What would you do if your small dog may or may not have eaten some thick plastic from a cheese wrapper?

[loveyouradvice]

Just that really....

I've just found the dense plastic wrapper from an empty pack of Cathedral cheddar torn with little bits on the lawn. Doesn't look as if he has actually eaten any but difficult to know.

He's a small dog.... who loves cheese!

On the assumption that it's good to have bulk to carry it through him if he has eaten any, Ive given him some kibble, yogurt and kaolin.... and am crossing my fingers

What would you do?

Has this happened to you? And what was the outcome?

My dog has had emergency surgery to remove a rag that caused a blockage.

How sure are you that none was ingested? Any vomiting or change in digestion and I would be straight on the phone to the vets.

thank you .... really helpful. We think he hasn't having pieced together the cheese packet but lots of tiny bits so may have

I’m a vet. If it was chewed into small fragments, chances are if he has eaten any, they will go through without issue. Keep an eye on both ends and if he vomits more than once or twice or seems unwell in himself, see a vet. Most things, other than solid objects like corks or corn cobs or balls, pass through dogs surprisingly well. I’ve seen a dog that knocked down a china bowl with bread dough in it, ate all the dough and lots of the bowl, and was fine, and another one that ate lots of a pewter vase (made for an exciting X-ray!) and was also fine. Did he eat the cheese as well? If so, he might get pancreatitis from the fat. That also causes vomiting and being ill: see a vet for that too!

My old jack Russell ate the (live) wire from the fridge. I was terrified. We went to the vet and the X-ray showed it was in her very bloated stomach like a birds nest chewed up. He advised letting her pass it naturally. It was quite the sight
That's not helpful but it reminded me of my nutty little dog bless her

I suspect dogs eat a lot of weird things we wouldn't know about. But always vets if you're worried

My small dog ate the wrapper from a family size pizza. I never saw it emerge the other end so assume it got digested.

Luckily he didnt eat the cheese! I'm feeling so much better having heard all of this.... going to relax and keep a gentle eye out but he's totally cheerful at the moment!!

I'd call my vet! The advice from the vet on here sounds sensible.

I'd keep an eye on him but I'm sure he'll be fine! Mine has eaten all sorts and it's always reappeared eventually 😂

So far so good - his usual chirpy self!

Given that Google reckons it takes 6-8 hours for food to pass through a dog, I'm gently hopeful.

We'll keep a careful eye on him for the rest of the week, and give him some more kaolin just in case it helps move anything through

I reckon it will just pass through. We are always finding random wrappers in one of our dog's poo.

Good advice from vet above so hope all goes well. Just reminded me of our dog one Xmas unbeknown to us had eaten some tinsel off the tree. We spotted a bit peeping out of her ahem...behind. My mum gently pulled it and like a magic trick about 2 foot slowly emerged! Very festive! She was totally fine

@pepsirolla festive poo!!!!

BiteyShark

“My dog has had emergency surgery to remove a rag that caused a blockage.

How sure are you that none was ingested? Any vomiting or change in digestion and I would be straight on the phone to the vets.“

On the other hand, our 13 1/2 year old Parson Terrier eats plastic frequently. We never know until she poos it out and we see red, blue, green bits in it. Recognisable head of a Lego miniature once. We’re not neglectful, she certainly doesn’t pick things up at home but she does free range in the woods and on the beach.

A rag is a very different thing and I’d be straight to the vets too but I wouldn’t worry too much about small bits of smooth plastic. On the plus side, they’re slippy and glide through quite easily.

Ring the vet for advice but in the meantime half a teaspoon of vegetable oil may help. (Have many bags handy )

I'm glad he seems to be fine so far!

Dogs can generally eat all manner of things and they seem to be totally okay afterwards - mine once ate a box of earplugs and they all came out whole - we didn't re-use them though