PG-Signs Your Pet May Have Swallowed Something Bad For Them

animal 6870176 640

Pets, especially dogs and cats, are naturally curious creatures who typically explore their surroundings by sniffing and chewing. Unfortunately, this can sometimes mean they end up swallowing things they probably shouldn’t. While this behaviour can be harmless at times, it can also lead to serious health risks if they ingest something dangerous or non-digestible.

As a pet owner, it’s important to keep an eye out and recognise the early signs that your furry friend may have swallowed something they shouldn’t have. Knowing what to look for can help you act quickly and potentially prevent a life-threatening situation.

Symptoms to Look Out For

While you may not actually see your pet swallow the item, there will likely be warning signs. As per the PDSA, signs your cat or dog has swallowed something include retching and vomiting or a sudden loss of appetite. You might also notice changes in their behaviour, such as restlessness and pacing or they may hide and avoid interaction with you. If your pet has abdominal pain, they may whimper, flinch, or avoid being touched altogether.

In some cases, you may notice physical symptoms. Your cat or dog’s stomach may be noticeably bloated or swollen, or they could have difficulty going to the toilet or straining when trying to urinate or defecate. If the item is caught in your pet’s airways, they may begin to choke, gag or have difficulty breathing.

What to Do if You Think Your Pet Swallowed Something

If you suspect your pet has swallowed something they shouldn’t have, you should try to assess what it might be and when. You should check for missing items, such as a missing bottle cap or a lost sock and look for immediate distress signs in your pet, like choking, vomiting, or weakness.

While it may seem like the natural response, don’t induce vomiting until you have sought medical advice from your vet. Some items, such as sharp objects, chemicals, and batteries can cause more harm coming back up, so it’s not a good idea to encourage your pet to throw up.

As per the Blue Cross, CPR in pets is rarely successful, so it’s not recommended to try and resuscitate your pet if they stop breathing. Instead, getting your pet to the vet as soon as possible gives them the best chance of recovery.

Signs Your Pet May Have Swallowed Something

If you think your pet might have swallowed something they shouldn’t, you should keep an eye out for common symptoms such as:

Any of these signs are cause for concern, so contact a vet as soon as possible to get their advice.

When to Call Your Vet

You should monitor your pet carefully and look for signs of distress. You should call the vet for advice if you notice sudden changes in your cat or dog’s behaviour and suspect they may have swallowed something.

You need to take your pet to the vet as soon as possible if you notice your pet is struggling to breathe, there’s blood in their vomit or stool, or they suddenly collapse. Having pet insurance can help you cover emergency expenses and ensure your beloved pet gets the help they need without the worry of how to pay for treatment. The vet may use X-rays, ultrasounds, or endoscopy to locate the object, which (while important tests) can be costly unless you have suitable pet insurance to help cover emergency expenses. Check your policy to ensure you’re covered and compare your options when looking for new policies that can be more comprehensive for you.

Preventing Accidental Ingestion in Pets

It only takes a moment for your cat or dog to swallow something harmful and become seriously ill. To help minimise the risk of your beloved pet eating something they shouldn’t, it’s best to ‘pet-proof’ your home. Keep any small objects like coins, rubber bands, and batteries out of reach and store household cleaners, medications, and toxic foods in secure cabinets. You should also be particularly careful during the festive season, as decorations such as tinsel, ribbons and ornaments can be extremely dangerous if they’re swallowed.

Choose pet toys carefully and opt for sturdy, size-appropriate toys that can’t be easily chewed apart. It’s best to avoid toys with small, detachable parts that could be swallowed or toys with buttons and safety eyes that could be chewed off.

If you can, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your pet during meals and play time so you can act quickly if they do swallow something that could cause problems. Avoid feeding your cat or dog bones, corn cobs, or fruit pits that can cause obstructions, and discourage any scavenging behaviour by keeping food scraps out of reach.

It’s advisable to teach dogs (and cats if you can!) commands such as ‘leave it’ and ‘drop it’ to prevent them from picking up dangerous items. You can reinforce their training by giving them treats and praise when they follow your command.

Keeping Your Pet Safe from Harmful Ingestions

The key to preventing accidental ingestion is to keep small objects, toxic foods, and household chemicals out of your cat or dog’s reach. You can encourage your pet to play with safe objects by providing a variety of fun pet-safe toys and supervising them during meal times to monitor what they’re eating.

It’s also a good idea, as mentioned, to teach your pet simple commands, ensuring they do drop or leave items to minimise the risk of swallowing them. You should also secure bins to prevent your pet from rummaging through the rubbish and potentially finding something that they shouldn’t.

If you think your pet has swallowed something dangerous, do seek advice from your vet as soon as you can. It’s best not to delay even if you are unsure, and get advice from your vet as per the RSPCA, especially if your pet starts struggling to breathe, has blood in their urine or faeces, or collapses. With a few changes around the home and being vigilant, you can avoid this type of issue happening.