My dog ate my toothbrush. What are the risks and what should I do?

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Bourbon will likely be fine. The material on the toothbrush may cause irritation in the mouth so I would recommend rinsing his mouth out with water for starters. I would monitor for any other symptoms such as vomiting, gagging, abdominal pain, lethargy, etc. If you want to contact ASPCA poison control hotline, the number is 888-426-4435 They can help you further in regards to toxin ingestion. 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.

I would be concerned about the hairbrush head - it looks like it could be fairly large and difficult to chew into small pieces. It could become lodged in the stomach or intestines. If it happened in the past hour you could head into an emergency clinic to discuss the pros and cons of inducing vomiting. Otherwise I’d recommend monitoring closely for any vomiting or decreased appetite and call your vet right away if noted.

If your dog has ingested a foreign body there is always a possibility of an issue with it passing or causing choking/GI problems. If Oggy is choking, can't seem to breathe, you see parts of the broom still stuck in his mouth, or he is vomiting or having diarrhea, tender abdomen, blood in stool, etc it would be best to seek veterinary care immediately.

No do not make him vomit. The sharp pieces can do damage coming back up, as well as you can get esophageal irritation if you use hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. I recommend feeding moistened kibble to help surround the pieces so hopefully they will pass without causing a problem. This can be serious though so if there is discomfort, no poop, or not eating I recommend taking an X-ray tomorrow see where the pieces are in the intestinal tract. If Jose is not painful they can take a series of X-rays over time to see if the pieces are moving. If they get stuck in one place then surgical removal will be needed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Jose.

I would be concerned about Snowball in that these bristles may have upset his stomach, or potentially did damage to his GI tract if they were sharp. I would monitor him tonight, and if he's still acting lethargic in the morning, I would have him seen by a vet for a health check. Should he start vomiting, become very lethargic, there's blood in the vomit, has bloody feces, or becomes anorexic, I would take him into a vet right away.

If you notice Jax having vomiting, diarrhea, or a decrease in appetite or energy, that could indicate the fur chunk is stuck and he needs veterinary care. If you don't notice that in the next few days, I wouldn't be too concerned, as hopefully it will have passed.

I would worry about the blood in Spot's vomit. Toothpicks are sharp and you worry about one of them punching a hole in the stomach. I would recommend to take her into the veterinarian asap. They will prescribe medications to coat her stomach. I would also advise to feed her bread for the next 2 days as the bulk may help to cover any tooth picks and hopefully prevent further damage. If she continues to vomit blood, she may need a surgery or endoscopic exam to exam her stomach. I hope Spot is ok!