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An ASPCA-led study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association examined 45 dogs with suspected acrylamide toxicosis linked to polyacrylamide-based hydrogel products. Some tested cooling gels contained 12,900 to 51,800 parts per million of acrylamide; there is no antidote, and treatment is supportive.
An ASPCA-led study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association examined 45 dogs with suspected acrylamide toxicosis after ingesting polyacrylamide-based hydrogel products, including cooling beds and wraps. The report describes neurologic symptoms, including tremors, poor coordination and seizures, and says some tested cooling gels contained 12,900 to 51,800 parts per million (ppm) of residual acrylamide.
The researchers reviewed outcomes in 45 dogs with suspected toxicosis. Reported signs included vomiting, muscle tremors, ataxia, sensitivity to sound or touch, rapid heart rate, seizures and death. The source does not provide a breakdown of how many dogs experienced each sign or how many died.
The study focused on products made with polyacrylamide-based hydrogels. Examples include cooling pet beds, migraine caps, eye masks and wraps. According to the report, researchers measured acrylamide concentrations of 12,900 to 51,800 ppm in some cooling gel products. Those values were described as 21 to 86 times the upper end of expected levels and higher than specifications for certain medical-grade products.
The research was conducted by the ASPCA in collaboration with The Product Injury Coalition, Cambridge Polymer Group and a veterinarian from VEG ER for Pets. The ASPCA is continuing to investigate cases and possible treatment options, the report says.
Risks From Chewed Cooling Products
The findings matter to pet owners because hydrogel products may be kept within easy reach at home, and dogs that chew or puncture them could ingest the contents. The study links suspected exposures with a range of effects, including potentially severe neurologic signs. That makes product access a practical safety issue, especially for dogs known to chew bedding, pads or household items.
The research also highlights a gap between the general perception of polyacrylamide polymers and the potential risk from residual acrylamide in particular products. The report says the polymers are generally considered low risk, but that some gels tested had substantial residual acrylamide concentrations. The results do not establish that every hydrogel product contains those levels, or that all products pose the same risk.
There is no antidote for acrylamide toxicosis, according to the source. Care focuses on controlling symptoms and providing supportive treatment. Recognizing a possible exposure can help a veterinarian assess a dog with compatible signs and consider whether a hydrogel product may be involved.
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How Exposure Is Being Assessed
The study concerns acrylamide toxicosis associated with ingestion of products that use polyacrylamide hydrogels. These materials are used in consumer items designed to hold or release cooling, including pet beds and personal-care products. The potential concern described in the report is residual acrylamide within some gels, rather than a claim that every product made with a polyacrylamide polymer is toxic.
The evidence described here combines case outcomes in 45 dogs with laboratory measurements from some cooling gel products. The source does not say that every dog’s exposure was confirmed by testing the specific product involved. It also does not identify product brands or provide a complete account of how the dogs were exposed. Those limits matter when interpreting the findings: the report raises a safety concern, but does not establish a uniform risk across all hydrogel products.
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How Broad the Product Risk Is
The source does not identify the products tested, the number of products sampled, or whether any specific brand was associated with the dog cases. It also does not report the amount of gel the dogs ingested, the timing between exposure and symptoms, or the outcomes for each animal. As a result, the reported concentration range cannot be used to determine the risk from a particular product or exposure.
The cases are described as suspected acrylamide toxicosis; the source does not explain what evidence confirmed exposure in each dog. It is also unclear how frequently these incidents occur, whether the findings apply to hydrogel products beyond those tested, and what treatment approaches may improve outcomes. The ASPCA’s investigation and research into treatment options are ongoing, according to the report.
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Exposure Response and Ongoing Research
The ASPCA says it is continuing to investigate cases and potential treatment options. The source does not give a timeline for additional findings or say whether product testing, warnings or recalls are planned. For now, the report advises veterinary professionals to ask about possible hydrogel ingestion when dogs show compatible neurologic signs and to counsel owners about keeping these products out of pets’ reach.
Owners should supervise pets around cooling beds or pads, particularly dogs that chew. If ingestion is suspected, contact a veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435, according to the source. A dog showing neurologic signs should receive immediate veterinary attention. These steps are guidance from the report, not a substitute for veterinary assessment.
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Key Questions
Which products are mentioned in the report?
The report lists cooling pet beds, migraine caps, eye masks and wraps among products that may use polyacrylamide-based hydrogels. It does not name specific brands.
What symptoms were reported in the dogs?
Reported signs included vomiting, muscle tremors, ataxia, sensitivity to sound or touch, rapid heart rate and seizures. The study summary also reports deaths but does not give a count.
Does the study show that all hydrogel products are dangerous?
No. The report describes high acrylamide concentrations in some tested cooling gel products and suspected toxicosis cases in 45 dogs. It does not establish that every hydrogel product contains similar levels or carries the same risk.
What should I do if my dog may have swallowed hydrogel?
Contact your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435, as advised in the source. If your dog has neurologic signs, seek immediate veterinary attention.
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