Dog Eating Your Underwear? Here’s Why

Our beloved pups are known for being curious critters. They use their mouth to explore the world around them, and this often means chewing on things they shouldn’t. Some dogs will chew on and eat anything in their path, and a crowd favorite for dogs seems to be our underwear.

While it may seem strange to you and I, eating underwear is unfortunately quite common in many furry friends. Not only is this behavior frustrating if your dog keeps shredding your underwear, but it is also extremely dangerous for a dog’s health. A dog that eats underwear is at risk of serious health complications of their digestive system, so it’s important to take underwear eating in your dog seriously.

So why is your dog eating your underwear, and how do you put an end to this strange canine behavior? Let’s discuss everything you need to know below!

Why Is My Dog Eating My Underwear?

Many pet parents have caught their dogs in the act of eating their underwear. Most of us are aware that dogs like to chew on objects found in the world around them, but underwear eating in dogs is behavior that raises a lot of concern. We want to help you better understand your dog that eats underwear, so let’s break down the potential causes of this behavior below!

They Are Teething

Just like human toddlers will experience teething as their first set of teeth erupt from their gums, a puppy endures this same process as well. Puppies typically experience two phases of teething before the age of one, both of which will lead to mouth discomfort for the pup affected.

The first stage of teething in puppies occurs between the ages of 3-7 weeks, and this is when their first set of puppy teeth will emerge from the gums. The second stage of teething in puppies occurs between the age of 4-7 months, and this is when the pup loses their puppy teeth and their permanent teeth (deciduous teeth) will grow in.

During these periods, you may notice that your puppy is chewing on everything they can get their mouth on. If your puppy gets their paws on your underwear during this time, they may chew on or even eat them due to their mouth discomfort. Chewing on objects can help a teething puppy alleviate their gum pain, which is why it is so important to offer them appropriate teething outlets during this time. Thankfully for our growing canine friends, there are many toys on the market that were created specifically for the teething stage.

They Like Items That Smell Like You

Our canine family members have an ingrained need to track scents they are familiar with, and this includes the scent of their owners. All of the items we use each day will carry our unique scent, and this includes, you guessed it, our underwear. If your underwear is left in an area that your dog can easily access, then they might be inclined to track your underwear and chew on them once they find them. Not only will some dogs chew on their owner’s underwear, but some may even eat them.

They are Bored & Seeking Entertainment

A bored canine companion can get themselves into trouble very easily. Whether the dog is not getting enough exercise each day or they do not have stimulating toys, the boredom can lead them to undesirable behaviors. A bored dog may chew on furniture, get into the trash, shred their toys, and in other behaviors that we wouldn’t likely approve of. If they have access to your clothes hamper or you leave your underwear on the floor, then they might even alleviate their boredom by chewing your undergarments.

They Want Your Attention

We are the most important part of our dog’s life, so they often want as much of our attention as they can get. If your pup is unable to get the attention they crave, they may seek out your presence in other ways. Many dogs will sniff out your scent in effort to feel close to you in some way, and this can include finding items of clothing. If your dog stumbles upon your underwear during their search, they may begin to chew on them and even eat them.

They Have Something Called Pica

If it seems like your dog is always chewing on or eating objects outside of their standard diet, then it is possible that they are experiencing a complication known as pica. Pica in dogs is a condition that causes dogs to compulsively eat strange items, many of which are not even edible. Pica itself is not a diagnosis, but it is actually a symptom of other underlying health conditions. Pica is often a result of some form of digestive upset, or any type of health condition that is causing an upset stomach.

Due to the fact that pica often points to an underlying illness in dogs, we always suggest reaching out to your vet if it seems like your dog is eating strange items compulsively. Dogs with pica will typically eat anything they can find on the ground, so it is often very obvious that there is a problem.

The Danger Of Dogs Eating Underwear

Not only is it inconvenient to have a dog that is constantly stealing and eating your underwear, but it is also a dangerous habit for a dog to have. A dog’s body is unable to break down and digest items that are not food, and this includes our underwear. Whether your dog shreds your underwear or eats them whole, the fabric material can easily become trapped in their stomach or intestines.

Since the body is unable to break the fabric down, it is near impossible for the body to move the underwear through the digestive system. This can lead to life-threatening blockages in their GI tract, which makes it impossible for food or other digested material to move throughout the digestive system. Once a blockage occurs, most dogs will require emergency surgery to remove the blockage and save their life.

As you can see, an underwear eating habit in dogs is much more than just an inconvenient behavior. Eating underwear can lead to a life-threatening complication in dogs, so we should do everything possible to put an end to this behavior from the moment it develops.

My Dog Ate My Underwear – What Should I Do?

If your dog just ate a pair of underwear, you are likely wondering what you should do next. If you have just caught your dog in the act of their underwear related crimes, then we always suggest reaching out to your vet immediately. Seeking vet care within the hour of their underwear consumption may allow your vet to induce vomiting, and this can help your pup safely vomit up the underwear. This will remove the threat of an intestinal blockage, and this will allow your vet to watch for any sign of choking or distress throughout the process. Making your dog vomit at home can be extremely dangerous, as the underwear can be a choking hazard as it moves from the stomach and into the esophagus.

Even if you discover that your dog has eaten your underwear hours after it occurred, we still suggest reaching out to your veterinarian for guidance. Some vets will still recommend that you come into their office and have them assessed, as there may be ways to decrease their risk of blockage. For example, as a veterinary technician that worked in emergency medicine, we would often try to hydrate dogs that ate any foreign material. This could include IV fluids or fluids under the skin, as this would help to hydrate their gut and assist the digestive tract in passing the material. Overall, we always suggest just giving your vet a call if you think your dog has consumed your underwear.

We should also mention that many pet parents do not call their vet due to the embarrassment of their dog eating underwear, but we want to make sure you know just how common this is. Dogs eat an array of embarrassing items found around their home all the time, so your veterinary team will never be shocked by what your dog vomits up. Your veterinary team has seen it all, and they just want to be there for you and your pup!

How to Stop My Dog From Eating My Underwear

Now that you are aware of the reasons why your dog might be eating your underwear, it is time to discuss the most effective ways to put an end to this behavior. Let’s list our favorite tips below!

• Keep your underwear or socks in a laundry hamper or room that cannot be accessed by your dog. No matter how many toys or how much exercise you offer your pup, some dogs will always eat things they shouldn’t. Removing access to these items is the best solution.
• If your dog is teething, make sure they have plenty of appropriate teething toys to alleviate their pain.
• Even if your dog is not teething, you will want to make sure that your dog has plenty of toys to chew on. Our pups love to chew on things, so by giving them appropriate options, they will be less inclined to eat your underwear.
• If you catch your dog in the act of eating your underwear, make sure you offer them an acceptable alternative in that moment. By immediately removing the underwear and giving them a chewing toy instead, you are showing them that this is the item they are allowed to chew on.
• Make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise and mental stimulation each day. A bored dog is more likely to get into things they shouldn’t, so draining any pent up energy is the best way to prevent undesirable behaviors. This will vary from breed to breed, but most dogs need a minimum of 20-30 minutes of exercise each day.
• Always reach out to your vet if it seems like your dog is compulsively chewing on or eating strange items. This can point to an underlying illness, so you will always want to rule out any health complications before moving forward with training.

Final Thoughts

It may seem like a strange behavior to you and I, but many canine friends around the world have eaten a pair of their owner’s underwear. Not only is this an undesirable activity for our dogs to participate in, but it can also put them at risk of developing a life-threatening intestinal blockage. Underwear can easily become trapped in their digestive tract, and this often requires emergency surgery to resolve.

Overall, an underwear eating habit in dogs can be frustrating. We suggest reviewing the reasons why your dog could be eating underwear that we discussed above, and implementing some of our suggested tips on how to put an end to the behavior. If you are unable to stop your dog’s underwear eating pastime, you can always reach out to your veterinarian for guidance.

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