How Long Does It Take for a Dog to Pass a Coin?

how long does it take for a dog to pass a coin

I’ve mentioned before about how my own dog nearly managed to swallow a coin. At the time I was in pure panic mode but was just able to hook it out of his mouth before he swallowed it down. After this scary event, I mentioned the episode to a vet friend, who explained how dangerous this could have been, but also how the coin could have passed through my dog in his poop.

And here’s the thing; whether the coin will pass through your dog’s system will depend on the size of the coin, your dog, and individual circumstances. So, please do call your vet for immediate advice as if your dog has swallowed one. Not only can it lead to a blockage, but your dog could also get zinc poisoning from the coin depending on the metallic components.

However, if it is smaller coin, it might possibly pass through your dog. And if it does, how quickly will this happen?

I decided to research how long it takes for a dog to poop out a coin and here’s what I found out this week…

How long does it take for a dog to pass a coin? It is possible for a dog to pass a coin in as little as 10 to 24 hours. This is only if it is small enough to pass through the digestive tract and doesn’t become stuck. Due to the dangers of internal blockages you should call a vet for an expert view.

The answer above what will happen in the best-case scenario.

But your dog might not be able to poop out the coin. Even if they do poop it out, there’s a chance of zinc toxicity too,  so I can’t stress this enough; call your vet to get a professional opinion and diagnosis.

can a dog poop a coin
If you are lucky, your dog will poop the coin out, but it’s not worth waiting for to find out… call a vet.

Can a dog poop out a coin?

Before I get into more detail about the mechanics of how long it takes for a dog to pass a coin, the first question to answer in more depth, is whether it’s even possible for it to be pooped out.

The answer is, it depends.

Some coins are bigger than others, they come in different shapes and metallic materials, and some dogs are small. Thankfully most coins are smooth, which can help them to pass through a dog’s digestive system… some might get stuck though.

There is also have another risk which is zinc poisoning. That can make the situation more complicated.

So, your dog can poop out a coin in theory, but whether it does will depend on a number of factors including:

  • Is the coin small enough to pass through your dog’s system?
  • Is your dog large enough for the coin to pass?
  • Will the coin pass through your dog without getting snagged and lodged internally?

With many dogs the stars will align and you should find that your dog poops out the coin due to the way it is positioned internally.

You might not know if the position is good unless your dog has X-ray or ultrasound at the vets to check the coin hasn’t become stuck.

How can a coin get stuck?

Your dog has a digestive tract which starts at the mouth, goes down the oesophagus, through the belly and small intestine, into the colon, and eventually the rectum. This is the point a small coin could get pooped out… if it gets that far.

Whilst the majority of very small foreign objects will pass through a dog by the 24-hour point, some large or odd-shaped objects can get stuck inside your dog for longer.

For example, if the coin can’t pass into your dog’s intestine, it can possibly stay in the stomach for months. When in the stomach, a lodged foreign object can result in intermittent chronic vomiting.

According to the Zoetis website:

“If the object becomes lodged and completely blocks the intestine, an urgent situation develops as the surrounding intestine deteriorates, and the animal’s condition may worsen rapidly. This can happen within hours of ingesting a foreign object or more commonly will happen later on and worsen over time.”

If the dog’s intestine then gets perforated, the animal can quickly deteriorate and could result in death.

But many times, a coin will pass through a dog and get pooped out. If the coin can reach the colon, it should pass through completely. If it’s too big, it will often get trapped in the stomach or small intestine.

Should you be worried about zinc poisoning?

Back in 1982, the United States government began minting coins using zinc with a slim copper coating, because it was far cheaper than copper to produce. Unfortunately for dogs, this puts their health at risk. When swallowed, your dog’s stomach acid can dissolve this thin layer of copper, meaning they are then exposed to zinc.

The Pet Poison Helpline say the following:

“While some coins can be safely ingested and passed out in the stool a few days later, some types of coins contain large amounts of zinc, resulting in zinc poisoning. When the zinc-containing coin enters the acid environment of the stomach, the zinc breaks down, causing stomach upset and zinc absorption into the blood stream.”

Coins that contain zinc include the penny (or cent) in the United States. In the UK, one penny, two penny, one pound, and two pound coins contain the zinc element.

Dogs with zinc poisoning from a coin that has not passed and been pooped will exhibit some very serious symptoms (and possible death) including:

  • Anemia.
  • Pale gums.
  • Yellowed eyes (jaundiced).
  • Destruction of red blood cells.
  • Leading to:
    • Liver damage / liver failure.
    • Kidney failure.
    • Heart failure.

How to tell if the coin won’t pass and be pooped out

Just as the coin might pass through your dog, there’s also a chance that it won’t be pooped out; you should always talk with a vet first.

A vet will be able to perform an x-ray on your dog to locate the position and size of the coin. If you can tell the vet what type of coin it was too, that will help as it can indicate whether zinc toxicosis is a possibility.

For example, most pennies contain zinc so might need to be surgically removed before they reach your dog’s gastrointestinal tract.

There are some stark warning signs that things aren’t right, which indicate the coin won’t be passing through such as:

  • Your dog is vomiting.
  • Your dog is pawing at his mouth.
  • Your dog is hacking up or choking.
  • Your dog is drooling more than usual.
  • Your dog has a loss of appetite.
  • Your dog is acting strange, including lethargy.
  • Your dog has diarrhea.
  • Your dog has constipation from a blockage.
  • Your dog is showing obvious signs of pain.

Please Note: This content here is not intended to replace veterinary advice. It is based on my own personal experience and online research.

Conclusion

If your dog has swallowed a coin, please call a vet immediately. You should never take any chances with things like this as there’s no guarantee it will be pooped out.

Whilst many dogs will poop the coin out and it will be passed inside of one day, not all of them will be that lucky.

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Marc Aaron

I write about the things we've learned about owning dogs, the adventures we have, and any advice and tips we've picked up along the way.

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