It’s not a good idea to leave loose change
lying around the house especially if you have a pet that gets curious and likes
to taste test everything. If your dog swallows a coin or more please call your
vet. You may need to take your dog into the vet right away. It’s helpful if you
know what kind of coin was swallowed. Why? It’s dangerous to swallow any coin,
but it’s especially dangerous to swallow a penny. Before 1982, the U.S. penny
was made of 100% copper. Copper is not as dangerous as zinc which is what
pennies were made of starting after 1982. Only a thin layer of copper is around
the penny, the rest is zinc. If your dog swallows the penny, there is a small
window of time where the copper will start to break down and expose the zinc,
which is highly toxic. Read more here
or consult with your vet clinic Marion, IA.
