My pregnant dog ate sanitary pads from the trash. Is she okay?

It can take a few days for a foreign object to fully move through the gastrointestinal tract. I've also seen a dog or two that has had a foreign object that can stay in the stomach for a long time (months) and that causes intermittent problems - this would be pretty unusual for something like a sanitary napkin however. I'd say if you get to three days with no problems you're probably in the clear. It sounds like you know what signs to watch for already but if she does vomit, if her appetite is decreased or if you see diarrhea you should head to your vet.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This depends on many factors such as the size of this toy for example. I would recommend that you continue to monitor her closely for any signs consistent with a gastrointestinal obstruction such as vomiting, inappetence and abdominal pain. If these are observed, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

This should pass. He obviously likes the feel of chewing on the pads. However you really need to lock the pads away so he cannot access them as they can cause an obstruction when ingested. Monitor KD for diarrhea and vomiting/retching during the next week and should this occur, take him to a veterinarian to check for an intestinal obstruction. I doubt he will get one from such a small piece, however you never know.

Hello there! Tampons absorb fluid, so when ingested, they can swell in the intestines and cause a blockage that requires surgery. This could affect any size dog, but as Hershey is a large breed, she has a better chance of being able to pass the tampon without needing surgery. This is good news! The signs of her having an intestinal obstruction that requires medical or surgical attention would be: Not interested in food, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargic, being reclusive (like laying in a corner by herself) I am not alarmed that she has vomited once, but keep an eye on her. If she starts to show other signs that I mentioned, take her into her vet. They will recommend x-rays to check for a blockage in the intestinal tract and bloodwork to check for infections and anemia that can result from a blockage. Then they will either recommend medical intervention, which may include fluids, antibiotics, a high fiber diet, and enemas, or surgical intervention, which may include cutting the intestine to remove the tampon or having to remove a piece of intestine if there is tissue damage. Again, this is worst case scenario. As she is still eating well, defecating normally, and behaving normally, I think home monitoring is absolutely fine for now considering she is such a large dog. Next time she vomits, try to remove it from her before she can eat it again- I realize this is easier said than done. :) I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi there. It's very possible that the pad may pass through his system without causing any problems, especially if he chewed it into pieces first. Or, he may vomit it up on his own. The biggest concern would be that it might become stuck in his intestines and cause an obstruction. Symptoms of this problem would include repeated episodes of vomiting, not eating, acting lethargic, and not having regular bowel movements. If any of these symptoms are seen, then you should take him to the vet right away for an exam and x-rays. But as long as he's acting normal (eating and drinking, no vomiting), you shouldn't need to worry. If he does develop any problems, this would likely happen within the next 2-3 days - so after that, you should be able to relax.

That's a tough one. Simba is so tiny, so a palm size sheet of plastic could possibly cause an obstruction or could pass through in the stool. Your options are to wait and hope it passes, but take him to the vet if he starts vomiting or having a decreased appetite or energy level for x-rays and possible emergency surgery. OR, you take him to an emergency clinic now that has an endoscope and see if they can remove it (which would still require general anesthesia and may not be successful because the plastic may just fall apart when they try to pull it out). There's not a clear right answer here because their are risks with both options. I'd give him a 50-70% chance of passing it on his own. I wish I could give you a more definite answer, but I hope that helps you decide how you want to proceed.

Oh no, that was naughty of Theo! Feminine pads are dangerous in that they are meant to absorb liquid, and thus expand when in contact with fluids. This pad can expand in his stomach due to liquids in it, and then cause a blockage in his GI tract. If he does end up with a blockage in his GI tract, he would need surgery to remove it. It would be best to take him into an ER now where he can be safely induced to vomit with a shot to get the pad out and prevent an blockage from occurring. I would take him in immediately, as vomiting has to be induced within two hours after ingestion. Good luck, I hope everything turns out ok with Theo!