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My dog threw up plastic pieces and a hairball. Does she need a vet?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | spayed | 6 months and 30 days old

Dog threw up hair ball that also somehow had plastic frisbee pieces in it. Take her to the vet or did the passing of the hairball solve the problem?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 7th, 2016

There is always the possibility that there is more frisbee in her stomach and/or intestinal tract. Toys such as these do have the potential for causing an intestinal obstruction. I would not take her into a vet now, but monitor her for the next 72 hours. If she continues to vomit, stops eating, starts having diarrhea, stops drinking water, starts throwing up water, or becomes very lethargic, those are signs of obstruction, and then I would take her into a vet right away.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on April 29th, 2018
I would watch Lu for now. There could be other chunks of toy still in her GI tract, and it could be lead to an obstruction. Signs of obstruction include vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, a complete absence of pooping, and lethargy. If she continues vomiting or shows any of the other signs I mentioned above, have her seen by a vet. It can take up to 72 hours for a foreign object to pass, so watch her over the next couple of days. In the future, I wouldn't leave her alone with any toys she can destroy and eat to prevent a chance of obstruction. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA
Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Published on July 20th, 2019
If she ate the football in May and is just now throwing it up, then I would be concerned that the pieces of the toy have been causing her symptoms. Foreign material can occasionally stay in the stomach for a long time and cause an intermittent obstruction. If she continues to act lethargic or has vomiting over the next 24 hours, then she needs to be evaluated by a vet to see if there is more material that could have made it out of the stomach and into the small intestines. If she goes back to normal (no vomiting, normal energy and appetite), then you can cautiously watch her at home for a return of abnormal symptoms.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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