VETzInsight

Expandable Foaming Glues like Gorilla Glue Cause Obstructions in Pets

Revised: July 17, 2020
Published: January 30, 2012

If swallowed in liquid form, some polyurethane-based glue products can create a life-threatening stomach blockage because they expand and harden once in the stomach. Glues that contain diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), (e.g.  Gorilla Glue and Elmer’s Glue-All Max) are designed to foam and expand after exposure to moisture. These types of glue are most typically used by woodworkers.

Unfortunately, if a pet swallows glue with MDI in it, the warm and moist environment of the stomach causes the glue to foam and expand into a large mass. The glue is thought to harden within a few minutes after ingestion, effectively  becoming a foreign body and blocking the entry of food either in or out of the stomach.  When a large amount is ingested, it  hardens in the shape of the stomach. The hardened material usually can't be vomited up because it's too big to go through the esophagus.


This hardened mass of expanded Gorilla Glue was removed from a dog. Photo courtesy of Dr. Tony Johnson.
The mass was positioned next to a cupcake to indicate its size. Photo by Dr. Tony Johnson.


Stomach cast surgically removed from the stomach of a dog who ingested Gorilla Glue. The glue expands quickly once it comes in contact with gastric liquids, resulting in a foreign body in the stomach.
Abdominal radiograph using barium shows the outline of the large stomach foreign body caused by ingestion of Gorilla Glue. This dog passed a few pieces of glue in stool after surgery.

While other animals have been known to eat these glues, the typical patient is a dog. Even if you see your pet swallow the glue, do not force him to vomit because this could cause the expanding glue to get stuck in the esophagus or be inhaled into the lungs. Surgically speaking, it is more difficult to  remove the glue from the esophagus than from the stomach.

Signs that a pet has eaten this glue can be seen anywhere from 15 minutes to 20 hours after ingestion. These signs include vomiting (sometimes it is bloody), an enlarged stomach, stomach pain, lack of appetite, and lethargy. X-rays of the abdomen are typically necessary to arrive at a diagnosis. Surgery is the only possible treatment as the foam is not digestible.  Surgery is usually done on an emergency basis since stomach ulceration and rupture can occur if the glue is not removed from the stomach in a timely manner.

Ingesting a few drops of these glues may not be a problem and would likely just cause mild gastrointestinal distress. If you don’t know how much your pet ingested, then it wise to consult with your veterinarian who may recommend taking x-rays.

Because MDI isn’t always listed on the product label, consider any expanding adhesive as potentially containing it. To prevent your pets from ingesting these glues or any potentially harmful substance, store them properly and securely where there is no chance your pets could get them.

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