My dog chewed shotgun shells. Is it an emergency? What to do?

There are spray-on products such as bitter apple which may deter pets from chewing on furniture, eating seashells in your backyard decor, etc. However in an outdoor setting, such sprays will likely get washed away each time it rains. If Sadie is very persistent about eating the seashells, removing them completely or relocating to a place out of her reach is the safest option. Ingested seashells, even if chewed up, could become a life -threatening gastrointestinal foreign body obstruction/result in a gastrointestinal obstruction that would require an expensive surgery to resolve (with no guarantee of complete recovery). If Sadie continues to vomit, bringing her into your vet for diagnostics and treatment is the safest option. Symptoms of a foreign body obstruction include vomiting shortly after eating, minimal defecation, abdominal pain, and lethargy.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Remi. If she hasn't eaten recently, then I recommend feeding her a meal. If she did consume a piece of shell, the food will cushion it and help it pass safely through her gastrointestinal tract. I hope this information helps!

You may see vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain or difficulty defecating. If the pieces are small enough, they could pass uneventfully in the next 24-36 hours. If your dog becomes symptomatic, an exam with your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER would be strongly recommended.

Snails are generally non toxic to dogs, but the problems come with with the parasites they carry, and if they have been poisoned with snail poisoning. Snails carry lungworms, which will be passed to dogs when the snail is eaten by the dog. Not all snails carry lungworms, so you can monitor Daisy for signs of coughing and difficulty breathing. If she develops those problems, you should take her into your vet. The snail's shell could also potentially cause GI obstruction or GI upset, but it's not too likely. Monitor her for vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, or extremely lethargy, and if you see any of those signs, take her into your vet. Finally, as I mentioned, there can be problems if the snail was poisoned with snail poisoning. Signs of toxicity from snail poisoning include tremors and twitching, which are exacerbated by noise. If you see any of those signs, you need to take Daisy into your vet right away. If she is actually normally, eating and drinking normally, and having normal bathroom habits, I would not worry about her.

Poor Zee Zee. It's clear the oyster shell pieces have upset her stomach, causing the vomiting. The issue her is that these can cause a blockage. The best thing to do is take her into a vet immediately to get her checked out, as I can't say if she will be ok or not. A blockage is fatal without treatment. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

Unless you have slug bait down in the vicinity i would not be immediately concerned. Slugs and snails can carry lungworm and monthly prevention should be considered to prevent infection in any dogs which may be exposed in affected areas, your vets office can advise on local infection risks

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There is probably nothing to worry about for Huxley. The poisonous part of the pits are contained in the inner kernel so unless the pit is cracked open and the kernel missing, im not worried about that. That gnawing probably resulted in only tiny bits -if any- of the pit being swallowed. A dog this size is unlikely to have problems with that. Of course he may have a sensitive stomach or have gotten into something else in the trash that would cause a problem. If you see more than 3 episode of vomiting, severe lethargy, or loss of appetite lasting more than 8 hours, see an emergency vet to make sure he’s ok. Best of luck to you and Huxley!