My dog ate an unused period pad. Should I worry? Will it pass?

Hi there. It's very possible that the pad may pass through his system without causing any problems, especially if he chewed it into pieces first. Or, he may vomit it up on his own. The biggest concern would be that it might become stuck in his intestines and cause an obstruction. Symptoms of this problem would include repeated episodes of vomiting, not eating, acting lethargic, and not having regular bowel movements. If any of these symptoms are seen, then you should take him to the vet right away for an exam and x-rays. But as long as he's acting normal (eating and drinking, no vomiting), you shouldn't need to worry. If he does develop any problems, this would likely happen within the next 2-3 days - so after that, you should be able to relax.

I would not be so much worried about possible toxicity , but rather worry about the part of the pad causing an obstruction. Can you check the pad to see if every part is there (ie put all the pieces together)? That may give you an idea of how much, if anything, your dog may have ingested. If the ingestion happened within the past 2 hours, you can take your dog to a vet who can induce vomiting before the material gets transported into the intestines. If it has been longer you will have to watch for vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. If this occurs without producing the foreign material then please take your dog to a veterinarian.

If you have recovered everything he ate from his vomit, then you may be able to just monitor him, however if Shaky is still acting very ill, or there is more he hasn't passed/vomited yet, I would be worried it could cause a blockage. If this is the case, it is best to seek veterinary care for examination/X-rays to see if a blockage is present.

Hello. I am sorry for your concerns about Kimber. There is always the risk of a blockage from the material ingested, but at this point in time, all you can do is be watchful. As long as she is eating well ( & heavily pregnant dogs often do not eat very well ), there is no vomiting, & her bowel movements stay regular over the next 36-48 hours, then she was able to pass the pads. Anything unusual, please contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Thank you.

Oh no, that was naughty of Theo! Feminine pads are dangerous in that they are meant to absorb liquid, and thus expand when in contact with fluids. This pad can expand in his stomach due to liquids in it, and then cause a blockage in his GI tract. If he does end up with a blockage in his GI tract, he would need surgery to remove it. It would be best to take him into an ER now where he can be safely induced to vomit with a shot to get the pad out and prevent an blockage from occurring. I would take him in immediately, as vomiting has to be induced within two hours after ingestion. Good luck, I hope everything turns out ok with Theo!

Thanks for your question. It sounds like you have a naughty boy on your hands. At this point, it sounds like he isn't currently having symptoms. If he stops eating or starts vomiting, you will want to seek veterinary attention. Unfortunately, there are some dogs that are repeat offenders and continue to get themselves into trouble. If not already, he may need to be crated when alone, with nothing but a metal water bowl in the crate with him. I hope it makes it through this and stays out of trouble for a while.

Dexter will probably be able to pass the absorbent pad that is under a piece of raw meat. If he ingested pieces of styrofoam you may want to contact your veterinarian about inducing vomiting which could be successful if done in the next hour or so. Otherwise I'd recommend watching him for a decrease in appetite, vomiting or diarrhea which could be signs of obstruction or gastroenteritis from the raw meat.