My cat swallowed a hair tie. What should I watch for and how to help?

Oh no, Nina! Fortunately it was a small piece, but yes, this could still be a cause for concern for causing an intestinal obstruction. Closely monitor Nina for signs of vomiting, lethargy or a loss of appetite. If you observe anything abnormal, you will need to take Nina to a vet immediately for evaluation. Also monitor her stool to watch for signs of the hair tie passing. You may not see it, but it doesn't hurt to look to be sure that it passes. I hope that all goes well!

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Franklin. I'd just keep an eye on him for now. Since it is fabric, it may pass without problems. Monitor him for signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, or lethargy. If you see any of those signs, then he will need to see a vet. I hope this helps!

If Chewy is acting normal so far, I wouldn't be concerned just yet - the hair tie could possibly cause an obstruction, but there's a good chance that it will pass through without causing any problems. Signs of a possible obstruction would include repeated episodes of vomiting, not wanting to eat, and acting lethargic - if he develops any of these symptoms, I would have him seen by a vet right away. But as long as he is acting normal, eating and drinking with no vomiting, I wouldn't worry. In most cases, objects like this will pass through within 2-3 days of being swallowed; you can look for it in his stool so that you'll know once it's safely out :)

You should be looking for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and anorexia. Those are signs of a foreign body ingestion causing an obstruction. You can also take PJ into a vet now to get x-rays to look for them. Best of luck.

Yes you always have to be worried with potential foreign body ingestions. Hair ties are pretty small so the chance that they can cause blockages are slim, but they can still get stuck in the intestines and cause problems There are two possibilities at this point: 1) There is another hair tie still in there ( this will take some deductive reasoning in your part) that is stuck. 2) All hair ties have been expelled and your pet now just has an upset stomach due to dietary indiscretion. The odds are good because it is very small and had no sharp edges. With small foreign bodies it is recommended feed the pet a bulking agent like 1/2-1 loaf of bread or canned food that will help bind any additional objects within the GI tract and potentially help expel them out of the system. Good luck with your kitty and I hope that things will progress uneventful in the next couple of days. - Dr.H

Just monitor her for the moment; unfortunately strings and any type of linear foreign body can sit in the intestine and stomach for ages before coming out!. As long as she eating fine and drinking ok and passing feces and urine normally and being normal in terms of demeanor and activity level she will be ok and she won't need any check up. You could potentially give her some mineral oil (2mls every meal )like paraffin oil to lubricate the gastrointestinal canal and help to get rid of the strings if there. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Oh no! I would try to feed him a high fiber canned food to try bulk up his stool to help him pass it. Try a light canned food or talk to your vet about prescribing him some prescription high fiber canned food if they have any. My biggest concern with a shoe lace is that it can get stuck and cause the intestines to act like an accordion and eventually rupture if not treated. Unfortunately, there is nothing else that can be done at home to help pass it. Keep a close eye on him. If he starts to vomit or stops eating, I would try to find a way to have him seen by a vet. I hope this helps and he is able to pass it on his own.