Electrical injury happens when electric current passes through a pet’s body. It is not common in dogs and cats, and when it does happen, the usual cause is a chewed electrical cord [2]. The harm can range from a small burn in the mouth to serious lung, heart or nerve problems, and it can be fatal [1][2].
Electrical injury is an emergency. Call your vet right away, even if your pet seems fine, because damage inside the body is not always visible [3].
Keep yourself safe first. A cord that is still plugged in can shock you too. Switch off the power or unplug the cord before you go near your pet, and do not touch your pet while it may still be in contact with a live cord.
For other wounds, see minor wound care for dogs and cats.
Which pets get it
Puppies and other young pets are most at risk, because they explore with their mouths and are more likely to bite on wires [1]. Human medicine shows the same pattern: small children are hurt when they bite or suck on cords [3].
Lightning is another cause of electrical injury [3], and dogs have also been hurt after getting caught in an electric fence [2].
How electricity injures the body
Electric current can do harm in two ways. It can upset the electrical signals of the heart, nerves and muscles, which can lead to an abnormal heart rhythm [2][3]. And as the current meets resistance, it turns into heat, which can burn the skin and the tissue underneath it [2]. How bad the injury is depends on how strong the current was, which way it travelled through the body and how long the contact lasted [3].
Burns in the mouth and on the skin
The burn usually sits where the current entered the body. After a chewed cord, that place is the mouth: the lips, tongue, gums or palate. In one puppy that bit a household cord, vets found a grey sore with a red border inside the mouth [1]. Burned tissue in the mouth can die off [1], so a mouth burn may look worse later than it did at first.
Burns can be hidden. A pet may not let you look in its mouth, and the drooling or pawing at the face it causes is easy to miss. That is one reason every pet that has chewed a live cord should be checked by a vet.
Other signs
- Breathing trouble: an electric shock can cause fluid to build up in the lungs. This is called noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, meaning it does not come from heart disease [1][4]. Fast, hard or noisy breathing after a shock is an emergency.
- Collapse: a pet may lose consciousness for a moment after the shock [1].
- Drooling and wide pupils: both were seen in the puppy described above [1].
- Nerve signs: seizures, weakness or being unable to walk have been reported in dogs after electrical injury [2][5].
A pet can look fine at first and still have internal damage [3]. In one dog, seizures came back weeks after it seemed to have recovered [2].
How vets treat it
Your vet treats what the injury has caused. That can include:
- oxygen for pets with breathing trouble, and in severe cases a ventilator that breathes for the pet [1][4];
- chest X-rays or ultrasound to look for fluid in the lungs [1][4];
- wound care for burns in the mouth or on the skin. Published guidance on treating mouth burns in pets is limited, so your vet will decide on care case by case [1];
- pain relief as needed, and treatment of any nerve signs, such as seizures [2].
At home, as directed by a vet:
- give only the food, medicines and mouth care your vet advises;
- watch your pet’s breathing and tell your vet at once if it changes [1][4];
- tell your vet about any shaking, twitching or seizure, even weeks later [2];
- go back for every recheck.
Outlook
Many pets recover well, but some do not. In a study of 31 dogs and cats with fluid in the lungs from causes such as airway blockage and electrocution, about three in four survived to go home. The outlook was good for animals that did not need a ventilator; of those that did, only one in three survived [4]. A puppy with fluid in the lungs after biting a cord recovered after a few hours on a ventilator [1]. Rarely, nerve problems such as seizures can last or return later [2].
These are findings from small groups of animals. They cannot predict how one pet will do. Your vet can explain what this means for your pet.
When to see your vet
Call your vet right away if your dog or cat:
- has chewed an electrical cord, even if it looks fine [3];
- has burns or sores in the mouth, on the tongue or on the lips [1];
- has trouble breathing [1][4];
- collapsed or lost consciousness [1];
- has a seizure, weakness or trouble walking [2][5];
- has burned or singed patches on the skin or fur [2].
FAQ
My puppy chewed a cord but seems fine. Does it still need a vet?
Yes. Damage inside the body is not always visible at first [3], and fluid can build up in the lungs after a shock [1][4]. Call your vet.
Is it safe to touch my pet after a shock?
Not until the power is off. Switch off or unplug the cord first, so the current cannot pass into you.
Can I treat a mouth burn at home?
No. A mouth burn needs a vet’s exam, and the right care depends on how deep it is [1]. Call your vet.
The bottom line
In dogs and cats, electrical injury most often comes from chewing a cord, and young pets are most at risk. It can burn the mouth, cause fluid in the lungs and breathing trouble, and cause collapse or seizures. Turn off the power before you touch your pet, then call your vet right away, even if your pet seems fine, because internal damage is not always visible at first.
This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from your veterinarian. If your pet has chewed an electrical cord, call your vet right away.
Sources
- Díaz EA, Sáenz C, Torres D, Silva A, Segnini G. Successful management of pulmonary edema secondary to accidental electrocution in a young dog. BMC Veterinary Research 2024;20(1):145. CC BY 4.0. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-03982-4
- Ortlieb J, Muthmann S, Blunschi F, Czerwik A, Olszewska A, Hassdenteufel E. Status Epilepticus After Electrocution Injury in a Dog. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 2026;36(2):273-278. CC BY 4.0. https://doi.org/10.1111/vec.70103
- Electrical Injuries. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Updated November 12, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/electricalinjuries.html
- Nemi JR, Hopper K, Epstein SE. Retrospective evaluation of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema in dogs and cats (2000-2021): 31 cases. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 2023;33(3):354-359 (abstract, PubMed). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37087613/
- Ros C, de la Fuente C, Pumarola M, Añor S. Spinal cord injury secondary to electrocution in a dog. Journal of Small Animal Practice 2015;56(10):623-625 (abstract, PubMed). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25615442/