Creature Feature
Do You Want Fries With That?
By Stephanie Karpf, DVM
I am often asked the question – “What is the weirdest thing that you have ever removed from a dog’s stomach?”
The answer: That depends on what you consider “weird.”
Our furry friends often chew on things that they shouldn’t. For most dogs, this is limited to chewing. They most often do not swallow non-food items. But many dogs will…either accidentally, or intentionally. And I have seen some very interesting items get taken out of a dog’s belly.
The most common are pieces of – or entire – balls. Usually it is tennis balls or those really bouncy superballs that the kids like so much. The dogs go crazy chasing them around, try to catch them…and then, whoops! Down the hatch! This certainly may not be considered “weird,” but it is not normal for a dog to eat this. Other common items that get swallowed are baby pacifiers, bottle nipples, leashes, socks, popsicle sticks, and corn cobs.
A more interesting case that I saw while still a veterinary student, was a German Shepherd dog that had eaten almost an entire drawer full of women’s lingerie. The assortment included a lacy black thong, satin red neglige, several pairs of expensive underwear and an entire pair of pantyhose. According to the dog’s owner, this was not the first time that her dog had done this…but it was the first time the objects caused an obstruction.
One of my all time favorites was a case of a Golden Retriever that had eaten a woman’s engagement ring. The client came in with the dog, frantic that the dog had eaten her diamond ring. I assured her that dogs usually do not eat metal. It would be an odd thing for a dog to eat (unless, of course, it had been wrapped in bacon). I thought she had misplaced the ring and was hoping against hope that the ring was in the dog. She insisted that the dog must have eaten it. So we took an X-ray of the dog’s abdomen, and sure enough, there it was! Unfortunately, you cannot see a diamond in an X-ray. It just doesn’t show up. All that is visible is the gold ring and setting that would have held the stone. So, we had to tell her that we knew that the dog had swallowed the ring, but we didn’t know if the diamond was still there. When we retrieved the ring from the dog’s digestive system, we called to tell the owner that it was a success. Rather than inquire about the dog’s recovery, she just blurted out, “Is the stone still in the setting!!!!????” I guess you have to have your priorities.
If your dog is a chewer, it is very important to keep objects that they often go after, out of their reach. Many items can cause damage to a dog’s internal organs, or can have components that are toxic. Even when items are not sharp or poisonous, the danger often lies in the ability of the item to get stuck. This will result in severe vomiting, and ultimately, can be fatal if surgery is not done to remove the object. If you ever suspect that your dog has swallowed something they shouldn’t have, you should contact your veterinarian immediately for instructions. Do not simply try to make the dog vomit it up. Many objects can get stuck in the esophagus on their way back up, and result in an even worse problem than having swallowed the object in the first place. And remember, if you can’t find that piece of nostalgic jewelry that you are looking for, there is a small chance that it might be in the dog!
Dr. Karpf is the co-owner of The Visiting Vet, a housecall service for dogs and cats serving Palm Beach County. For an appointment, please call 561-252-8874.