My 78lb dog ate a used tampon. Should I make her vomit at home?

I'm glad the tampon came out! And you certainly are not the first one that's happened too. Hydrogen peroxide can often successfully induce vomiting as in Khloe's case, which is good. However, it also causes significant irritation to the wall of the stomach. This can cause bleeding in the stomach. Digested blood appears brown. Therefore I am concerned that Khloe may have some pretty significant gastritis. I would recommend that you get her to a vet, they will likely prescribe a medication called sucralfate (carafate) that is very helpful in cases of severe gastritis. An acid reducer such as Pepcid may be indicated as well--however I would not recommend giving that without first seeing a vet. If she happened to eat anything else strange from the trash, stomach acid is a vital part of digesting material and making it most likely to be able to pass through. Taking her in would certainly be my first recommendation. However, If you want to avoid going to the vet if possible, and she only vomited brown liquid once, and she is otherwise acting ok--active, happy, interested in whats going on around her, eating when offered--its reasonable to give her 24 hours with small amounts of boiled chicken/white rice to eat, and see how she does. Keep fresh water available at all times but don't allow her to drink large volumes at a time. If at any point she becomes lethargic, has no interest in food, or she vomits more than 2-3 times in a 12-24 hour period, take her in. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Good morning! I have had several patients consume used tampons over the years. He may be large enough to pass it. However, I have had several smaller patients who did obstruct and need surgery. If I were in your situation I would recommend having him seen by a veterinarian and see if they can induce vomiting. If it is still in his stomach and he is able to vomit it up then the problem is solved. I would take a loaf of bread with you to your appointment to help fill his stomach before vomiting which could help it come out. If it has already passed out of the stomach into the intestinal tract then waiting for any signs of vomiting or diarrhea is important. I think the likelihood of TSS is extremely slim and I would worry more about obstruction then anything else. Best of luck and I hope he vomits it up! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

No, I would not induce vomiting in Kiba. I never recommend owners do that because hydrogen peroxide (which is used to induce vomiting) can and does cause severe gastritis and esophagitis, often worse than the original problem. In addition, it can lead to aspiration, and the owner will not have the medical knowledge or equipment to treat that at home. A hair tie that small made of fabric will likely pass on it's own, but if you wanted to be safe, you can take Kiba into a vet now who can induce vomiting with a shot.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bella! Tampons are tough! I have had to do surgery to remove them before. If Bella is vomiting, lethargic and not eating then I would worry that the tampon is stuck. I would recommend having her seen. Sadly just because she was lucky enough to pass one before doesn’t mean it will this time. I wish you the best!

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!

Oh no, that was naughty of Phoebe to eat the pad! I do not recommend inducing her to vomit at home with peroxide (H2O2). The reason is that H2O2 can and does cause severe esophagitis and gastritis, often worse than the initial problem, so it's always preferred to advise emergency care. Also, we have no way of knowing whether the dog is debilitated and has a greater chance of aspirating. The best thing to do is have her seen by an ER vet now to safely induce vomiting with a shot to get the pad out of her to prevent an obstruction. Otherwise, you can watch her for signs of obstruction with include vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, diarrhea, and/or constipation. If you see any of those signs, she will need to see a vet immediately.

Peroxide can be damaging to the esophagus and stomach as it causes a lot of inflammation and irritation. Taking her to a vet so they can give an injectable medicine to induce vomiting is an option. The concern is it has potential to get stuck half way up and cause problems if lodged there. Sometimes this will not pass through the intestines and will require surgery to be removed. Having her asses by a vet now would be best. If not you should monitor for vomiting, lethargy, anorexia and diarrhea