My dog swallowed memory foam and is now sick. What should I do?

Hello, I am very sorry to hear about Sandy. Depending on the amount ingested or if he chewed the pieces or ingested them in big chunks, this may or may not cause a problem. If this happened recently you could bring Sandy to your veterinarian to try and induce vomiting and get rid of the foam. If it has been longer than 1-2 hours ago I would recommend continuing to monitor Sandy. It is possible that he will experience GI upset secondary to this material since it is foreign to his GI tract. It is also possible that the foam could lead to an obstruction if a large amount was ingested. I would recommend monitoring him for any vomiting, diarrhea, inappetance, or lethargy. If he develops any of these signs I would recommend having him seen by a veterinarian. They can perform x-rays to determine if the foam is causing a blockage in his intestines and discuss the need for further treatment with you. Hope this helps, good luck!

Oh dear! Puppies often chew things they shouldn't, unfortunately. If Ruben did swallow some of the foam, the biggest risk is that it could get stuck in his stomach or intestines and cause a blockage. Or, it may pass through his system with no problems at all. I would keep a close eye on him for the next 2-3 days. As long as he's eating and drinking, acting normal, and having regular bowel movements, you shouldn't need to worry. If he stops eating, has any vomiting, or does not have a bowel movement for more than 24 hours, then I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam and x-rays since these can be signs of a blockage.

Since Panda ate some foam padding yesterday and has ben vomiting and eating less, my main concern is that he has developed a stomach or intestinal obstruction. He needs to see a vet immediately for an exam and abdominal x-rays to try to determine if he is obstructed. Foreign body obstructions are a surgical emergency. I hope he's on the mend soon!

Hello. With Ginger vomiting, I would be very concerned that she may have a blockage in her upper small intestines where an enema will never reach. After 24 hours, it is now time to seek veterinary attention. Poor Ginger will continue to deteriorate due to dehydration & loss of electrolytes. Often, just with the use of IV fluid therapy & the judicious use of laxatives & motility modifying medications, a blockage can sometimes resolve on its own in the hospital. Otherwise, this may require surgery if there is a firm, non-moving obstruction. Please have Ginger evaluated as soon as possible to hopefully get her back to normal quickly. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This could cause gastrointestinal obstruction and should ideally be checked as soon as possible at your local veterinarian. Your veterinarian will probably make him sick with an appropriate medication and perform an xray/abdominal ultrasound to make sure gastrointestinal passage is free. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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.

If she isn't having any trouble breathing, and its more of a retch type cough, the pieces are probably in the back of her throat or they are in her esophagus (as apposed to being in her trachea/airway). I recommend that you offer her a piece of bread - preferably starchy white bread such as Wonderbread, then offer her some water or low sodium broth to wash it down. If the pieces are in the back of her mouth or in her esophagus this may help them move down. HOWEVER, if she is unable to swallow the bread, if she seems distressed when she tries to swallow, if she is drooling a lot of making a hard swallowing motion, you need to take her in. I'm sorry, I know that's hard when finances are a stress, but if she has something that is stuck in her esophagus that can be a real problem. I think that is unlikely the case, as I would expect for foam to be able to pass on down, but a big enough piece could be a problem. Likewise, even if/when we can get her to stop coughing/retching with the bread, please watch her closely for vomiting and decreased appetite. If these things occur, please take her in. It is possible that bedding can cause a blockage in the intestine (much more common than an blockage in the esophagus as I discussed above). Also, please watch her breathing. If she starts coughing again or if it seems she is breathing faster than normal (persistently faster than 40 breaths a minute at rest and when not panting) or it seems she is labored in her breathing, take her in. Anytime they have been working on "getting something up" there is a risk that some of the material, and/or some stomach acid/contents can regurgitate into the esophagus and then get sucked down the trachea, causing aspiration pneumonia. Try the bread and water or broth, then watch her closely. I hope you can avoid a visit to the vet but be aware she may need to be seen. Again what you are watching for is: vomiting decreased appetite painful belly continued or recurrent coughing breathing fast or labored Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I hope that information helps you.

What you are describing is very concerning of a bowel obstruction. These are very serious conditions and require surgery in order to keep them from having life-threatening complications. Unfortunately, there is not home treatment option or medicine that will help with this condition; she needs veterinary intervention right away. I understand that money is an issue, but there are often various options in these cases and I recommend contacting a local animal emergency center and asking if there are payment options available. If not, you can contact a local animal rescue for advice about affordable veterinary care, but I'm afraid you won't have time to wait until these places are open. I hope that helps and Fludders gets better soon.