Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital Â© 2012 / What Goes in Just Might Come Back Up

What Goes in Just Might Come Back Up

by Shannon M. Pecora, M.A.

Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital

Pets eat things. From plants to underpants, anything around the house might look appealing to a hungry (or even just bored) pet. Often, obedience training and access to appropriate food, treats, and toys can prevent improper snacking. But what happens if one day a sock goes missing…and Fido was the last one in the laundry room…uh-oh!

Well, whatever goes in needs to come out somehow. Litter boxes and back yards can attest to that. However, it is not likely that the missing sock will pass through quite as easily as kibble or dog biscuits. You may notice diarrhea if your pet eats something out of the ordinary, but, in fact, that something may not pass through at all. Your pet may vomit until the culprit item comes up, whole or in pieces. Or, even worse, the item may become lodged at any point from the mouth to the trachea to the small intestine. This case can require surgical intervention.

So, best-case scenario, if a pet eats a toy or household object, it may pass in due time. However, if it causes diarrhea or vomiting, this can, in turn, lead to dehydration and other related complications. Furthermore, blockages requiring surgical removal then give rise to anesthetic and infection risks. And, worst-case scenario, eating something sharp or poisonous or getting an object stuck in the digestive or respiratory tract can be fatal. This means that a pet who eats a non-food object probably needs immediate medical attention, even if he or she seems to be “acting fine.” The veterinary team will likely want to run blood work and take x-rays to see what ill-effects the object may be causing or if it is lodged anywhere in the body. Additionally, you may need to call a pet poison hotline, such as the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (800) 213-6680 (have ready a credit card for the consult fee; a description of the ingested item; a pen and paper for instructions and case number; and your pet’s age, breed, and weight). Bottom line, err on the side of caution; don’t wait for the sock to pass safely as it may actually be doing internal damage.

A pet treating the clothes hamper like a cookie jar might seem funny, but it really can be quite serious. If you even suspect that your pet has ingested a non-food item, seek veterinary attention right away. You’ll want to make sure that whatever went in safely makes it way back out!