Can Dogs Eat Play Dough? No — Extremely High Salt Causes Sodium Poisoning
This food is NOT safe for dogs. Keep it away from your pet.
Play dough — both commercial and homemade — is dangerous for dogs. Homemade play dough contains extremely high salt and causes sodium ion poisoning. Commercial varieties also contain high salt.
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Warning Signs & Symptoms
High sodium from salt: excessive thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, coma, death.
If Your Dog Ate This
Call vet or ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 immediately.
What to Avoid
all play dough — homemade and commercial
Preparation & Serving
Call vet immediately. Note amount consumed. Sodium poisoning from play dough can be rapid and severe.
Did you know?
Commercial Play-Doh was originally formulated in the 1950s as a wallpaper cleaning compound that was accidentally discovered to be moldable. The original formula contained significant amounts of salt as a preservative — the same property that makes homemade play dough so dangerous to dogs.
Portions & nutrition
- Serving (small dog)
- never
- Serving (medium dog)
- never
- Serving (large dog)
- never
- Calories (per 100g)
- 0
- Safe frequency
- Never
Source
What You Need to Know
Homemade play dough recipes use 1-2 cups of salt per batch making it one of the most concentrated sodium sources a dog can encounter. A medium-sized dog eating a golf ball sized amount can develop life-threatening sodium poisoning. Commercial play dough also contains high sodium. Keep all play dough away from dogs especially in homes with children.
Not sure what to do next? Read our emergency guide What to Do If Your Dog Eats Something Toxic
Want to know what other dangers are hiding in your home?
Take the 60-second kitchen safety quiz to find out your dog's risk score.
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