Avoiding Foriegn Body Ingestion

A lot of pets have a tendency to eat things they shouldn't.  Sometimes, this doesn't cause a problems and things pass on their own, but oftentimes it can become a life threatening situation.  We most commonly see foriegn body ingestion in younger dogs or puppies, and kittens or cats that like to hunt and eat their toys.

From dogs, we have removed socks, blankets, underwear, hard plastic chew-bones and stuffed animals, earrings, pacifiers, popsicle sticks and rocks, to name just a few.  Cats may ingest sewing needles (after playing with the thread), fabric, mouse toys, rubber bands, or small pieces of plastic.  

Symptoms can be vague, but often include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and loss of appetite.  A physical examination and radiographs are often sufficient to determine whether a foriegn body is present.  The size and location of the foriegn body and the size of the animal usually help determine whether the patient is a good candidate for exporatory surgery versus endoscopy.  Prognosis usually depends on the length of time the object has been present.

There are many measures that should be taken by any pet owner, regardless of whether the pet has a habit of eating things he shouldn't.  

• Dogs should never be given any sort of chew toy or chew treat unless they are being supervised to ensure they don't ingest it whole.  Once a dog's chewing behavior has been established, one can be a little more lenient, but the risk is always there. 
• Dogs should never be allowed to eat bones or fetch rocks - bones can splinter and cause perforations or impactions, and rocks can be accidentally ingested. 
• Countertops and garbage containers should always be secure, and inaccessible to sniffing noses.  Ideally, dogs are kept out of the kitchen area.   It's not uncommon for a big dog to eat a cake or part of the thanksgiving turkey.
• If a dog has a tendency to eat things, it should be crated or placed in a "safe zone" such as a laundry room or bathroom, when the dog isn't directly supervised. 
• Sewing instruments and needles should never be left around cats.  Strings by themselves can be dangerous if ingested.
• If you ever see a string or thread hanging out of your cat's mouth or rectum, DON'T pull it.  Take the cat to your veterinarian immediately.
• For repeat canine offenders, a basket muzzle can be a very effective preventive measure.  Basket muzzles are comfortable contraptions that strap over the ears and cover the nose with a metal or plastic basket, allowing free movement of air and even the ability to drink water, but prevent the dog from ingesting anything else.  They can be left on for hours at a time, if crating or isolating a dog isn't an option.