What to do if a dog swallows an foreign object

After a dog swallows a foreign object, the owner needs to first confirm the size of the object and whether it can be digested. If it can be digested, let the dog digest it slowly. If it cannot be digested, induce vomiting promptly. However, if the foreign object cannot be vomited out or is too large to swallow, it is necessary to take the dog to the pet hospital immediately for surgery to remove the object. Otherwise, long-term retention can easily lead to pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, etc.

Artificial induced vomiting

If the dog has just swallowed a foreign object, the owner can try to induce vomiting with soap water or diluted hydrogen peroxide to make the dog vomit out the object. Before administering the solution, the dog needs to be secured, and the owner should separate the dog's upper and lower jaws with their hands. Pour the prepared emetic agent into the base of the tongue or the deep part of the oral cavity, and then slowly release the hand, allowing the dog to swallow it naturally.

Surgical removal of the foreign object

If the emetic agent is ineffective or the object swallowed by the dog is too bulky, it will be difficult for the dog to vomit it out on its own. Therefore, it is recommended that the owner send the dog to the pet hospital as soon as possible for inspection to determine the location, shape, and size of the object. If necessary, the object can be removed surgically.

Note: When using hydrogen peroxide for induced vomiting, special attention should be paid to the dosage, as hydrogen peroxide has strong oxidizing properties. Excessive concentration may cause severe damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, if there is no professional available for induced vomiting, it is generally recommended that the owner use soap water instead, although its efficacy is less than that of hydrogen peroxide, it is safer.