How Do You Tell if a Dog Has a Blockage From Eating the String From a Rope Toy?
Anything that becomes lodged in a dog’s stomach, including bones, toys, and food scraps they have chewed up, might cause a blockage.
An esophageal obstruction occurs when your dog consumes anything that becomes lodged in its esophagus or throat.
Gastrointestinal obstruction is what is experienced when a foreign object becomes lodged lower down in the intestines.
Keep an eye out for these typical blockage signals.
Your dog might not want to eat if he has an obstruction.
It can hurt him to swallow if the object is lodged in his throat or esophagus.
Food won’t simply go down when he is having difficulty swallowing, and he will quit eating altogether.
It’s not always a sign that your dog has an obstruction if he only throws up once or twice.
But you should take him to the vet immediately if the vomiting continues, especially if there is bile or blood in it.
One method he might be attempting to get rid of anything lodged in his throat or esophagus is through vomiting.
The obstruction won’t be removed by vomiting, though, if it enters any deeper into his digestive system.
Instead, you’ll notice symptoms like fatigue and loss of appetite.
The Dangers of Rope Dog Toys
Chewing is natural in dogs, unfortunately, the tragic history of some rope toys points to a more serious reality than many people realize. Rope dog toys can be dangerous in three different ways.
The toy is too small and can be swallowed, obstructing the throat.
The first danger is that the toy is too small for your dog. If a rope is too small, your pooch could swallow it whole. In the best-case scenario, this can cause digestive issues and obstruct the bowels, which can even necessitate surgery.
In the worst cases, it can obstruct your canine companions airways and choke them to death. A tiny ball meant for small breeds should not be provided to a Labrador. Always ensure you’re purchasing the right size toy for your size pup.
Because doggos come in all sizes, we developed three different dog ropes: two-knot, three-knot, and four-knot. Theres one for your dog, no matter their size.
The toy is made of synthetic or toxic materials.
This should not come as a shock to any pet parent but unfortunately, the world of pet supplies is fraught with danger, as suppliers around the world put cheap manufacturing costs over the safety of our pet pals.
Read More Dog Care Guides
But, are rope dog toys really safe? The truth of the matter is yes and no.
As with many dog toys, and really just about any household item, it will all depend on your dog’s personality and attitude towards objects around them as well as the construction and materials used in their toys.
The former, while manageable, may not be changed easily, the latter is completely within your control.
In terms of the behavior and personality of your fur baby, always consider:
Some dogs arent very damaging at all, while others seemingly arent happy unless theyve destroyed at least two toys every day.
Its all part of their personality! Working around that personality is a key part of training your dogs chewing habits.
Dog Rope Toy Dangers + Linear Foreign Bodies – Dog Health Vet Advice
If your dog chews on a rope toy, the odds are that he’s also swallowing pieces of that rope, to a greater or lesser extent. One single strand pulled off a rope toy can cause devastating internal injuries to your dog. Let me tell you the story of one of my customers’ dogs, Dougal.
Dougal’s Story Dougal’s owner got in touch with me just this last week and asked if I would be willing to raise awareness on the dangers of rope toys for dogs. Of course, I am more than happy to. There are a lot of similar stories out there and they do occasionally make the headlines.
There are risks involved in much of what we and our pets do. The key thing is that we need to be aware of those risks, understand what can go wrong and, if you choose to continue to allow rope toys, at least you know to be vigilant.
“Dougal had several of these [rope toys], the kind with twisted rope with knots at intervals. Unknown to us, he had bitten off a chunk of rope and then swallowed it. It was only when he stopped eating and drinking that we were aware of something wrong.
To cut a long story short, it had got stuck in his intestines and he needed an emergency operation to remove it. Peritonitis had set in by this point and we were very lucky indeed that he survived. The vet removed 10cm of rope, so we are not sure how he managed to swallow it! … Needless to say, his remaining rope toys are now in the bin. We had no idea such toys could be so dangerous, but our vet said it’s not uncommon.”
Strands of rope that become detached from a rope toy and then swallowed are referred to as ‘linear foreign bodies’ by the veterinary profession; they are among the most devastating things a dog can swallow. Once the strand of rope gets into the small intestine, it is virtually impossible for it to pass naturally. This irritates the intestine and often causes peristalsis – the action of the intestine passing waste along the digestive tract – to cease or contract spasmodically. Your dog either stops eating altogether or is frequently sick following meals as the only way for the food to go is back up. Once you get your dog to the vet and she has him in the operating theatre, the vet will usually have to make several separate incisions into the small intestine in order to remove the strand in its entirety as the muscles of the intestinal wall will be gripping the rope.
Equally, a dog that regularly swallows just small pieces of rope can encounter serious issues, such as a blocked intestine, as these sodden rope fragments can collect together – much like hair clogging up the shower drain.
If you wish for your dog to continue to play with his rope toys, it’s best to stick to playing interactive games with them, rather than letting him have free access; especially if they are a chewer.