How can I help my dog pass a sock? Simple and Effective Tips

Veterinary Strategies and Treatments

Upon arriving at the vet’s office, the staff will assess your pooch’s vitals and take a history.

They will ask several questions about the incident, your dog’s general health, and, of course, the sock. For example, a thick wool sock may require different treatment strategies than a cotton tennis sock would.

Your vet will then move on to a physical examination, including a visual inspection of the mouth and throat. He or she will also palpate your dog’s abdomen to check for rigidity or pain.

X-rays will usually be ordered to help determine the location of the sock, although it may be possible to see the sock with an endoscope – a long, flexible camera your vet can slip down your dog’s throat – if it hasn’t passed very far into the digestive tract.

From there, the vet and his or her staff will treat your dog based on her symptoms, apparent level of distress, and the location of the sock. If the sock is small and your dog is large, they may encourage you to simply monitor her condition and hope that it passes on its own. At other times, they may encourage vomiting in hopes that your dog will just barf the thing up.

If the sock appears stuck or unlikely to pass on its own, your vet may try to remove it physically. In a best-case scenario, the sock will be stuck in your dog’s stomach. In such cases, your vet may be able to use an endoscope (with a special attachment) to reach in, grab the sock, and yank it out (gently).

If, however, the sock has already passed into the intestines, endoscopic removal is rarely possible. It can be difficult to reach, and it may be wrapped around various portions of the intestines. When this occurs, conventional surgery is often the only viable solution.

Vets try to avoid open surgery whenever possible due to the risks and costs associated with the procedure. Additionally, putting a dog through this kind of operation can be quite traumatic and requires a lengthy recovery.

That said, in some cases, your vet may feel that it is wiser to go in and get the sock while your dog’s GI tract is still healthy and therefore more likely to recover from the ordeal quickly.

After your vet removes the sock, he or she may administer fluids to help prevent dehydration and prescribe antibiotics to fight off any infections. Your vet will probably ask you to come back for a follow-up visit to ensure that your dog seems to be healing properly and on the road to recovery.

How can I help my dog pass a sock?

If your dog ate a sock, here’s what happens to that sock

Whether your dog ate a sock or some other item he has no business swallowing, several things might happen. If the dog is big and the item is small like a sock, the dog might simply vomit it back up — either right away or a day or two later. If that doesn’t happen, it’s possible that the dog might pass the sock and eventually poop it out. This could take several days, and you will want to take a close look every time your dog poops to check for the sock.

In some cases, if your dog ate a sock, the item might even become stuck in the stomach. “When the stomach empties, food will go first and indigestible objects go last,” Dr. Diehl explains. “Items can stay in a dog’s stomach and cause periodic problems. They got them down but they can’t throw them up, and they’re too big to go into the intestine, so they bounce around and cause some discomfort. These dogs usually become chronic vomiters.”

Problems Caused by a Swallowed Sock

Socks may seem relatively benign, but they can actually wreak considerable havoc while traveling through your dog’s digestive tract. They’ll occasionally pass through a dog’s digestive system without much trouble, but it is always a situation to take seriously.

Socks – like most other fabrics or garments – will absorb moisture while in your dog’s body. This can cause the sock to swell up and become stuck.

This type of obstruction can prevent the normal passage of food and water through your pet’s system, resulting in symptoms like nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and diarrhea, among others.

If the sock isn’t removed quickly, it can press against the sides of the intestines, cutting off the flow of blood. This can cause the intestinal tissue to die, a potentially life-threatening condition which can necessitate expensive and invasive surgery to repair.

Socks can also scrape the inside surfaces of your dog’s intestines, which can lead to ulcers or perforations. This is particularly likely when the threads of the sock unravel. As the threads stretch out, they can be repeatedly pulled in opposite directions by the involuntary contractions of the intestinal tract. This type of repeated back-and-forth motion may rip your dog’s insides to shreds.

Choking is also a serious concern. A wet, swollen sock can block your dog’s windpipe, which will make it difficult for your dog to breathe and likely trigger quite a bit of panic.

Dog Eats a Sock: Obstruction Signs and 3 Remedies

Most dogs know the difference between eating objects and food. But we all know those naughty pooches who are prone to eating things they shouldn’t. If this resonates with you and you are reading this thinking “yep, I have a dog like that, and he just ate a sock!” then this article is for you.

There are all sorts of things that dogs have been known to eat. Common culprits include tennis balls, toys, dishcloths, and various pieces of clothing. One of the most common items that pet dogs swallow is socks.

If this happens, there is the possibility that it may lead to a blockage in your dog’s intestines. This is why it’s important to know what to do if your canine companion does happen to swallow a sock. You’ll want to act quickly to prevent a blockage, and time is of the essence. Let’s look at what you can expect, and your next steps.