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My dog ate a piece of artificial Christmas tree. Should I worry?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Maltese | Male | unneutered | 10 months and 24 days old | 13 lbs

My dog at a long and skinny piece of artificial Christmas tree in our house. Should i be worried?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on December 26th, 2016

Oh dear! Young dogs often do things like this, unfortunately. This may pass through uneventfully, or it may become stuck in the intestines and cause an obstruction. It depends a bit on whether he chewed it up first vs. swallowing it whole, and on how large the piece was that he ate. You will need to monitor him closely for the next few days for any signs of a problem. Symptoms of an intestinal obstruction would include repeated episodes of vomiting, acting lethargic, not wanting to eat, and not having bowel movements. If you see any of these signs, you will need to take Jim to the vet right away for an exam and x-rays, since he may need emergency surgery to remove the blockage.
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