Most pet owners do not think their pet(s) would ever eat anything that is not food. Sadly this is not the case. The top foreign body that pets ingest is rocks. The owners are right there saying “NO, DON’T EAT THAT” but they do anyway! The staff at Gladstone Animal Clinic has seen a lot of pets that have eaten unusual things, some of us have even had our own pets ingest items.
Intestinal blockage cause by foreign bodies can happen to any pet that has eaten something it was not supposed to. Owners may not be aware of this blockage until days later. Below is a list of some possible signs of a blockage caused by a foreign body and a list of the most common foreign bodies found.
Possible Signs of a Foreign Body
- Lethargic
- Not acting normal
- Vomiting
- (often times projectile vomit-may not even hold down water)
- Painful abdomen
- (when touched or picked up)
- No Bowel Movement in a few days
- (however some animals may have loose stools)
- Not eating or drinking
IF YOUR PET HAS THESE SIGNS PLEASE CONTACT YOUR VETERINARIAN
Most Common Foreign Bodies
- Rocks
- Pet Toys (Stuffed Animals, Rubber Squeaker toys, etc.)
- Trash
- Hair Ties
- Thread / Ribbon
- Socks / Underwear
- Human Food Items (Corn Cob, Steak Bones)
- Children Toys
- Baby Items (Pacifier, Bottle parts)