What Are Foreign Bodies And Where Do They Come From?
A foreign body is anything your dog ingests that does not belong inside a dog. The items can range from rocks to socks and everything in between. While some may “pass through” without incident, others require veterinary interaction to keep your dog healthy. Adolescent dogs of all sizes tend to lead the foreign body surgery counts.
Some of the most common foreign bodies are rocks, toys, socks and coins. All of these have the potential to cause an obstruction, and coins can leach toxic heavy metals into your young dog’s system that cause poisoning.
Your dog’s mouth and esophagus are both able to handle bigger items than your dog’s intestines. Fairly large objects may be swallowed and end up in the stomach–where they stay. Some are able to get into the intestines. A few of these objects, if they are soft enough or small enough, may pass on through and come out in the stool. Many others get stuck somewhere along the intestinal tract. While a sock may pass through a Great Dane, it will certainly get stuck in a Bichon Frise.
Signs Your Young Dog Ate Something He Shouldn’t
Generally the first thing families will notice if their dog ate a foreign body is vomiting. If you are lucky, your dog will vomit up whatever crazy thing he ate. If not, you may be looking at surgery. Along with vomiting, many dogs will lose their appetite and get dehydrated. They may show abdominal pain and act depressed.
If you notice something missing and your dog is vomiting, definitely contact your veterinarian. Dogs have swallowed some amazing things–including shish kabob skewers! Check out the annual contest for bizarre things pets have swallowed.
What clinical signs and symptoms will I notice if my pet has ingested a foreign body?
The clinical signs observed vary significantly and depend on the degree of obstruction, location, duration, and type of foreign body. Commonly noted signs include:
How to Make a Dog Throw Up (Safely and Quickly)
Ever place a piece of food down only to turn around and find it missing? You wonder if you’ve lost your mind, but then you see your dog eying you guiltily. Oh, dogs. Anything that tastes remotely good can be at risk for disappearing down their gullet.
Sometimes, non-food items are at risk of disappearing. Toys, socks, trash — basically anything lying around your house can be a possible snack in your dog’s eyes. Rescue dogs that were starving at some point in their life can also develop ‘the gobbles’, where they will overeat if given the opportunity and swallow things they shouldn’t. Let’s take a look at what to do when your dog swallows a foreign object.
Finding out exactly what foreign object your dog ate is imperative in deciding whether you need to seek veterinarian help or not. For toxic substances, like antifreeze, large amounts of chocolate for your dog’s size, or foods containing xylitol, you should get professional help as soon as possible. For more advice on what to do when poisons have been ingested, call the ASPCA poison control at 888-426-4435 for guidance.
Let’s say you came home to your nearly-full garbage bag torn apart and its contents are spread all over the place. You’re not exactly sure what trash items may have been gobbled up by your pup. Some non-food items that are small enough will be able to pass through your pet’s digestive system unimpeded. Hopefully, your dog has torn the item, like a food wrapper, into small enough pieces that it will come out the other end without issues.
So, your dog ate a large foreign object, like a sock or a stuffed animal. Larger objects can get stuck anywhere in the digestive system from the esophagus to the intestines, to the stomach. Large objects will likely need veterinary assistance, and possibly surgery, to be removed. They may induce vomiting to expel the foreign object your dog ate.
Remember, younger dogs will try to eat almost anything. Be conscientious about what you leave lying around the house. If they get into too much trouble while you aren’t home, consider crate training for their safety. If your dog ate a foreign object and you are unsure of what to do, give your vet a call. They will give you advice on whether to bring them in for an emergency visit or not.
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