes, adding chemicals and stuff

My sheltie mix is an avowed cat litter fiend and over the course of her 14 year lifespan she has ingested a stunning variety of the stuff.........it used to scare me but so far the worst result has been the bad breath......from what I can tell if it's bad enough they'll barf it up. That being said I would keep a close eye on the corgi.......I hope someone has some actual information on this topic as it's one I have to deal with periodically myself.!

Sorry, Carol, I quoted you before you deleted it!

Jennifer, I honestly don't know what brand it was. The cat isn't my responsibility, except to the extent that I keep Carbon from eating him (I'm a dog person ). My husband and 8 year old are the cat gurus and neither one of them knows what brand it is. I think my husband grabs whatever's on sale. The box was empty at the last litter changing and has since been thrown away. I do know it was a clumping type.

 Quote: Amber Morgan

I don't have the box as we finished it and threw it out, so I don't know what other things are in the cat litter. It had those creepy green alien crystals and a foofy scent, I do know that.

Other than the above, I know nothing about what it was that he ate. Is it a big enough concern that I should go to the store to see if my husband can recognize the box?

I'm pretty sure that the Corgi ate some poo with a crunchy litter coating, but I can't say with any confidence. He's not a poo-eater that I've ever seen, but apparently he did dig deep into the cat box buffet. I don't know what his favorite was.

http://www.treshanley.com/cic/feline.html#KITTY%20LITTER%20DANGERS
BEYOND CATS
And the problem extends beyond cats. As Lisa Newman points out in her article, dogs get into the litter box for "snacks," and ingest the litter too. She reports that the autopsy of one dog revealed that his stomach was filled with the clumping litter.

An article entitled "How Cat Litter is Made" appeared in Cat Fancy magazine (October 1994). Shockingly, the article contains no cautions against the use of clumping litters, even though the description of one of the main ingredients in such products should be enough to alarm any thinking person.

"Sodium bentonite, a naturally swelling clay, is often added as an extremely effective clumping agent. When liquid is added, bentonite swells to approximately 15 times its original volume. But because sodium bentonite acts as an expandable cement would, litters containing sodium bentonite should never be flushed; when they expand they can block plumbing."

A lot of this info is in regards to cats, but it gives facts about clumping litters. I really don't mean to scare you, or anybody, but there is a possibility of a problem with clumping litter.

If you think he only got some litter coated poo I wouldn't be terribly concerned as the amount that sticks to poo (unless it was diarhea) isn't enough to cause a big enough clump int he gut of anything but a really small dog. Most dogs don't eat anything but the poo, but maybe I am just paranoid about clay litters, they scare me honestly

I am a cat person and I am that crazy person you hear about that will spent 1000.00 to buy a kitten - I know a fair amount of breeders and have heard horror stories about small animals and kittens dying from the litters before they figured out what the problem was.

I would just keep an eye out. If he starts kind of licking at/chewing the stomach area (like a horse will colic) then I'd keep him under close tabs - watch for vomitting, loss of appetite, not wanting to drink water or drinking excessive amounts of water, etc. The main concern would be if he went nose surfing and got a mouthful of just litter.