My dog ate matches – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet today

Call your vet today for advice – don't wait until signs appear. Match heads contain the toxic chemical potassium chlorate, an oxidizer that encourages rapid burning.

What to do now

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
  2. Note what, how much and when.
  3. Bring the packaging.
  4. Remove what is left and keep your dog calm.

Don't

  • Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
  • Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Match heads contain the toxic chemical potassium chlorate, an oxidizer that encourages rapid burning.[1] A few match heads can cause gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, drooling, and vomiting, while a large number can lead to kidney damage.[1]

Signs to watch for

  • vomiting
  • drooling
  • anemia
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

Get it on Google Play

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

How much is dangerous?

A few match heads can cause gastrointestinal irritation; a large number can lead to kidney damage.[1]

Which signs should I watch for?

Vomiting, drooling, and nausea are described after match-head ingestion.[1]

Sources

  1. Pet Poison Helpline

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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