Socks, toy pieces, corn cobs, hair ties, string: curious pets swallow all sorts of things. Many pass through without trouble, but when an object gets stuck in the stomach or intestines, it needs to come out quickly. Here's what to watch for and what surgery involves.
Signs can start within hours or build over a few days, depending on where the object is stuck. Watch for:
We start with an exam and X-rays. Not every object shows up on X-ray, so an ultrasound or repeat X-rays may be needed to confirm a blockage. Some objects can safely pass on their own with monitoring. If the object is stuck, or causing vomiting and pain, surgery is needed. Under general anesthesia, the object is removed through a small incision in the stomach or intestine. If part of the intestine has been damaged by pressure from the object, that section is removed and the healthy ends are joined back together. We check the entire digestive tract before closing, in case there's more than one item.
Your pet receives pain relief and intravenous fluids throughout, and typically stays in hospital for one to three days until they're eating and keeping food down.
In hospital with fluids, pain relief and small, bland meals, slowly increased as your pet shows they can keep food down.
This is the most important period to watch closely, as it's when problems with the intestinal repair are most likely to show. Call us straight away if your pet starts vomiting, stops eating, seems lethargic, or has a painful belly.
Small, frequent bland meals, gradually switching back to your pet's normal food. Leash walks only, and a cone to protect the incision.
Recheck and stitch removal at 14 days, then a return to normal diet and activity.
Everything above covers what most owners need. If you'd like to know more about the risks and how to prevent a repeat, this section walks through it.
String, thread, ribbon, tinsel and dental floss are called "linear" foreign bodies. One end often catches under the tongue or in the stomach while the rest moves on, making the intestines bunch up like a gathered curtain. The string can then cut through the intestinal wall. This is why pulling on visible string is so risky, and why cats, who love to play with it, are commonly affected.
A blockage can cut off blood supply to the intestine, and the damaged section can tear, leaking gut contents into the abdomen (peritonitis). The sooner a blocked object is removed, the simpler the surgery and the smoother the recovery.
In dogs: socks, underwear, toy pieces, corn cobs, bones, fruit pits and rocks. In cats: string, hair ties, ribbon, tinsel and elastic bands. Dogs who have swallowed something once are more likely to do it again.
Most pets recover well. The main risk is leakage from the intestinal repair, most likely in the first few days, which is why we watch closely and ask you to call with any concerns. Other possible issues include infection and a temporary slowdown of gut movement.
Keep laundry, hair ties and small toys out of reach, choose chew toys too large to swallow, and supervise with new toys. Be extra careful with string, ribbon and tinsel around the holidays. For dogs who habitually swallow things, we're happy to talk through training and management ideas.
Sometimes, yes. Whether it's safe to wait depends on what was swallowed, its size and where it is. An exam and X-rays help us make that call safely.
Sometimes, if the object was swallowed recently and is safe to bring back up. This should only be done in the clinic, not at home without veterinary advice.
It depends on where the object is and whether any intestine needs to be removed. We'll give you a clear estimate before surgery.
Management and training both help, and it's worth ruling out underlying causes too. We're happy to talk it through at your next visit.
