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My dog ate leather. Should I worry about a blockage or will he pass it?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My 85 pound German shepherd swallowed a 3-4 inch piece of the leather cover from a baseball. Is this something he should be able to pass? His vet suggested feeding him bulky foods such as bread and sweet potatoes to help pass it but I'm still worried it might cause a blockage.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Tomasz Wnuk

Answered By Tomasz Wnuk

Veterinarian

Published on May 9th, 2018

At this stage feeding bulky food and monitoring is the best way to go. Signs of intestinal blockage are obvious and you will be able to notice them right away. Dogs with a blockage go off their food, vomit and show abdominal pain. They become weak and lethargic. What is also very important, dogs with a blockage are not passing any stools (soemtimes they try to pass but they are not able to). So, for now keep any eye on your dog and if you see any of these signs get in touch with your way right away. He is a large dog, so there is a good chance that he will pass the piece of leather in his stools.
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