Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My dog swallowed a small bouncy ball. Will it pass through safely?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Female | spayed

MY DOG ATE A KIDS BOUNCY BALL THE ONES YOU GET OUT OF THE MACHINE AND I DONT IF IT WILL PASS THREW OR NOT HELP PLEASE NOT VETS ARE OPEN AT THE MOMENT

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 13th, 2019

Hello, thank you for your question about Shadow.

It is difficult to know for sure whether this will lead to a problem or not. Since Shadow is a good sized dog if the ball was small it is possible that it will pass through her GI tract without causing any problems. However, there is always the chance that foreign material can cause an obstruction in the GI tract; this would require surgery to remove the ball.

I would recommend continuing to monitor Shadow for development of any signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, inappetance, or lethargy. If at any point she shows these symptoms I would recommend contacting your veterinarian. In the meantime to try and help the ball pass through her GI tract I would recommend offering her canned food to help the material pass. Alternatively you could offer her bread or canned pumpkin with her meals.

Hope this helps, good luck!

4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

My dog swallowed a small ball. Will she pass it or is she in danger?

I'd keep monitoring Bella for now. If you see vomiting, diarrhea, she doesn't poop at all, lethargy, or loss of appetite, then you will have to take her into a vet right away. This may pass without problem, but I can't say for sure.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog ate a fabric ball. She's fine, but it hasn't passed. What now?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may have a hard time passing. You can continue to watch her for any evidence of an obstruction which may be observed with symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, inappetence and/or lethargy. If these are observed, have Rudi evaluated by a veterianrian for further assessment and treatment as these can be signs of an obstruction which may need therapy. Otherwise, I really hope that it passes. Good luck and have a great day!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog swallowed a tennis ball piece and is coughing. Is it serious?

Small pieces will not probably cause any harm and will pass through gastrointestinal tract quite smoothly (considering her size and the small pieces she ingested). Possibly signs of vomiting or diarrhoea can occur. I would suggest to withhold food for the next 8-12 hours and then start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken and rice in small portion every 6 hours for the following 48hours. Then gradually reintroduce the normal diet over 5 days. I would definitively recommend a veterinary check up if the signs persist or you notice diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy or inappetence. 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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog ate a 1-inch rubber ball. Will it cause an obstruction?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My puppy ate a tennis ball piece. Will she be okay after choking?

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear that Bear has given you a scare. If she got off a small piece of fabric and ingested it, it will probably pass on its own with no trouble. If the piece was large or had any plastic bits attached to it, keep a very close eye on her for any signs of vomiting, lethargy, or diarrhea, as they may be symptoms of an obstruction. Bring her to the vet right away if any of these symptoms develop. It is very unlikely that she inhaled the piece, but do also keep an eye out for any further coughing or breathing difficulty, as this would also warrant an immediate trip to the vet's office. Good luck, and I hope that Bear continues being a happy, playful puppy!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat ate a toy bell. What symptoms to watch for? Will it pass?

I certainly hope that Jolly didn't eat the ball! It can take up to a couple of days for signs to show that she may have eaten the ball. These signs include vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, lethargy, and constipation. Those indicate an obstruction, which can occur if the ball is too big to pass through the intestines. Because it is a small ball ,there is a chance Jolly can defecate it, and it can take up to 72 hours for that to happen. I would monitor her for the next 72 hours, and if you see any signs of obstruction that I mentioned above, then you need to find a vet to see her right away, even if it means traveling with her. That's because an obstruction is fatal without treatment. Hopefully though, it will pass without problem :-)

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What should I do if my dog ate a rope chew toy and swallowed it?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There is a good chance that she will pass it. However, it is important to watch closely for clinical signs consistent with an intestinal obstruction such as vomiting, abdominal pain and decreased appetite. If any of the above are observed, she should be evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share