My dog ate a pumpkin stem. Should I worry about a blockage now?

Hello. Puppies will swallow small sticks with no problems, but you can help them to pass by lubricating her gut. Feeding bread is good, but I like to smear the bread with some Vaseline & feed Lilly this. In addition, you can feed her 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin ( not pie filling ) twice a day for the next few days. If she does not have any problems over the next 2-3 days, like vomiting, diarrhea ( some soft stool will be normal from the Vaseline & pumpkin ), or she quits eating, then she will be fine. You can stop the pumpkin at this point. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern! While bananas are not toxic to cats, eating the hard stem could potentially cause an obstruction in the intestines. The good news is that a lot of the stem will most likely break down in the stomach acid but some of the harder pieces may stay intact posing a risk as it moves through the GI tract. I would recommend feeding him canned pumpkin in addition to his food to increase fiber in his diet and monitor for signs such as vomiting, lethargy, inappetance, abdominal pain, etc. If you notice these symptoms, then I would recommend having a veterinarian examine him so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. As long as she is eating, drinking as normal and passing normal stools, she is not in any danger. The symptoms of of gastrointestinal blockage include vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy, lack of stools. If Pearl definitely ate the stones and has not passed them, an x-ray of the abdomen would be a good idea. It may happen that the stones are still sitting in the stomach but not causing any clinical symptoms. They may move down to the small intestines and form an abstraction at some point. Stones are very easy to detect on x-ray, so this would give definitive answer if there is anything to worry about or not. Pumpkin or any other laxative treatment / diet will not be a good idea for Pearl.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ok! Thanks for reposting! If he chewed it up, he will be fine. If he swallowed a big piece, since it is harder, there is a small chance it could cause an obstruction before the body breaks it down. Signs of an obstruction would be vomiting, lethargy and not eating. Overall Rey should be fine! Have a great day!

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Dayday. This is a lot of fiber and it may cause constipation or it could cause diarrhea. If you see constipation, do not give him pumpkin puree for a few days, and add water to his dry food to get more moisture in his diet. If he does have diarrhea, withhold food for 12-24 hours, then feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

If she chewed it to bits, it should pass without any problems. If she swallowed it whole, there is a slim chance it could cause a gastric or intestinal obstruction. Monitor for lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain or straining to defecate. See your veterinarian if necessary. You can mix in some cooked brown rice or add a couple tablespoons of plain, canned pumpkin (NOT pie filling) to the meals to help cushion it and push it through.

Oh dear! Young dogs often do things like this, unfortunately. This may pass through uneventfully, or it may become stuck in the intestines and cause an obstruction. It depends a bit on whether he chewed it up first vs. swallowing it whole, and on how large the piece was that he ate. You will need to monitor him closely for the next few days for any signs of a problem. Symptoms of an intestinal obstruction would include repeated episodes of vomiting, acting lethargic, not wanting to eat, and not having bowel movements. If you see any of these signs, you will need to take Jim to the vet right away for an exam and x-rays, since he may need emergency surgery to remove the blockage.