My dog ate a dental chew. Could it cause an intestinal blockage?

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!

Sounds like she got into quite the treat! Mocha may have a bit of an upset stomach after eating so much, so if she experiences any vomiting or diarrhea, you can pick up her food for a few hours and then offer her a bland meal of boiled rice and chicken to help settle her stomach (though if she ate a lot she may not be hungry for a bit!) Sometimes, dogs can eat these bones without chewing them which may cause choking or obstruction (they do digest over time), so watching out for any signs of problems such as attempting to vomit or defecate without success, coughing, choking, bloody vomiting or diarrhea, bloated abdomen, painful belly or walking hunched over is a good idea as they can indicate something more serious and urgent is onging. If she does show these signs, or seems pretty ill, seeking vet care in person is best.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Since she is exhibiting some signs of eating foreign material, it is very important at this point to make sure that she is not obstructed as that will require therapy. I would highly recommend you consider having her evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check on this with abdominal radiographs and proceed with therapy accordingly. Keep in mind that in some cases of an obstruction, surgery is necessary and the sooner it is diagnosed, the better the outcome tends to be. Have a good day!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and congratulations on your new puppy! Based on the ingredients in the photo, these rings are definitely digestible. At this point, it is likely safe to keep an eye on Echo, but he should be evaluated by a veterinarian if he starts vomiting, has diarrhea (especially if there is blood or mucus) or trouble defecating, or stops eating/appears lethargic. These can be signs that the teething ring has created a blockage in his intestines, and it may need to be removed. It is also possible that Echo will defecate pieces of the ring within the next few days, which is normal. I would recommend feeding him normally, but not giving him any of the teething rings for the next few days. Good luck with your new puppy!

Hello there! Tampons absorb fluid, so when ingested, they can swell in the intestines and cause a blockage that requires surgery. This could affect any size dog, but as Hershey is a large breed, she has a better chance of being able to pass the tampon without needing surgery. This is good news! The signs of her having an intestinal obstruction that requires medical or surgical attention would be: Not interested in food, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargic, being reclusive (like laying in a corner by herself) I am not alarmed that she has vomited once, but keep an eye on her. If she starts to show other signs that I mentioned, take her into her vet. They will recommend x-rays to check for a blockage in the intestinal tract and bloodwork to check for infections and anemia that can result from a blockage. Then they will either recommend medical intervention, which may include fluids, antibiotics, a high fiber diet, and enemas, or surgical intervention, which may include cutting the intestine to remove the tampon or having to remove a piece of intestine if there is tissue damage. Again, this is worst case scenario. As she is still eating well, defecating normally, and behaving normally, I think home monitoring is absolutely fine for now considering she is such a large dog. Next time she vomits, try to remove it from her before she can eat it again- I realize this is easier said than done. :) I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Persistent vomiting, abdominal pain and reluctance to eat are the main signs of an obstruction, difficulty passing feces can also occur if something gets stuck very far down. A small piece of paper would be unlikely to cause any discomfort but bones, stones and tots are common culprits

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The symptoms of gastrointestinal blockage include vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, poor appetite, lack of stools. If you see any of these symptoms in the next 24-48hrs, you should take Rayne to your local vets as an emergency. However, if she chewed the plastic into small pieces, most likely she will pass it with her stools and she will not show any worrying symptoms at all.