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My puppy swallowed a rawhide chew. Is she safe from obstruction?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Siberian Husky | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 6 days old | 20 lbs

Hi, my puppy was just chewing on a good’n’fun triple flavor twist and she just swallowed part of it whole..she’s breathing fine and doesn’t seem to be choking at all. Is this something I should be concerned about?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 27th, 2018

The problem with rawhide treats is that they can cause GI obstructions when swallowed whole. There is a chance this could pass without problem, and there is nothing to be worried about, but to be safe, keep an eye on Luna. Signs of an obstruction include vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, lethargy, and a complete absence of passing feces. If you see any of those signs, take her into a vet right away. It can take up to 72 hours for these things to pass, so watch her for the next three days. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

5Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on July 8th, 2018
Hi there. Signs of a bowel obstruction would include repeated episodes of vomiting, acting lethargic, not wanting to eat, and not having regular bowel movements. If Tilly is showing any of these symptoms, then I would definitely take to the vet for an exam and x-rays as soon as possible. If she's acting normal, then I wouldn't be concerned :)

Rawhide is digestible, but it takes a while - so if a dog is swallowing large pieces whole, it does have the potential to cause an intestinal obstruction. To avoid this, I always recommend getting as large a size as possible. Your dog should be able to just chew on the edges, not get the entire thing into her mouth - if she can swallow it whole, it's much too small for her size.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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