My Dog Has Swallowed an Object

Many dogs are as gluttonous as they are curious. This behavior means it's not unusual for them to end up swallowing objects, which can cause problems. And in the most serious cases, it can even end up requiring surgery.

Let's look at the symptoms of a dog that's swallowed a foreign object, and how we should act to keep its life out of danger.

Symptoms When Objects Are in the Esophagus

Our dog's esophagus is the fibrous tube that, through rhythmic movements, transports food to the stomach. Inside it, foreign objects like bones, string, fishhooks, splinters, or any small toy can get stuck.

We can suspect our dog has swallowed an object lodged in its esophagus if it shows symptoms like the following, which will appear suddenly:

• Nausea
• Retching
• Excessive drooling
• Regurgitation
• Trouble swallowing

Esophageal Perforation in Dogs

The biggest danger of objects inside the esophagus is if they have sharp edges. An object like this could erode or cut the esophagus, causing a perforation. In this case, the dog will show the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Coughing
• Rapid breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Rigid body posture

What Do I Do If My Dog Has an Object in Its Esophagus?

Whenever we suspect our dog may have swallowed an object, we should see a vet as soon as possible. Usually, an X-ray of the neck area will let the vet locate the swallowed object. Sometimes a contrast X-ray is needed.

Many of these objects can be removed through endoscopy, an exam that allows direct visualization of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, the first section of the small intestine. Endoscopy is done under general anesthesia.

With the dog asleep, a tube, the endoscope, is inserted through the mouth to locate the object in question. If its size allows, a grasping tool can be inserted through this same tube to remove it. If this technique isn't feasible, it may be pushed toward the stomach and, once there, removed through abdominal surgery.

There's a third option for objects that couldn't be removed through either of the methods above. For these, surgery directly opening the esophagus will be needed, which is also required in cases of perforation.

That said, if we notice our dog has just swallowed something and is having trouble breathing, because the object is blocking its throat, we can perform the Heimlich maneuver to try to quickly expel the object.

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Objects in the Canine Gastrointestinal Tract

Dogs can swallow bones, toys, sticks, rocks, clothing, balls, string, and so on, and, just like in cats, ingesting hair can also cause problems. String or any similar object carries the complication that one end can get knotted. This creates tension that can tear the intestinal wall.

Also, as we mentioned with the esophagus, sharp or pointed objects, like pins or splinters, carry the added danger of being able to perforate any point along the gastrointestinal tract. This can lead to peritonitis.

Dogs' anatomy allows them to swallow objects much larger than what can pass out of the stomach. This is because the esophagus is wider than that exit passage. Foreign objects in the stomach cause chronic gastritis and blockages in gastric flow. Those lodged in the rectum will cause anorectal obstructions.

Peritonitis

Peritonitis is inflammation of the cavity housing the abdominal organs. It results from digestive enzymes, food, stool, bile, and so on, leaking out of the digestive system — in this case, due to the perforation. A dog with peritonitis may show symptoms like the following:

• Very severe abdominal pain
• Immobility, due to pain
• Vomiting
• Tucked-up, rigid abdomen
• Dehydration
• Labored breathing
• Pale, cold gums
• Shock

Peritonitis is a veterinary emergency. Getting the dog immediate care is essential for it to survive. At the clinic, it'll be stabilized, and afterward, surgery will be needed. This will repair the perforation and clean the entire abdominal cavity.

Chronic Gastritis

Chronic gastritis requires veterinary care, so any suspicion of this condition should send us to the clinic. Its characteristic symptoms are the following:

• Occasional vomiting, sometimes containing foreign objects or food from the day before.
• Listlessness
• Poor coat condition
• Weight loss

Gastric Flow Obstruction

On another note, gastric flow obstruction happens when something prevents the stomach from emptying. This happens because the exit passage scars over and contracts. The obstruction can be partial or complete. We'll notice symptoms like the following:

• Intermittent vomiting with undigested food and, sometimes, blood
• Vomiting immediately after eating when the obstruction is complete. Also, this vomiting tends to be projectile, meaning it expels the stomach's contents with great force, ending up some distance from the dog
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Gas
• Burping.

If the obstruction interferes with blood supply, intestinal strangulation can occur. This will cause the affected area to die off, which can happen in just a few hours. The dog will worsen quickly, and this becomes an emergency.

What Do I Do If My Dog Has an Object in Its Stomach?

As always, seeing a vet is mandatory. Although some objects a dog swallows can be passed easily with no complications, we've seen there's a possibility of serious consequences from inappropriate ingestion.

Objects lodged in the rectum can be removed manually, always after sedating or anesthetizing the dog first. If foreign objects are in the stomach, abdominal surgery is usually needed to remove them. Sometimes they can be removed with an endoscope, as we explained for the esophagus.