Why it's dangerous
Match heads contain potassium chlorate, an oxidizing agent. A few heads irritate the gastrointestinal tract; a large number can damage red blood cells (methemoglobinemia and hemolysis) and the kidneys.
Toxic compound: Potassium chlorate
How vets treat it
None of the sources we checked describes treatment for cats that ate matches. The approach an ASPCA toxicologist describes for chlorates in swallowed fireworks includes making the pet vomit if it has no signs and ate them less than 1 hour earlier, mineral oil given with care to limit chlorate absorption, a drip (IV fluids), oxygen for blue gums, and liver and kidney tests at the start and again at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Activated charcoal isn't recommended, because it doesn't bind chlorates. If chlorate damages the blood, the vet can give methylene blue (or N-acetylcysteine if it isn't available), sometimes with vitamin C, to help turn methemoglobin back into hemoglobin, and blood transfusions for anemia. The Merck Veterinary Manual, writing about chlorate weed killers in livestock, explains that chlorate keeps damaging hemoglobin for as long as it stays in the body, so methylene blue has to be repeated.
Outlook
None of the sources we checked gives recovery rates or case numbers for cats that ate matches. Pet Poison Helpline says a few match heads cause stomach and gut irritation, while a large number can damage the kidneys and red blood cells. The ASPCA warns that red blood cell damage from chlorates in fireworks can quickly become life-threatening, and that poisonings can be harder to treat once signs appear, so call early.
Where pets are exposed
- Match heads. Pet Poison Helpline says match heads contain potassium chlorate, a chemical that makes the match burn quickly. Depending on the type, match tips can also contain potassium dichromate, sulfur and phosphorus sesquisulfide, according to the US Poison Control center. The Animal Poisons Helpline in Australia says the red material on match heads generally contains small quantities of chlorate salts.
- Two kinds of matches. Strike-anywhere matches carry all their reactive chemicals on the tip and light on any hard, rough surface, such as brick. Safety matches light only on the striker strip of their box or matchbook, which holds the phosphorus chemical. Matches usually come in books of 20 cardboard matches or in boxes of wooden ones. The veterinary sources we checked don't compare the risk of the two kinds for pets.
- The sticks. Wooden matchsticks can block the stomach or gut of very small dogs and cats, according to Pet Poison Helpline, and the Animal Poisons Helpline adds that sharp wood splinters could injure a pet on the way down.
- Around fires and celebrations. The Animal Poisons Helpline gets calls about dogs eating matches and firelighters in cold weather, when households light fires. The ASPCA lists matches, along with lighter fluid, among its Fourth of July hazards for pets.
Prevention
- Keep matches, and lighter fluid, out of your pets' reach.
- Store matches and firelighters where pets can't get at them, especially in cold weather, when the Animal Poisons Helpline gets calls about dogs eating both.
- Pick up any dropped matches and matchsticks. Wooden sticks can block the gut of very small dogs and cats.
- Keep fireworks and sparklers out of reach too, and pick up their remains before letting pets out. Some fireworks contain chlorates as well.
Good to know
Severity depends on how many match heads were eaten: a few cause gastrointestinal irritation, while a large number can damage the kidneys and red blood cells. Wooden matchsticks can also block the gut of very small dogs and cats.
Common questions
My dog chewed up a matchbook. What should I do?
Call your vet or a pet poison line now, even if your dog seems fine, and keep the matchbook so you can count how many matches are missing. Pet Poison Helpline says a few match heads cause stomach and gut irritation, with nausea, drooling and vomiting, while a large number can damage the kidneys and red blood cells. Don't make your dog vomit or give it anything unless your vet tells you to, and don't give activated charcoal: it doesn't bind chlorates.
How many matches are dangerous for a dog or a cat?
None of the veterinary sources we checked gives a number. Pet Poison Helpline says the effects depend on how many match heads a pet eats, and that the amount and the animal's size both affect what is toxic to a particular pet. The ASPCA says certain types of matches contain chlorates that could damage blood cells and, in severe cases, cause kidney disease. Call your vet whatever the number, with the box or matchbook to hand.
Are safety matches less dangerous than strike-anywhere matches?
The veterinary sources we checked don't compare them. Both kinds have chemicals in the head: Pet Poison Helpline says match heads contain potassium chlorate. According to the US Poison Control center, strike-anywhere matches carry all their reactive chemicals on the tip, while safety matches keep the phosphorus chemical on the striker strip of the box or matchbook. None of the sources we checked says whether the striker strip itself is a risk for pets. Tell your vet which kind your pet ate and whether it chewed the box too.
Why can matches turn a pet's gums brown or blue?
Match heads contain chlorates, which damage red blood cells. Chlorates make red blood cells break apart and turn hemoglobin into methemoglobin, damage that may limit the blood's ability to carry oxygen. For fireworks that contain chlorates, the ASPCA describes affected pets as lethargic, with brown, gray or blue gums, fast breathing and a fast heart rate, and warns that this can quickly become life-threatening. Take your pet to a vet straight away if you see these signs.
Can cats be poisoned by matches?
Yes. Pet Poison Helpline's advice on match heads covers pets in general, and it says wooden matchsticks can block the gut of very small dogs and cats. None of the sources we checked has data specific to cats or gives a toxic dose for them, so call your vet if your cat chewed or swallowed matches.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Inorganic Herbicides and Organic Arsenicals Toxic to Animals (sodium chlorate section)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — Fourth of July Safety Tips
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — Four Ways Fourth of July Fireworks Can Harm Our Pets (2021)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — What to Do if Your Pet Is Poisoned (2019)
- Pet Poison Helpline — Matches
- Today's Veterinary Practice (ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center column) — Means C. Illuminating the Toxicity of Fireworks (2016)
- Animal Poisons Helpline (Australia and New Zealand) — My Dog Ate Firelighters (2021)
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center) — My child ate a match. What should I do?
- Pet Poison Helpline
This page is informational and is not veterinary advice. If your pet has been exposed to something risky, contact your vet or an animal poison control line right away.
