Your Dog Ate What?! Common Things Dogs Eat & What To Do
Tiki the black labrador made news in 2015 after a vet found an astounding 62 hair bands and 8 pairs of underwear in her stomach. Scans showed a mess in the poor dog's belly, but it wasn't until the veterinarian did exploratory surgery that the odd combination of items was discovered. This is only one example, but dogs can and will eat some pretty odd things.
Canines like to chew, and they often explore things with their mouth much like a toddler. Unfortunately, this also means that there could easily be a situation when your dog chomps down on something and you have to act fast to make sure they are okay. Take a look at some of the odd things dogs commonly eat and what you should do about the situation.
Holiday Tinsel
That stringy stuff that you like to deck out your tree with during the holidays is kind of like forbidden spaghetti for a dog. Who really knows why dogs can and will eat holiday tinsel? Maybe because it is flashy enough to catch their attention, or possibly because the smell makes them think of holiday dinners. In either case, this stuff is not good for your pooch. If you catch your dog gnawing down on the metallic strands of decor, try to retrieve it before the dog actually swallows. Watch for the tinsel in the dog's stool over the next few days. If it doesn't show up, call a vet right away. The stringy stuff can get wrapped around things in its gut and cause intestinal blockages.
Ceramics
Ceramic figurines and dishes are made out of mostly natural materials, but they can have sharp edges when broken apart. Ceramic items are crunchy and fun to chew in the eyes of a dog, so it is best to keep them up and out of reach if you have a particularly curious pup. If something happens and your dog does get ahold of a ceramic piece when no one is looking, it is best to get them to the pet hospital right away to ensure they haven't cut their mouth, injured their esophagus, or started showing signs of internal bleeding.
Vitamins
You are taking your daily dose, accidentally drop a tablet, and Fido rushes in to gobble up the not-so-safe morsel that looks a lot like kibble before you can stop him. Vitamins that are safe for humans may not always be safe for dogs so you will need to act quickly if something like this happens. There are a few ways to induce a dog to vomit. Try this first, but if it does not work, reach out to your vet for advice right away.
If these preventative tactics and initial steps don't work, visit a pet hospital like Columbine Animal Hospital & Emergency Clinic.