My dog swallowed a Q-tip. Is it dangerous? What should I do?

Oh dear! Cats are notoriously more difficult to induce vomiting than dogs, and the home remedies previously recommended (such as hydrogen peroxide) have been shown to cause pretty significant damage to the esophagus. As a result, it's best to avoid inducing vomit unless it's done with injectable medications by a vet. (Even that can be hit or miss as far as getting it to work!) I wouldn't worry about inducing vomiting. The good news is that the paper stem of the q-tip should be digested/broken down to some degree by Totoro's stomach acids. While the cotton won't break down, the tips are small enough that they *should* be able to pass without intervention. There really isn't anything that you an do to make this process go faster, but you can closely monitor Totoro at home. Keep an eye on his overall energy level, appetite, and for the presence of any vomiting and/or diarrhea. If any of these things change, be sure to take Totoro to his vet right away for evaluation. They'll need to check for a possible obstruction or blockage. You don't need to thoroughly examine his stool, but try to keep an eye out for cotton remnants when you scoop the litter box. I hope that everything goes well!

Oh no, that's not good! More than likely, this one thread will pass without problem especially if it isn't very long. The worst case scenario would be it could cause a linear foreign body, signs of which include a decreased appetite, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Keep an eye on her to be safe, and if you do see any of those signs, take her into a vet right away. Hopefully, however, she will be just fine. Best of luck!

If your dog has ingested a foreign body there is always a possibility of an issue with it passing or causing choking/GI problems. If Oggy is choking, can't seem to breathe, you see parts of the broom still stuck in his mouth, or he is vomiting or having diarrhea, tender abdomen, blood in stool, etc it would be best to seek veterinary care immediately.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The ink or color in these markers now is usually non toxic. The main concern is the possibility of an intestinal obstruction. If she swallowed the marker whole then the main concern would a possible obstruction that may require therapy via endoscopy or most likely surgery. If this is the case, I recommend that you have her evaluated by your local emergency clinic tonight for further assessment and possible treatment. It is possible that this could pass but seems less likely given its size even if she is a larger dog. Best of luck!

You should immediately take her to a petER, preferably to one where they have an endoscope with which they can take out the needle from the stomach before it travels on into the intestine and causes an intestinal obstruction as a "linear foreign body" or the needle perforates the stomach or the intestines. Please take Bebe to a petER now.

She will likely be unaffected, particularly if she chewed the wood into small pieces first. If she swallowed a large piece there would be potential for stomach upset or gastrointestinal obstruction. I would monitor her and call your vet if she vomits, develops diarrhea or has a decrease in appetite.

If Hennighn just swallowed the stick, you can take into into the vet right away for them to induce vomiting. The only concern with this is that it could get stuck in the esophagus, which would be a bad complication. The other option is to wait and see if he digests and passes the stick. Dogs do eat wood, and often pass it without problem. You will need to monitor his feces and his behavior. The stick should pass within 24-48 hours. If he starts vomiting, having diarrhea, stops eating, or becomes very lethargic, then it is likely that the stick is stuck, and he will need to see a vet right away. Hennighn is a big dog, and Labs often eat things they aren't supposed to, so I wouldn't be surprised if he passed it on his own. Give him a slice of whole wheat bread now, and with every meal, to give him more fiber and encourage the stick to pass along. The bread now will help cushion the stick as it passes through the intestinal tract. If the stick passes, you have no worries, just keep monitoring the feces for it. Hope this helps, and good luck :-)