AirTags can be a very easy and comfortable way to monitor our dogs for when we leave them off leash or they get lost. In fact, many brands have released accessories (collars, harnesses, etc.) to locate one of these devices on our pets. But beware, there are dangers associated with this practice according to a Wall Street Journal article.
With a diameter of 31.9 millimeters and a thickness of only 8, the AirTags easily fit these prepared dog collars, but this size also makes tracking devices are small enough for our restless pets to play with and even swallow, at least one medium or large dog. With a quick internet search, you will be able to see several cases where owners are reporting the same thing, that their dogs have swallowed an AirTag.
One of these testimonies collected in the Wall Street Journal is that of a dog owner, Colin Mortimer, who told the newspaper that the AirTag from the collar of his dog Sophie had disappeared. He located it with the Find My app and made it play a sound, whose whistle came from the belly of his other female dog, Sassy. Sassy was able to eject (by not entirely hygienic methods) the still-functioning AirTag, but keep in mind that sometimes these incidents may require surgery.
Apple does not recommend using AirTags to track pets or kids (and also commented this to track anyone’s location) and actually said that’s not something people should be doing since AirTags were designed to track objects only. AirTags swallowed by a living being can pass through the digestive system safely, but there may be complications if the AirTag breaks apart.
This is due to the fact inside the AirTag there is a battery (button) and, if damaged, some batteries may leak a substance that can damage an animal’s stomach or mouth if the battery is chewed, or even cause poisoning. Ann Hohenhaus, a veterinarian at Schwarzmann Animal Medical Center in New York, said if a dog eats an AirTag, it should be removed “as soon as possible”.
So if you are a dog owner and decide to put an AirTag on a pet collar, it is best to look for one that is as safe as possible, without any components while the dog can reach or bite. There are many AirTag dog collar options on the market, but these products are not endorsed or recommended by Apple and should be used with caution.
