Pets will swallow the darnedest things. They say, “The cat swallowed the canary,” but what about a dog swallowing a pair of panty hose or a hearing aid? Veterinarians say it’s often the least suspected household items like dental floss, socks or underwear that pets can find appealing.
“While some objects can pass naturally, others have a tendency to become compacted or lodged in pets’ gastrointestinal tracts, resulting in pain, vomiting, or internal injury. In those cases, surgery may be an immediate necessity,” says Dr. Jennifer Mlekoday. It’s not just the big stuff, either, she says, even things that seem too small to do damage like a Barbie® shoe can obstruct the narrow portions of the small intestine – especially if stomach acid is unable to break them down. Even uncooked chickpeas have completely obstructed the intestine and required immediate surgery.
According to Veterinary Pet Insurance, these are the Top 10 Most Common Swallowed Objects, (from No.1 to No. 10): Socks, underwear, panty hose, rocks, balls, chew toys, corn cobs, bones, hair ties and sticks. Signs a pet may have ingested a foreign object:
*Repeated Vomiting or Dry Heaving
*Sensitive or bloated stomach, pain to the touch
*Continued stretching or attempting to get comfortable
*Extreme Lethargy
*Not eating
Pet owners who suspect their pet has swallowed a foreign object should immediately bring the animal to the vet. A fast diagnosis and treatment lead to fewer complications and quicker recoveries for pets in trouble. Take a good look around the pet’s environment, using the pet’s point-of-view. Also, watch the sidewalk when out for a stroll. Look for discarded wrappers, Popsicle sticks, and even half-eaten fried chicken meals.
