Dog Swallowed Something: Signs and What to Do
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Dogs can swallow bones, toys, socks or string and develop a dangerous blockage. Learn the warning signs, what to do and not do, and how to prevent it.
Dogs explore the world with their mouths, so swallowing objects is fairly common, especially in puppies and keen chewers. Some small items pass out in the stool, but others get stuck in the esophagus, stomach or intestines, causing a blockage that needs urgent surgery. Knowing the right first steps could save your dog's life.
Objects dogs often swallow
- Bones: especially chicken bones, fish bones and cooked bones, which splinter into sharp pieces.
- Toys: small balls, chewed-off pieces of toys, stuffed toys.
- Fabric: socks, underwear, towels, gloves.
- Long, string-like items: thread, yarn, string, ribbon, butcher's twine. These are especially dangerous because they can bunch up, twist and tear the intestines.
- Fruit pits and cores: mango stones, peach pits, corn cobs.
- Other hazards: batteries, magnets, needles, fishhooks, coins, meat skewers.
Signs your dog may have swallowed something
Sometimes you see your dog swallow an object; sometimes you only notice that something is missing. Watch for these signs, which may appear immediately or after a few days:
- Repeated vomiting, vomiting right after eating or drinking, or retching without bringing anything up.
- Heavy drooling, repeated swallowing, pawing at the mouth, coughing or gagging.
- Not eating, or eating much less.
- A swollen or painful belly, a hunched stance, or being unable to settle.
- Not passing stool, straining, or diarrhea, or blood in the stool.
- Tiredness, lethargy or hiding.
An intestinal blockage can become serious quickly. If you suspect one, don't wait to see whether the object passes.
What to do and what not to do
Do
- Stay calm and move your dog away from the object, picking up any remaining pieces so it can't swallow more.
- Note the details: what your dog swallowed, its size, when, and whether all or part of it. Bring any leftover piece, an identical item or the packaging if possible.
- Call your veterinarian right away for advice, even if your dog seems fine.
- If your dog is choking or struggling to breathe: open its mouth to see if you can spot the object. Only remove it if it is clearly visible and comes out easily, and be careful not to get bitten. At the same time, call your veterinarian and get to emergency care immediately.
Don't
- Don't make your dog vomit at home without your veterinarian's guidance. Sharp objects, batteries or large items can cause more damage coming back up, and some home methods for inducing vomiting can harm dogs.
- Don't pull on a string hanging from your dog's mouth or rear end. The other end may be caught in the intestines, and pulling can tear them. Leave it and take your dog to the vet.
- Don't feed bread, cooking oil or other folk “tricks” to push the object through without asking your veterinarian.
- Don't give laxatives or human medicines.
What your veterinarian may do
Depending on the object and how long ago it was swallowed, your veterinarian may examine your dog and take X-rays or an ultrasound. Some cases only need monitoring; others need vomiting induced at the clinic, removal by endoscope, or surgery. The choice of treatment is up to your veterinarian.
Preventing your dog from swallowing objects
- Don't feed cooked bones, chicken bones or fish bones, and put food waste in a bin with a lid.
- Choose toys large enough that your dog can't swallow them whole and tough enough for its chewing; throw away broken or torn toys.
- Put away socks, underwear, towels, yarn, string, batteries, magnets and sewing supplies.
- Supervise your dog with new toys or chews.
- Teach “drop it” and “leave it” by trading for a reward.
- Give your dog enough exercise and play to reduce boredom chewing.
When to see a vet
Get emergency care right away if:
- You see or suspect your dog has swallowed a battery, magnet, sharp object, fishhook, string, skewer or large object.
- Your dog is struggling to breathe, choking, coughing violently, or has bluish gums.
- Your dog vomits repeatedly, retches without producing anything, or has a swollen, painful belly.
- Your dog stops eating, hasn't passed stool for more than a day, or has bloody or black stools.
- Your dog is lethargic, weak, trembling or collapses.
Even if your dog seems normal after swallowing something unusual, call your veterinarian to ask whether monitoring or further checks are needed.
This article was prepared with the help of artificial intelligence tools and reviewed by the PetID247 editorial team before publication. It is for reference only and does not replace an examination by a veterinarian.
