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My dog ate greasy fried chicken and paper towel. What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male

Dog ate a fried chicken breast from Popeye's and the paper towel it was wrapped in. Seems fine, isn't choking, but will something bad happen?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on July 18th, 2016

More than likely, Max will be fine. The paper towel should pass through him, and I would monitor his poop to see if it comes out. There is a chance the grease from the fried chicken could cause some problems, such as pancreatitis or GI upset. If Max begins vomiting, especially undigested food, that is a symptom of pancreatitis, and he will need to be taken into a vet right away. I would monitor him for vomiting, not eating, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting water, and not drinking water. If you see any of those signs, take him into your vet immediately.

21Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Poor Max! This is a common issue, as you can imagine - dogs are notorious for eating things that they shouldn't. The two biggest concerns in this case would be a possible intestinal obstruction from the paper towel, or a serious GI illness like pancreatitis from the greasy chicken breast. You will need to monitor Max closely for the next 24-48 hours for any signs of a serious problem, such as repeated episodes of vomiting, acting lethargic, or not wanting to eat. If you see any of these symptoms, I would recommend having him seen by a vet right away. If he continues to act normal or only has some mild GI upset (such as vomiting once or twice, or soft stool for a day or so), then he should be fine.
19Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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