What to Do if My Dog Swallowed a Bouncy Ball?
If you are completely sure it happened, you might be asking what to do. Keeping calm and calling the vet is key.
My Dog Ate A Rubber Ball – Can You Tell My Why?
There are a variety of reasons why dogs will eat rubber balls, and one of those reasons is that dogs are curious and love exploring…
When dogs explore, they lead with their nose or mouth. So it’s not uncommon for them to eat or swallow foreign objects (like socks and toys)…
On top of that, when dogs are in the puppy stage, they will try putting everything into their mouths to test out what’s acceptable and what’s not…
They basically try to figure out what will happen when they chew certain items like sticks, shoes, and other objects…
This type of exploration is known as Neurosensory Exploration, and even though most dogs will grow out of the Neurosensory Exploration stage…
…there are some breeds such as Pit Bulls, Labs, and Golden Retrievers, that will continue to eat toys and rubber balls throughout life.
Another reason why your dog may eat a rubber ball is due to boredom…
If a dog is feeling lonely or understimulated, then he or she might engage in misbehaviors such as eating and shredding…
These behaviors are your dog’s way of telling you that he or she misses you and needs more attention from you…
And if you suspect that this is the case, I recommend you check out this because it will keep your dog happy, healthy, and entertained all day long…
Dogs can also eat rubber balls because they feel the need to dominate their toys…
This domination behavior stems from how dogs behaved in the wild, as dogs would dominate one another to establish the pack order…
Dogs also dominate smaller animals that they catch and kill for food. So, dogs will sometimes dominate their toys by shredding and eating them, and rubber balls are no exception…
Last, Pica is another potential reason why your dog ate a rubber ball. Pica is a disorder that causes dogs to have cravings for things that have absolutely no nutritional value…
Along with rubber balls, dogs will eat paper, rocks, underwear, and other items around the house.
My Dog Swallowed a Rubber Band—Now What?
The answer could depend on how big your dog is and the size of the rubber band, and how many he ate. Rubber bands come in many sizes, and in small or large packages. It’s common to drop a rubber band, on the floor and never find it, though your fur baby may eventually happen upon it!
For medium- to large-sized dogs, swallowing one small rubber band probably won’t cause a problem. The small rubber band will likely just pass through your fur baby’s digestive system with no problem.
However, if your dog is a smaller dog, then the rubber band could cause a choking hazard or even become lodged in his intestines, causing an intestinal blockage. This is a medical emergency, so you’ll need to call the vet immediately.
For larger dogs, if they eat a large number of rubber bands, this can also cause them to become ill and/or develop an intestinal blockage. The ball, or bits of the ball can also pose a choking hazard. Again, if you know the dog has eaten a lot of rubber bands, you’ll need to call the vet immediately, as the bands could cause an intestinal blockage.
FAQ
What happens if a dog swallows a bouncy ball?
Can a dog pass a rubber ball?
Can my dog pass a small ball?
How long does it take for a dog to pass a ball?