My puppy ate a toilet wax seal. Could it cause an intestinal blockage?

It is a small amount of wax, and given her size, I would not say there is a huge chance of blockage. I would monitor her to be safe over the 72 hours. If you see any signs of vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, or lethargy, then I would take her into the vet for an exam. She should pass this fine, however.

The material is non toxic to your dog but there is a concern for an obstruction depending upon how much was chewed into pieces or swallowed whole. You can continue her normal diet and routine and monitor for any vomiting and diarrhea or no appetite as those are signs of a problem. If you notice that then I would get her checked by your vet

Hello there! Tampons absorb fluid, so when ingested, they can swell in the intestines and cause a blockage that requires surgery. This could affect any size dog, but as Hershey is a large breed, she has a better chance of being able to pass the tampon without needing surgery. This is good news! The signs of her having an intestinal obstruction that requires medical or surgical attention would be: Not interested in food, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargic, being reclusive (like laying in a corner by herself) I am not alarmed that she has vomited once, but keep an eye on her. If she starts to show other signs that I mentioned, take her into her vet. They will recommend x-rays to check for a blockage in the intestinal tract and bloodwork to check for infections and anemia that can result from a blockage. Then they will either recommend medical intervention, which may include fluids, antibiotics, a high fiber diet, and enemas, or surgical intervention, which may include cutting the intestine to remove the tampon or having to remove a piece of intestine if there is tissue damage. Again, this is worst case scenario. As she is still eating well, defecating normally, and behaving normally, I think home monitoring is absolutely fine for now considering she is such a large dog. Next time she vomits, try to remove it from her before she can eat it again- I realize this is easier said than done. :) I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Monitor her for the next 24 hours. Watch for lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite, straining to defecate or abdominal pain. If she goes beyond this with no symptoms, then she may be in the clear. If she develops any of the above symptoms, have her physically examined by your veterinarian. Pancreatitis or intestinal obstruction are real concerns after such a "meal".

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She may or may not be able to pass it. You can monitor her closely for signs consistent with a gastrointestinal obstruction such as vomiting, nausea, inappetence and abdominal pain. If any of these signs are observed, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment as those may be indications of an obstruction. That is often treated with endoscopy or surgery. Good luck and have a great day! I am hoping that everything goes well!

Hello and thank you for reaching out about your dog. While you do have a large lab, there is certainly a high chance that this ball could cause an intestinal obstruction. If it was recently ingested (within 3 hours) you could take him to your local emergency veterinary hospital, have an xray performed, and if it still in the stomach (and based on the size of the ball) the veterinarian MAY be able to induce vomiting to try and retrieve the ball. An xray today would be advised to see where the ball is in his intestinal tract. If you elect to not seek veterinary care today I would advise to monitor for ANY vomiting or decrease in appetite. If either of those occur please seek veterinary care for your dog immediately.

Fortunately, these small wrapers do not easily cause blockages, but unfortunately there is nothing that can be given to prevent a potential blockage. It's also not advised to give anything like a laxative, because this can be dangerous in a potential blockage. The only thing you can do is wait to see if it passes OK. Normal GI transit time is 3-5 days for such things. During this time you would just be waiting to see if she has any signs of an obstruction. Signs of an obstructions are vomiting, not defecating, acting very painful/depressed and a decrease in appetite. If you notice these signs, then Betty would need to go to the vet immediately for emergency surgery.  I hope that helps and all is well with Betty.