My dog ate a sock but is acting normal. Should I wait or call the vet?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If Reuben is acting normal, I would continue to keep an eye on him. The sock may take longer to pass than normal feces but if it isn't getting caught up anywhere in the intestines, it will likely pass. If you begin to notice any clinical signs such as vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, etc. then I would recommend having a veterinarian examine him and take x-rays of his abdomen to see if the sock has caused an intestinal obstruction. 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.

This scenario can go one of three ways. You may end up finding the sock and he may not have eaten it at all. This will obviously be the best scenario. The second scenario is he either vomits it up or poops it out. This can happen. The third scenario is he becomes obstructed and needs surgery. I would highly recommend not having him play with socks anymore. Keep a close eye on him. Any vomiting, diarrhea or lethargy I would recommend going to a vet immediately. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear Shiro isn't feeling well. Regardless of eating the sock or not, he is still vomiting, so I would recommend taking him to a vet right away. He is young and a lot of vomiting can cause dehydration that puppies cannot recover from on their own. The vet may want to check for intestinal parasites and parvo virus (common causes of vomiting in puppies) and may also take an x-ray to look for a foreign object in the intestinal tract. If no cause for vomiting is found, the doctor can treat the vomiting and replace the fluids Shiro has lost so he doesn't get sicker. If a cause for the vomiting is found, the doctor will discuss the next best steps for Shiro. Good luck and kisses to Shiro!

This could cause gastrointestinal obstruction and should ideally be checked as soon as possible at your local veterinarian. Your veterinarian will probably make him sick with an appropriate medication and perform an xray/abdominal ultrasound to make sure gastrointestinal passage is free. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! He may be able to pass it but in reality, it is possible that it may cause a gastrointestinal obstruction. I recommend you watch him closely for signs of a gastrointestinal obstruction such as vomiting, inappetence, nausea and/or abdominal pain and have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment if observed. Also, keep an eye on his stools to check to see if he passes the sock. Best of luck! Hopefully this is nothing!

Cooper needs to be seen by a vet/emergency room right away where they can make him regurgitate the sock with an apomorphine injection. Please take him now. If you hope it may pass, he may end up with a life threatening obstructed bowel and expensive surgery.

Poor Rocko! From your description, I would be very concerned that he may still have part of the sock, or some other foreign object, stuck in his stomach or intestines. This problem generally causes repeated episodes of vomiting, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Unfortunately, if he does have an intestinal blockage, this is a life-threatening problem that needs emergency surgery - there is nothing you can do at home to treat it. So I would focus on finding a way to get him in to see a vet as soon as possible. If costs are a concern, you can see if there is a low-cost SPCA clinic in your area that could help, or apply online for Care Credit, which is a payment plan accepted by most veterinary clinics: www.carecredit.com