My dog swallowed something foreign. What signs should I watch for?

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!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Swiss. If she ingested foreign material and is experiencing a blockage, then I would expect her to vomit any food or water consumed. She would be very lethargic and be sore in her belly. Of course, every case is different as far as symptoms, but those are the common ones. I hope this information helps!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The symptoms of gastrointestinal blockage include vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, poor appetite, lack of stools. If you see any of these symptoms in the next 24-48hrs, you should take Rayne to your local vets as an emergency. However, if she chewed the plastic into small pieces, most likely she will pass it with her stools and she will not show any worrying symptoms at all.

If you are worried she ingested an object, like a sock or shoe then you would watch for signs of gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, lethargy, or straining to defecate. If you are worried about a toxin ingestion these signs can vary widely and can include GI upset, rapid breathing or heart rate, excessive drooling, trembling, seizures, drunken appearance/gait, dilated pupils, pale gums, lethargy. If any of these signs occur seek veterinary care right away.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Since she is exhibiting some signs of eating foreign material, it is very important at this point to make sure that she is not obstructed as that will require therapy. I would highly recommend you consider having her evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check on this with abdominal radiographs and proceed with therapy accordingly. Keep in mind that in some cases of an obstruction, surgery is necessary and the sooner it is diagnosed, the better the outcome tends to be. Have a good day!

Given that Snowball has eaten twice since and isn't vomiting, I would monitor her for signs an obstruction to be safe. It can take a couple of days for signs to be seen which include vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, not pooping, and severe lethargy. If you see any of those signs, take her into a vet right away. Otherwise if you don't see any of those signs, she will be just fine. Best of luck!

It will likely pass. The symptoms of an issue to look out for including vomiting/especially within an hour of eating, straining to defecate, not popping. If you are willing to sift through each bowel movement until you find the small stone, that will provide additional peace of mind. Otherwise screening abdominal x-rays at your vet can determine whether the stone is stuck somewhere and are recommended especially if vomiting/in appearance or straining to defecate are noted. Good luck!