Its a "my dog has eaten X what shall I do" thread

[StaplesCorner]

Name changed for this as I've shown so many people this bloody frog toy all my friends know it well.

I've got a 19kg cockerpoo nearly 5 years old. Monday morning he ate the right "hand" of a leather frog toy; its like a sort of soft leather like you might get on the sole of a slipper. He previously ate the left frog foot, but he vomited that up within 48 hours (that happened months ago). I've picked up every poo and examined it - so I reckon frog appendage is still in his stomach. The vet says that leather is unlikely to show up on an x-ray so unless he becomes ill they don't recommend any action.

I always thought that if something is in a dog's stomach its best to get it out before it enters the intestines? The frog hand is around 4cmx4cm and would weigh maybe 3-4gsm. I don't think it would pass through the intestines and I am pretty sure leather can't be broken down by the stomach. Oh and it was so quick I reckon he swallowed it whole. The fact that he's been pooing as normal for 3 days now would suggest to me its still in his stomach.

My last dog died aged 5 as a result of exploratory surgery on the intestines (not due to swallowing crap) but you can imagine my feelings now! Should I just wait? Will it actually pass through him? If I wait, what am I waiting for?

My dog munches stuff like this, in all honesty I wouldn’t worry, but maybe my dog’s general nonsense and fact he appears to have iron innards has made me quite lax…

This isn't my first rodeo either @LawnFever - he has form for plastic yoghurt pots (they did xray and couldn't find anything), bits of brick, filler, straight from the tub - if its life threatening, its delicious. How big is your dog though? I think if he was bigger I wouldn't worry so much but that 4cm frog fist is going to be hard going getting through the digestive system I reckon?

If it helps (even just in solidarity) on the first day of a holiday a few years back, my dog ate a WHOLE glove (which had a fake fur trim around the cuff!). I spent the whole week of the holiday following her around, inspecting every poo she did, and watching her like a hawk for any signs of...anything. She ate and drank as normal the whole week. The day before we were due to go home, she barfed up the whole glove, slimy but intact. I was - and still am - entirely dumbfounded (where had she kept it?!?). Re yiur dog, if it were me, I wouldn't be worrying, especially as it's something made of a natural material like leather (as opposed to something hard/spiky). Hope all ends up well!

Oh feel your pain! My dog’s about 32kg and most things he’s eaten seem to leave him generally unscathed, lumps out of shoes, a whole chicken (genuinely was v worried about that, he didn’t blink an eyelid), socks, bottle tops…

If the vet isn't recommending any action could you chat to them again and explain your fears about it travelling into the intestines? Completely understand your worries given your history with your previous ddog.

My dog, (13kg, 8 month old pup), ate the strap from my daughter's PE trainer. It passed through her, (intact), but it took nearly 4 days. She eats everything that's not nailed down. Vet unconcerned unless she started showing signs of a blockage.

@Creamcrackersandricecakes thank you I am glad she's ok! Bearing in mind weights etc I'd say that was a broadly similar amount/size to be in a dogs stomach so there is hope! Also considering what @Pumpkintopf said if no joy next week there's one vet at our practice who I really trust (I am at a different practice from the one where my first dog was operated on) so I'll make an appointment with her for next week and take it from there. A consultation is £50 or something so I'd rather take the hit and pay that, get a second opinion.

But as of today, I am still forensically examining all poo for frog fall out!!

Our dhusky ate a flip flop a few years ago. Left the hard toe post bit.
Pinky poo for days!!
Our dpuppy last Xmas ate 5 mince pies...

Sounds like a plan @StaplesCorner ! Any 'movement' yet?!

As a vet I never cease to be amazed by the stuff I remove from dogs or vomit out of them.
I have removed fishing hooks, sewing needles, corn on the cobs, socks, knickers, fiborous river weed, satay sticks, half the stationary cupboard ( 4 bulldog clips and a large number of paper clips and staples) from one dog, parts of the junk yard that it lived in on two separate occasions from another dog, peach stones and more stones than I can remember.
Vomit raisins and chocolate nearly every week, rat bait infrequently, chewing gum every so often and recently quite a lot of cannabis.

Intestinal contents and vomit are the very unglamorous world of veterinary medicine.

My dog would have all that @Lonecatwithkitten, if he could get his paws on it. What would you do with him in the suede-ish frog mitt situation I've described? (no sadly @Pumpkintopf, no frog appendage and believe me I am examining every poo like I'm on Final Witness)

My 12kg dog has eaten far larger and far worse. Highlights so far: candles; matches; broken glass; most of a plastic waste paper basket; plastic chew toys; most of a leather sandle; an entire packet of dreamies, including the packet; a whole reel of sellotape...

It always seems to pass one way or the other, eventually.

As long as food is going in and poo is going out, and your dog seems cheerful, I wouldn't be concerned.

@Lonecatwithkitten

As a vet I never cease to be amazed by the stuff I remove from dogs or vomit out of them. I have removed fishing hooks, sewing needles, corn on the cobs, socks, knickers, fiborous river weed, satay sticks, half the stationary cupboard ( 4 bulldog clips and a large number of paper clips and staples) from one dog, parts of the junk yard that it lived in on two separate occasions from another dog, peach stones and more stones than I can remember. Vomit raisins and chocolate nearly every week, rat bait infrequently, chewing gum every so often and recently quite a lot of cannabis. Intestinal contents and vomit are the very unglamorous world of veterinary medicine.

Wow that's insane! Why on earth did we ever breed animals into such a dependent state that they wouldn't last 15 minutes on their own without us keeping them away from everything toxic and dangerous!

It took a week for my dog to vomit up a child’s sock that she’d swallowed whole. No idea where she kept it until that point, I’d almost forgot about it until the day she threw it back up at my feet. Fingers crossed yours does the same!

When mine got a rag stuck in his intestine and needed emergency surgery the vet said it could have sat in his stomach for a while rattling about until it finally moved into the intestine and got stuck.

I would be worried about it still being a potential issue if it hasn't appeared at the other end.

@Lonecatwithkitten

As a vet I never cease to be amazed by the stuff I remove from dogs or vomit out of them. I have removed fishing hooks, sewing needles, corn on the cobs, socks, knickers, fiborous river weed, satay sticks, half the stationary cupboard ( 4 bulldog clips and a large number of paper clips and staples) from one dog, parts of the junk yard that it lived in on two separate occasions from another dog, peach stones and more stones than I can remember. Vomit raisins and chocolate nearly every week, rat bait infrequently, chewing gum every so often and recently quite a lot of cannabis. Intestinal contents and vomit are the very unglamorous world of veterinary medicine.

Could have been mine with the satay stick, very very horrible experience and since we didn't know, it was there for a long time poor thing. Almost lost him but luckily he pulled through and is a very happy healthy 5 yo now oh and he hasn't eaten anything too dangerous since, the odd chocolate cereal and disgusting human waste in the park.....

There's absolutely no way of knowing where it is in your dog's digestive system or how to remove it.

Vomiting up soft small items like that is not recommended - much more risk it will lodge in the oesophagus and cause a stricture (very bad)
It's likely already in the intestines anyway. So inducing vomiting is pointless.
It will either pass through (likely) or it won't
If it causes an obstruction then surgery is needed.

I'd suggest removing the frog toy. One swallowed foot is an accident. Two seems a bit careless.

The frog limb has surfaced thank you all. 🐸

That's good news.

Are you going to stitch it back on op???

Ha!! Nope it’s all in the bin! I’m so relieved (as was dog) 😅

I know cats are disgusting but.... you gals are making me glad that I have cats not dogs.

My new dog is only 7 months old so I don't have many war wounds to offer but he did eat three fairy cakes including the paper case in the week. That was one mega case of sugar induced zoomies. Old dog was terrible too.

If it helps I can offer up my own son who swallowed a dime (DH had just got one of the last flights out of the US as the borders closed) in the first week of lockdown. We couldn't take him to A&E so we had to spend the next few days fishing his poo out the toilet and checking it. We now call him the piggy bank.

Pleased it has surfaced.

I had a lab once that hate a coir door mat, a large area of skirting board and a plastic garden gnome on various unsupervised occasions. No ill effects!

Excellent news.

Down or up?