My 3-month-old pug ate a rubber band. What should I do?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would definitely bring Milo to your veterinarian as soon as possible so they can induce vomiting and try to get the rubber bands out of his stomach. Rubber bands have the potential to become foreign body obstructions, meaning they can get stuck either in the stomach or intestines. If this occurs, this is a surgical emergency, which can cost several thousand dollars. There is a chance he could pass the rubber bands in his feces, but I do not believe it is worth the risk. If you are unable to get to a veterinarian within an hour, you can try to induce vomiting at home by giving him 1/2 of a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide. I hope this is helpful!

In the majority of cases such a small rubber band should not cause any problem and should pass easily through the intestines, just monitor her in the next few days, signs to be concerned about include vomiting, constipation, lethargy and lack of appetite.

Oh dear! Since I see that Bruno is a very small dog, I would be concerned that the rubber may become stuck in his stomach or intestines and cause an obstruction. If this just happened, it would be best to take Bruno to the vet right away so that they can induce vomiting - if he throws up the rubber, you shouldn't need to worry. If this isn't possible, then you will need to monitor him closely for the next few days. He may vomit up the rubber on his own, or it may pass through in his stool without any problems. Signs of an obstruction would include repeated episodes of vomiting, not wanting to eat, acting lethargic, and not having bowel movements. If you see any of these symptoms, you will need to take him to the vet right away, as he may need emergency surgery to remove the blockage.

Hello, sorry to hear about Holly. It sounds like Holly may have some rubber bands stuck in her stomach that are causing an obstruction. She will need to be seen by a veterinarian and have x-rays taken. If confirmed that she has an obstruction, the most likely next step is that she will need surgery to remove these rubber bands. Holly must feel really sick since this has been going on for a week. Have her evaluated today to prevent any further damage to her GI tract. Rubber banks may cause intestines to become piled and this can lead to multiple complications. Do not offer her food until she is evaluated by your veterinarian. If your veterinarian cannot see Holly today, you should bring her to another veterinarian or emergency clinic today. Hope this helps and best of luck.

I am sorry to hear about Ruby. With a history of ingesting foreign objects in a kitty who is still vomiting then I would highly recommend a visit to her vet for an exam and x-ray. While she did vomit a piece of rubberband, we don't know if there is more of it in her intestinal tract causing problems or if she ate something else entirely. I would get her in to see her vet right away, because if she does have an obstruction, delaying treatment can cause further complications/risks. Best of luck!

Since you don't when or how much, it is reasonable to monitor for any GI upset or vomiting or diarrhea and monitor his activity level and appetite. If you notice any changes over the next 1-2 days then he needs to be seen by a vet to see if there is an obstruction.

Hello. I am so sorry that Aura bit you, I guess he really wanted the sauce packet. It the packet was the size of the ones you get at fast food places, then it should pass with no problems, rubber band & all. Just watch for any lethargy, vomiting or inappetence. If Aura has had no problems by Monday, then he should be just fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.