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Sweet Dog
Health & prevention

My dog has swallowed an object

6 min read

Your dog has just swallowed an object? Stay calm. Never make him vomit and don't pull on anything sticking out. Quickly work out what, when and how much, then call your vet or a poison control centre without waiting for symptoms: only they can judge whether to monitor, X-ray or step in.

Why every hour counts

A swallowed object can block the digestive tract. This obstruction can prove fatal within 24 to 48 hours if nothing is done (MSD Veterinary Manual). The time it takes to pass through ranges from a few hours to several weeks, and some objects never come out: so don't bet on "it'll sort itself out".

The right moves, straight away

Four simple steps, in order, while you wait for your vet's advice.

1

Make things safe and stay calm

Move your dog away from anything else he could swallow. If you have an identical object (the matching sock, the same piece of a toy), keep it to show your vet.

2

Note what, when and how much

The object, the time he swallowed it and the estimated amount shape the whole course of care.

3

Look in his mouth without forcing it

You can remove by hand an object that is clearly visible and easy to grasp, without forcing it. If it's at the back of the throat or stuck fast, don't persist: no blind fingers, you would push the object further down.

4

Call your vet or a poison control centre

Without waiting for symptoms. Describe the situation and follow their instructions: monitor, image or come in right away.

Linear foreign bodies (string, thread, wool, elastic, ribbon, dental floss) are the most dangerous: one end gets stuck, the intestine bunches up around it and the thread can saw through it. If a thread is sticking out, never pull, head to the vet.

The riskiest objects

Not all swallowed objects are equal. Some families call for the utmost vigilance.

Utmost vigilance

String, thread, wool, elastic, ribbon, dental floss"Linear" foreign bodies: the intestine bunches up around it and the thread can saw through it.
Cooked bones, sticks, sharp objectsThey splinter into shards or lodge in the throat and digestive tract.
Socks, balls, pieces of toy, stones, pebbles, stoppersExactly the right size to block the intestine: risk of obstruction.

Also flag right away

Any toxic food or productChocolate, grapes, medicine, plant: call a poison control centre without waiting for symptoms.

The stick "picked up outside" is not a safe toy: go for a chew designed for this purpose, under supervision.

Spotting obstruction and an emergency

After he swallows it, watch for these signs appearing and pass them on to your vet.

Keep an eye on it
  • Your dog has swallowed an object but stays lively, eats and drinks
  • A one-off bout of vomiting, then he's back to his usual self
Call the vet
  • Repeated vomiting, refusing to eat
  • Listlessness, a painful or tense belly
  • No more stools or gas (transit has stopped)
  • Heavy, sudden drooling
Life-threatening emergency
  • Retching on an empty stomach with a belly that swells and hardens
  • Unable to breathe, blue gums, paws brought to the mouth
  • Collapse or an unsteady, staggering gait

Your dog is choking (he's panicking, bringing his paws to his mouth, his gums are turning blue), his belly is swelling with retching on an empty stomach, or you suspect a toxic object: this is a life-threatening emergency.

Do this right now
  • Keep him calm, don't put anything in his mouth blindly
  • Call the veterinary clinic or a poison control centre on the way there
  • Go now: for choking and stomach torsion, the outcome is decided in minutes
Call your vetor an animal poison control centre — without delay.

The assistant never replaces a vet. When in doubt, call.

  1. Gastrointestinal Foreign Bodies and Linear Foreign Bodies in Small Animals, MSD Veterinary Manual
  2. Pet First Aid: choking, ingestion, transporting an injured dog, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
  3. Animal Poison Control: what to do in case of ingestion, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my dog has swallowed something?

Often, you didn't see him do it. The signs that should alert you: repeated vomiting, refusing to eat, listlessness, a tense belly and no more stools. At the slightest doubt, call your vet: an X-ray can reveal an object you'd never suspect.

How do I know if my dog has swallowed a sock?

A sock sometimes disappears without anyone seeing it. Watch for vomiting, loss of appetite, a painful belly and a halt in transit. It's the perfect size to block the intestine: don't wait for it to come out, call the vet, who will judge whether imaging is needed.

What do I do when a dog swallows a wasp?

A sting in the mouth or throat can cause swelling and make breathing difficult. Watch for swelling of the face or lips, sudden drooling, difficulty breathing. At the slightest swelling or shortness of breath, it's an emergency: call and go. Don't give any human antihistamine off your own bat.

My dog has swallowed an object but he's fine, should I worry?

"He seems fine" doesn't mean "it's passed": the object can block further along with no immediate sign. Call your vet so they can decide whether to monitor or X-ray, and never make him vomit.

How long does it take for a dog to pass a swallowed object?

From a few hours to several weeks depending on the object, and some never pass (MSD Veterinary Manual). Don't watch the food bowl or the loo and hope: call the vet as soon as you have a doubt, it's for them to judge.

My dog has swallowed a piece of wood or a stone, is it serious?

Wood can split into splinters and a stone can block the intestine. Vomiting after chewing wood is nothing to shrug off. Watch for digestive signs and ask your vet's advice; never pull on a stuck piece.

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