My large dog ate a cat toy. What are the risks and what to watch for?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There is a good chance that she will pass it. However, it is important to watch closely for clinical signs consistent with an intestinal obstruction such as vomiting, abdominal pain and decreased appetite. If any of the above are observed, she should be evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Shea. Thankfully she is a large breed puppy. Hopefully the piece of toy will pass in her stool. Monitor her bowel movements for the next few days. If she stops eating, starts vomiting or acts sick, then you need to seek emergency veterinary care. This can be a sign of an intestinal obstruction. I hope this information helps!

Generally, the plastic of cat toys is fairly thin and flexible, but if it is hard with sharp edges, it is certainly possible that it can cause problems similar to a bone. If Mia vomited the toy, hopefully this will not be an issue. If Mia continues to vomit, does not eat, does not seem to feel well or is straining to defecate, I would certainly have your veterinarian examine her. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Mia will be fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Unfortunately, we cannot say if the bell will pass or not. I wouldn’t make him vomit as it can actually hurt his esophagus coming back up. I would recommend monitoring the cat and if you notice any vomiting or diarrhea or if he becomes lethargic at all I would recommend bringing him into your regular veterinarian for x-rays. You can always bring them into the veterinarian to have them do an x-ray to see if the bell is actually in his stomach since they should show up on the x-ray. Then you can see if he actually swallowed it or not. Unfortunately, this may result in surgery. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Keep an eye on her for any adverse symptoms but as long as she is behaving normally, I don't think she needs to see the vet right now. I'm having trouble getting the photos to enlarge for me, but what I can see of the toy makes me think that she should be able to pass a piece with too much trouble.

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach to address your concern. If Chester is acting normal and there is no vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy or inappetance then I would monitor for now. If you do start to notice any of these changes, I would get Chester in to see a veterinarian to have an examination and abdominal x-rays or abdominal ultrasound to see if there is an intestinal obstruction due to the ingested toy. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Rigby ate the gem within the last 2-3 hours, I recommend trying to induce vomiting by giving 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide by mouth. You can use a turkey baster to give it orally. If this doesn't make Rigby vomit within 15 minutes, you can repeat this once. If this doesn't work, you can bring Rigby to a veterinarian to have them induce vomiting. Otherwise, you can monitor Rigby for the development of any GI signs such as vomiting or decreased appetite. I would be worried about the possibility of the gem/toy causing a blockage of the intestines. This is a surgical emergency. I recommend also monitoring Rigby's stools for passage of the toy. I hope this is helpful!