Effects of polyvinyl chloride ingestion by dogs

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) acrylic thermoplastic sheeting was fed to 6 dogs to determine whether ingestion during periods of normal transit of military working dogs would be toxic and thus affect the safety of this material for construction of shipping containers. The test dogs were fed PVC acrylic (0.125 g/kg of body weight; by gelatin capsule) twice each day for 5 days: for 2 dogs, the test material was in a shredded form; for 2 dogs, the material was diced; and for 2 dogs, it was powdered. Two other dogs were used as controls. Dogs were observed for clinical signs, and feed consumption and body weights were recorded. Blood and urine samples were examined. All animals were necropsied approximately 10 days after the feeding was stopped. Clinical or pathologic indication of a toxic effect of PVC was not seen within the time limits of the study.