My dog ate a popsicle stick and plastic wrapper. What should I do?

The good news is that usually corn dog sticks don’t cause too much trauma in terms of the sharp edges. Sometimes, they don’t even eat any, they just chew it. If Pax is acting great, give him a slice of bread which can stick to the sharper pieces and ease their passing. That being said, it can still cause some vomiting or diarrhea and if you see these, or if you see lethargy or any other concerning signs, it time to take Pax to your vet.

If Hennighn just swallowed the stick, you can take into into the vet right away for them to induce vomiting. The only concern with this is that it could get stuck in the esophagus, which would be a bad complication. The other option is to wait and see if he digests and passes the stick. Dogs do eat wood, and often pass it without problem. You will need to monitor his feces and his behavior. The stick should pass within 24-48 hours. If he starts vomiting, having diarrhea, stops eating, or becomes very lethargic, then it is likely that the stick is stuck, and he will need to see a vet right away. Hennighn is a big dog, and Labs often eat things they aren't supposed to, so I wouldn't be surprised if he passed it on his own. Give him a slice of whole wheat bread now, and with every meal, to give him more fiber and encourage the stick to pass along. The bread now will help cushion the stick as it passes through the intestinal tract. If the stick passes, you have no worries, just keep monitoring the feces for it. Hope this helps, and good luck :-)

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Heidi. Do NOT induce vomiting, the wooden shards from the stick could damage her esophagus on the way out. Give her half a slice of whole wheat bread now, and one with every meal. This may form a ball of ingesta around the stick, and cushion it as it passes through the Gi tract. Monitor her closely, and if you see vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, lethargy, or blood in her feces, take her into the vet. I hope this helps!

Jax should be just fine if you don't notice any vomiting within the next several days. Young dogs often eat things they shouldn't, and it's important to keep everything off the floor that you don't want chewed on. Large Kong treats stuffed with peanut butter are a good, safe chew toy option. Also, make sure he's getting a lot of attention and exercise. Good luck!

I think the sticks are made out of paper which should soften pretty quickly in the stomach. If the stick is plastic there could be slightly more concern for it to get stuck somewhere but I still think it would not perforate the stomach or intestines. You should monitor him for vomiting or a decreased appetite.

A tiny piece of plastic like this is unlikely to cause any problems with Ella. You can monitor her for signs of GI obstruction which would include vomiting, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, and lethargy. If these occur, then she should see her vet right away, but I don't expect that to occur with the small amounts she may have ingested, they will likely just pass through her GI tract. You can feed her something high in fiber to help the passing, such as a piece of whole wheat bread or a teaspoon or two of canned pumpkin.

As long as he is eating and drinking normally, I would not be concerned. If he begins to vomit or loses his appetite, then I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at him and perform some diagnostic testing such as x-rays to help rule out a foreign body obstruction from the plastic. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.