Dear Dr. Dog: The holidays are upon us, the time of year when I worry most about what my dog might find to eat that could be harmful to him. What items should I be most concerned about?
Some dogs seem to chew on everything: shoes, wood, the garden hose — you name it. This is one of the normal ways dogs investigate their environment, keep their jaw muscles strong, and, to some degree, help remove dental tartar. The fact that the urge is normal, however, doesn’t mean your dog should be allowed to chew indiscriminately.
Throughout every year and especially at holiday time, we see numerous dogs (and cats) who have swallowed something indigestible and potentially life-threatening. Here are just a few examples:
Bones
Although most dogs love to chew on bones, there are two main problems that can occur. First, as you might expect, some dogs will get a bone stuck in their throats or elsewhere in their digestive tracts. A bone stuck in the throat or intestines is excruciatingly painful and constitutes a real emergency; get to your vet immediately. A bone caught in a dog’s throat can often be easily removed after a dog is placed under general anesthesia, but a bone lodged in the intestines requires major surgery, can be life-threatening, and can cost several thousand dollars depending on the severity of damage and other complications.
Second, I occasionally see dogs who have cracked and broken teeth from chewing on bones. These dogs always have abscesses in the jaw bone surrounding the roots of the broken tooth. The only way to get rid of the infection is to either extract these teeth or perform a root canal on them. Either option involves general anesthesia and significant expense. Consequently, I do not recommend dogs be given hard bones to chew on. This goes for ham or turkey bones from your holiday dinner table.
Chew Toys
Although rubber toys that squeak when a dog bites them are generally safe, I have seen two dogs in the past few years who chewed up the toy completely and swallowed the metal squeaker inside, which subsequently became lodged in the intestines and required surgery to remove. One of these dogs had to have a section of severely damaged intestine removed.
There are many safe and fun chew toys for dogs. One of my recommendations is the kind with a hollow center, such as a “Kong,” where pieces of dog food can be placed, which a dog then has to work at in order to remove. This helps keep a dog busy and rewards him with a tasty morsel when he succeeds. Other types of toys have bristles or other gentle, abrasive surfaces to help clean a dog’s teeth. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian for advice on which chew toys are safe.
String, Ribbon, Etc.
Sadly, I have seen several dogs die from having swallowed string, ribbon, dental floss, etc. These are collectively referred to as “linear foreign bodies.” Once a dog begins chewing on something like this and swallows the beginning of a long strand, it can be impossible for him to spit it out. As a result, he keeps swallowing until the entire ribbon-like object has been ingested. Such things can become tangled in the intestines, causing severe damage over a long length of the intestinal tract, which can be fatal even when surgery is performed to remove it. I have seen this happen with video tape, leather belts, loose strands of fibers from rugs, shoelaces, panty hose, gift box ribbons, Christmas tree tinsel, and virtually any other long, linear material.
Corn Cobs
Every year we see several dogs that have swallowed chunks of corn cobs which then become lodged in the intestines. Corn cobs are not digestible and should never be given to dogs to chew on. I have seen one dog who died as a result of intestinal rupture from having a piece of corn cob stuck in his bowel. If you are planning to include corn on your holiday menus, don’t let your dogs get to the cobs!
Gorilla Glue
This is a particularly strong and expansile glue that some dogs find tasty. After chewing on the bottle and swallowing some glue, it expands to fill the entirety of their stomachs and then hardens. The surgery necessary to alleviate the problem is very much like removing a bowling ball from their stomach. If you are working on holiday craft projects, keep all adhesives out of reach of your canine companions.
This is just a brief taste (pun fully intended) of the kinds of things dogs chew on that can cause serious problems. Virtually anything can become a problem if swallowed (e.g. , socks, rocks, peach pits, gardening gloves, stuffing from pillows, coins, buttons). I must say that I am sometimes amazed at the stories clients tell me about things their dogs have swallowed that were eventually passed without complication, like complete terra cotta planter pot in one case, which the dog managed to pass it (presumably with some difficulty).
This is not the norm, however, and I recommend you do not take chances. Monitor your dog’s activity closely. Offer rubber or digestible treats to satisfy his chewing instincts. And when in doubt about giving your dog something to chew on, err on the side of caution.
Hats Off!
Dr. Utchen’s Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center just celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a week-long celebration to raise funds for five animal rescue groups (Lab Rescue, German Shepherd Rescue, Pug Rescue, VHS’s Just Like New Fund, and SafeCat Foundation). In its decade of operation, Bishop Ranch has donated $720,000 of free medical care to rescue groups, treated 4,500 rescue pets, and worked with 25 different rescue groups. Thanks, Bishop Ranch, and congratulations! – ED.
Dr. Franklin Utchen has been practicing veterinary medicine in San Ramon since 1989 and currently co-owns Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care. His special interests include Orthopedic and Soft Tissue Surgery, Internal Medicine, Emergency/Critical Care, Dentistry, and Anesthesiology/Pain Management. Have questions or comments? Email bishopranchvets@yahoo.com.
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