Did your dog swallow something?

Common foreign objects swallowed by dogs include toys, socks, underwear, hair ties, rubber bands, bones, rocks, sticks, and corn cobs. Puppies and young dogs are especially prone to ingesting non-food items as they explore the world with their mouths.

Some objects are more dangerous than others. String, thread, and linear foreign bodies are particularly concerning because they can bunch or plicate the intestine as the gut attempts to move them along, potentially cutting into the intestinal wall. Corn cobs, rib bones, and large rigid objects are also high-risk because they are unlikely to pass and can become lodged in the stomach or intestine.

Even objects that seem small and harmless can cause problems depending on the size of the dog and where the object becomes stuck. The risk of complications increases the longer the object remains in the gastrointestinal tract.

The most common signs of intestinal obstruction include repeated vomiting, complete loss of appetite, abdominal pain or distension, and unusual lethargy. Dogs with an obstruction may hunch, whimper when the abdomen is touched, or adopt a stretched posture to try to relieve discomfort.

Other signs to watch for include diarrhea early in the course of the obstruction (which may later progress to no stool production at all), drooling, and repeated unproductive retching. Dehydration can develop quickly, especially with repeated vomiting.

A partial obstruction may produce intermittent signs — your dog may vomit occasionally and still have some interest in food, making the situation harder to recognize. Any combination of these signs, particularly repeated vomiting along with appetite loss, warrants veterinary evaluation.

X-rays are a quick, widely available imaging tool that can provide valuable information when a foreign body is suspected. Some objects — such as bones, metal, and certain dense plastics — are visible on standard radiographs. Even when the object itself is not directly visible, X-rays can reveal secondary signs that suggest an obstruction is present.

These secondary signs may include unusual gas patterns in the intestines, loops of bowel that appear distended or stacked, or fluid levels that indicate material is backed up behind a blockage. Our veterinarians interpret these findings in the context of your dog's clinical signs and exam results to form a working diagnosis.

In some cases, a contrast study may be recommended. This involves administering a safe contrast agent by mouth and taking sequential X-rays to track how material moves through the digestive tract. This can help identify partial obstructions or confirm that the gastrointestinal tract is patent when the diagnosis is not clear from standard films alone.

Ultrasound uses sound waves to create real-time images of the abdominal organs, and it can be particularly useful when X-rays do not give a definitive answer. Unlike radiographs, ultrasound does not rely on the density of the object, so it may detect items that do not show up well on X-rays — such as fabric, soft plastics, or certain organic materials.

During an abdominal ultrasound, a probe is placed on the abdomen and moved across the skin to visualize the stomach, intestines, and surrounding structures. The veterinarian can watch how the gastrointestinal tract is moving in real time, which can help identify areas where motility is reduced or absent — a finding that may suggest an obstruction is present.

Ultrasound can also reveal fluid accumulating around the intestines, thickening of the intestinal wall, or other changes that indicate the situation may be more urgent. In some cases, ultrasound findings help the team determine whether surgery is needed or whether continued monitoring may be appropriate.

Endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure in which a thin, flexible tube with a camera and working channel is passed through the mouth and into the stomach or upper small intestine. The veterinarian can directly visualize the object and, in many cases, retrieve it using specialized instruments passed through the scope.

This approach may be appropriate when the foreign body is located in the stomach or upper gastrointestinal tract, when the object has not caused significant damage to the surrounding tissue, and when the dog's overall condition allows for the procedure. It avoids the need for a surgical incision and can result in a shorter recovery period compared to traditional surgery.

Endoscopy does have limitations. Objects that have moved beyond the stomach and deep into the intestines may not be accessible by scope. Sharp objects that have already caused damage to the intestinal wall, or objects that have created a complete obstruction with significant swelling, may not be safely retrievable endoscopically. In these situations, surgical removal is typically recommended instead.

Surgery becomes necessary when a foreign object is causing a complete or partial obstruction, when the object is sharp and at risk of perforating the intestinal wall, or when conservative management and endoscopic retrieval are not appropriate options. The goal of surgery is to remove the object safely and address any damage it may have caused to the surrounding tissue.

Depending on where the object is located, the surgeon may perform a gastrotomy (opening the stomach) or an enterotomy (opening the intestine) to retrieve it. In some cases, a section of damaged intestine may need to be removed and the healthy ends reconnected.

Pre-operative bloodwork is required to evaluate organ function and help plan the safest anesthetic protocol. During surgery, the dog's vital signs are continuously monitored. Post-operative care includes pain management, activity restriction, and a follow-up visit to assess healing.

Repeated, unproductive vomiting — especially retching without producing anything — is a sign that should be taken seriously. A distended or hard abdomen, collapse, extreme lethargy, and known ingestion of a sharp or large object all indicate a potentially life-threatening situation.

Sharp objects such as bones, needles, or fishhooks carry a risk of perforating the gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to leakage of intestinal contents into the abdominal cavity. Long, rigid objects or objects that have become wedged can quickly compromise blood flow to the intestinal wall, leading to tissue damage that may require more extensive surgery.

Even when the situation is not immediately life-threatening, dogs that are repeatedly vomiting or not eating are at risk for dehydration and electrolyte imbalances that can complicate both diagnosis and treatment. If your dog shows signs that suggest they may have swallowed something — especially repeated vomiting, retching without producing anything, or a sudden refusal to eat — contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.