Ingestion of foreign objects

Dogs are very curious animals and their inquisitive nature could quite lead them to trouble. They love to play, no doubt, but however, they also like to chew on their toys and, as a result, sometimes swallow harmful objects that can affect their health. It is important that you protect your dog from ingesting dangerous foreign objects.

Any material that is not food, when ingested, results in serious digestive problems. These swallowed substances could get lodged in the stomach and intestines creating an obstruction. Commonly ingested non-food items include toys, string, clothing, and plastic. Ingestion “accidents” are quite common in young dogs less than 2 years of age.

While satisfying his curiosity, the dog may unintentionally ingest some or all of the material. Although some smaller foreign bodies can pass through the gut without getting stuck and causing a problem, the larger pieces can result in serious gastrointestinal complications.

As a dog care professional, I have watched several young dogs pass “surprises” along with their poop; used condoms, women's sanitary products, underwear, socks, paper towels, plastic shopping bags, loose nuts, metal objects, pieces of wooden pencils, twigs, pebbles, chewed up credit cards, plastic water bottle caps, all these are just a short list.

If you think that your dog might have ingested something, watch out for behavioral changes. In most cases, dogs usually show signs of gastrointestinal upset. If your dog refuses to eat, begins vomiting, drooling or has abnormal bowel movements, contact your veterinarian. In some instances, you may notice a foreign object, such as a string, protruding from the rectum. Do not try to pull the object out – you might cause further bleeding and damange. Immediately consult your vet.

The best way to prevent your dog from ingesting foreign bodies is to prevent access to objects that could be swallowed. Keep dangerous objects away from your dog; never let him play with things that are not his toys.

If you suspect that your dog may have ingested something that may not pass through his intestinal tract, contact your veterinarian. Waiting until your pet starts to vomit will just make the situation go from bad to worse.