How do I know if my dog has eaten a foreign body?
Most pets that have ingested a foreign body will exhibit some of these clinical signs:
After obtaining a thorough medical history, your veterinarian will perform a careful physical examination. If a foreign body is suspected, abdominal radiographs (X-rays) will be performed. Several views or a series of specialized X-rays using contrast material (barium or other radiographic dye) will often be necessary. In addition, your veterinarian may recommend blood and urine tests to assess whether the patients health has been compromised by the obstruction, or to rule-out other causes of vomiting such as pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, infections, or hormonal diseases such as Addisons disease.
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Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM has 30 years of experience as a veterinarian. His love of dogs and passion for natural healing and nutrition led him to writing, teaching and helping people create health naturally, without drugs, chemicals and processed food.
The pit was large and flat and it was unlikely to go further than the stomach. I thought if we made Barkley throw up, it could get stuck in the esophagus. We had to find a way that would make the mango pit slippery enough to make it slip out without complications.
I suggested he cook two cups of squash, make a puree and add 1/3 cup of flaxseed steeped in the same amount of hot water. The flax seed made the whole mixture slimy and slippery, which was perfect to make the pit slide out.
To make Barkley throw up, we gave him hydrogen peroxide – (to be given just before feeding- see dosing below). When peroxide reacts with stomach juices it bubbles up, which makes most dogs throw up.
My friend and I agreed that he would call me if there was any news and that he would also be ready to see the local vet in the unlikely case that the pit gets stuck. Finally, an hour later, I received a text message from Elan: “Peter, call me!”
“Oh no,” I thought, “Barkley may be in trouble!” I called right away, anxiously waiting for an answer. “Peter, we got the pit! ” my friend proclaimed victoriously.
We were both ecstatic. Barkley didn’t need to go under the knife. Also, one squash, flax seed and a little bit of peroxide are definitely much less expensive than abdominal surgery!
This whole story prompted me to write a little more on foreign body ingestion because this was not the first time I have seen dogs eating strange things including a fine china plate with the dinner, 10 golf balls or a corn cob.
If your dog ingested a toxic substance or a poisonous plant or you are not sure what exactly went down Fido’s stomach, contact your local emergency care provider. Otherwise, read on.
1. Do you know what your dog ate? If the answer is NO and your dog has been repeatedly vomiting or having diarrhea for more than one day or appears to behave strangely, contact your vet immediately. IF the answer is YES you know what your dog ate, go to step 2.
2. Is your dog drooling? If the answer is YES, the object may be stuck in the esophagus or your dog ate a toxin. You should see your vet immediately. If the answer is NO go to STEP 3
3. The size of the object is more than 1.5 inches in diameter If the object is larger than 1.5 inches in diameter, it is unlikely that it would pass further in the small intestine. If your dog appears to be fine and is calm, you can use the following protocol.
Prepare the following mixture and feed to your dog;
You should see vomiting within 30 minutes and hopefully you will be the lucky winner. If your dog doesn’t throw up and appears fine, go to step 4.
4. The foreign body is smaller than 1.5 inches If your dog is not vomiting and appears to be fine, feed him the following mixture:
Feed this meal for two to three days. Many foreign bodies pass with no problem.
5. If your dog is restless, or vomiting more than once or having diarrhea for more than 24 hours, see your veterinarian.
6. If you know that your puppy or adult dog likes to chew on things, keep it confined in a dog pen when away or in a room free of hazardous objects. If you are put in a situation where surgery may be needed, never go for an exploratory surgery, unless the foreign body was confirmed. Barium radiographs, ultrasound or endoscopy are the first diagnostic steps that need to be taken. Foreign bodies in the stomach can often be removed endoscopically to avoid the surgical trauma and risks. If you find that your veterinarian is suggesting surgery while your dog appears fine or a foreign body was not confirmed, seek a second opinion.
7. Your dog may be eating objects because he is missing nutrients I often find that dogs are very good at telling us that there is something missing in their food. Soil depletion in agriculture often causes severe nutritional deficits that manifest in dogs scavenging. The best way to prevent this from happening is to feed wholesome, non processed raw or cooked diet and supplements. Here are the essential supplements that my patients and my dog Skai get.
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Disclosure Statement: Please note that the above information is not intended to replace the care of experienced healthcare provider or treat any medical condition.
Instructions For Using the Different Forms of Slippery Elm
Slippery Elm is said to relieve inflammation of virtually any mucus membrane so use 1/4 teaspoon mixed with cold water for each 10 pounds of body weight. This mucilage can be mixed into food daily until the inflammation has subsided.
What can I feed my dog to help pass a foreign object?
If you’ve ever found a lost sock while scooping the backyard, then this week’s blog is for you. Whether your pet likes to ‘dumpster dive’ in your trash can when theyre home alone, or just can’t resist a delicious dirty sock, read this blog on intestinal foreign bodies for everything you need to know when the object doesn’t pass on its own:
Humans may never truly understand the appeal of eating a pair of socks, but eating inedible objects is a popular bad habit among pets, especially dogs. Some of the most common objects wrongfully ingested by pets include:
The answer to this question in most cases is, because they want to. There is a medical condition called pica, a craving for unnatural articles of food, that can influence a pet to eat things they shouldn’t; alternatively, pets that suffer from anxiety may resort to chewing or other destructive behaviors to cope with their stress, which can result in the accidental ingestion of foreign material. Medical conditions like pica are often behavioral, but can also be caused by malnutrition or intestinal parasites. Keeping up with your pet’s annual lab work and intestinal parasite check can help rule out a physiological component to pica.
A foreign body is any inedible object that is orally ingested by your pet. Whether it’s chicken bones from the trash, rocks from the yard, or a single string from their favorite toy, a foreign body is unable to be digested by your pet and poses risk for a gastric or intestinal blockage. While some foreign bodies can pass on their own, a gastric or intestinal blockage occurs when the object is unable to pass and is lodged somewhere in the GI tract and will not move.
In addition to interrupting normal digestive processes, the stuck object can cause irreparable damage to the intestines. Foreign objects can cause bruising, tissue death, and may even tear the intestines, which can lead to infection and complications. Cloth material, nylon leashes, shoe strings, and string toys are especially dangerous and cause a linear foreign body. Linear foreign bodies are dangerous because any string-like foreign body can cause the intestines to bunch up when trying to move the object along, causing the intestines to fold in on themselves.
What should I do if I know or suspect that my pet has ingested a foreign object?
If you know your pet has ingested a foreign object, call your vet immediately. When dealing with ingested objects, acting quickly is key. The more time that passes after the object is ingested, the trickier the removal of that object may be. Depending on the object ingested and how much time has passed, your vet may be able to induce vomiting. We do not recommend inducing vomiting at home unless instructed to do so by your vet.
If you suspect your pet may have eaten an object but aren’t sure, watch closely for the following symptoms:
If your pet begins to demonstrate any of these symptoms, call your vet immediately. An exam and radiographs may be performed to identify blockage. Sometimes, the object itself may be visible on the radiographs; however, things like socks, string, and other soft materials can be difficult to distinguish on x-rays. Luckily, radiographs can show whether or not there is an obstructive pattern in the bowel, which helps your vet determine if surgical removal of the object is required.
The radiographs confirmed that my pet has a foreign body. Do I have our vet perform surgery or wait to see if the object will pass on its own?
The answer to this question is entirely dependent on your vet’s recommendation. In some cases, surgery is the only option and waiting for the object to pass on its own is not an option. Surgery should be performed as soon as possible to remove the object and assess the damage to your pet’s intestines. If too much time has passed and the damage to parts of the intestine are significant, your vet may need to remove parts of your pet’s intestine.
In other cases, the foreign object may be visible but is not currently causing an obstruction. Your vet may give you the option to have your pet closely monitored while allowing your pet the chance to pass the object naturally. Hospitalization will often be recommended during this time. Pets with foreign bodies often show signs of vomiting or loss of appetite, and hospitalization will allow your pet to receive IV fluids to rehydrate (and help move things along) and IV medications to help with nausea and discomfort. Helping your pet’s appetite return is key, as your vet will recommend frequent feedings of a high-fiber food to help the object pass. Your vet may recommend repeat radiographs until the object has passed to ensure that the object hasn’t moved to an obstructive position.
Unfortunately, there is no way for a pet to make the association between their unhealthy eating habits and an expensive surgery. While ingesting a foreign object may be a one-time thing for some pets, many pets who eat foreign objects tend to be ‘serial eaters’ and may require close supervision. If your pet is known to ingest objects they find around the house when you aren’t home, crate training is strongly recommended.
When crating your pet, do not leave toys or other bedding that your pet tends to chew on in the crate. Avoid leaving down any bedding made of fabric that your pet likes to chew on or shred with their teeth. Replace any towels or blankets that are being chewed on, have frayed edges, or are made up of stringy fibers.
If your pet tends to get into the trash cans when you aren’t looking, child-proof locks can be used to ensure the lids stay closed. Child-proof devices can also be used if your too-smart-for-their-own-good pet is capable of getting into cabinets and drawers.
Pets who can’t resist eating mulch, sticks, and rocks in the backyard may not be able to venture outside alone. If rocks are an essential part of your landscape, use larger rocks (rather than small pebbles or pea gravel) that are difficult to chew or ingest. Alternatively, limit their yard time and let them experience the great outdoors on a supervised walk instead!
Arguably, items such as socks, underwear, and shoes can be the hardest to keep pets away from – especially in households with children. Using laundry hampers, keeping the doors to the kid’s rooms shut, and keeping shoes in a designated closet or out-of-reach place can help limit the number of stray socks left behind on the floor for your pet to eat.