Why the 8 kg terrier needs watching now
The peel oils in that lime wedge are already coating your terrier's mouth and stomach lining. For a small dog, even one wedge delivers a concentrated dose of irritants. Watch for the first signs: excessive lip-licking, then thick drool that strings between his jaws. These usually appear within two hours but can take up to six. The 15 kg dog isn't in the clear yet — check his gums for redness in case he nibbled without you seeing.
Your terrier may try to rub his face on furniture or paw at his mouth as the oils burn. Don't panic if he vomits once or twice — that's his body trying to clear the irritant. What matters is whether vomiting continues past four hours or he can't keep water down. The larger dog needs no intervention unless you spot him actually chewing lime later today.
Handling two dogs with different risks
Separate their water bowls temporarily. The unaffected dog can drink normally, but offer the terrier ice chips first — the cold helps soothe mouth irritation while limiting how much he gulps at once. If he laps water too fast after the lime's acidity, it might trigger more vomiting. Keep both dogs indoors where you can monitor their bathroom breaks.
Diarrhea often follows vomiting with citrus ingestion. For the terrier, expect possibly loose stools in 8-12 hours. The peel's fibrous material can irritate the intestines too. Your other dog should show zero symptoms unless he secretly ate some — in which case his larger size means symptoms would be milder, maybe just slight drooling.
When to involve the vet for the smaller dog
Two specific scenarios warrant a vet call for your 8 kg terrier: if he produces more than three vomiting episodes in an hour, or if his drool turns from clear to frothy white. The latter suggests the oils are causing significant saliva gland irritation. Small dogs dehydrate faster, so watch for sticky gums or skin that tents when gently pinched.
For peace of mind, check his gums now — they should be bubblegum pink, not bright red or pale. Lime acidity can sometimes cause temporary gum inflammation. If he's still playful and taking water by the three-hour mark, he'll likely process this without help. But have his vet's number ready in case midnight vomiting starts.
Preventing future lime incidents
Dogs often target limes left on coffee tables or in trash bins after parties. The terrier's smaller size makes him more likely to explore unstable surfaces. Store citrus fruits high up or inside sealed containers — not just fridge drawers, which some dogs learn to open. Both your dogs may now associate limes with interesting smells, so rinse any glasses that held lime wedges immediately.
Watch for behavioral changes in the terrier over the next 48 hours. Some dogs develop temporary aversion to acidic smells after such an incident, while others curiously seek them again. Train both dogs with a firm "leave it" command using low-risk items like apple cores before testing with citrus peels during supervised sessions.
The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Lime food facts page.