Pets have a knack for getting into things they shouldn’t, and sometimes they swallow the most unexpected items! From household objects to garden finds, here’s a list of the top 10 weird things that dogs and cats eat that can get stuck and cause serious problems. If your pet has eaten any of these items, please contact your vet immediately.
1. Fish Hooks (Dogs) & Sewing Needles (Cats)
These sharp items can cause serious internal damage. Fish hooks are often ingested when dogs go on fishing trips with their owners, attracted by the bait. Sewing needles are a curious cat's nightmare, often swallowed during playful moments. Both of these items will be very obvious on an x-ray.
⬆️ Fish hook in the stomach
⬆️ Sewing needle already passing into the intestine
2. Toys
From tennis balls to tiny figurines, toys can easily get stuck in your pet’s digestive tract. While larger toys might cause immediate choking, smaller parts can pass into the intestines and create blockages over time.
⬆️ Tennis ball in the stomach - depending on what a toy is made up, it's not always visible!
3. Socks & Undies
Pets love the scent of their owners, but these items can cause blockages. Dogs, in particular, might raid laundry baskets and chew on socks or underwear, which can lead to serious intestinal issues if swallowed whole.
⬆️ You can just make out the fabric texture but these are tricky! And what makes it even more difficult is some of these softer items will pass so it's not as easy as 'I see something weird so let's do surgery and remove it'.
4. Corn Cobs
A common BBQ leftover, corn cobs can be a choking hazard and cause obstructions. Dogs often find these irresistible due to the leftover food, but their size and shape make them difficult to pass.
⬆️ It's obvious when you point it out but a corn cob can be difficult to see!
5. Fruit Pits and Seeds
While some fruits are safe, their pits and seeds can be dangerous. For example, peach pits and apple seeds contain toxins that are harmful to pets, and their size can lead to choking or blockages.
⬆️ Luckily this one is obvious but usually they're really hard to see and don't look like anything on an x-ray!
6. String (Cats)
Cats are notorious for playing with and swallowing string, which can lead to serious issues. String can cause what's known as a linear foreign body obstruction, where the intestines bunch up around the string.
⬆️ String won't show up on an x-ray so as vets we need to interpret the gas pattern of the intestines to help us determine if a patient needs surgery or not!
7. Skewers
Often not visible on X-rays, skewers pose a puncture risk. Dogs might grab these from BBQs or trash, and if swallowed whole, they can puncture the intestines or other organs, creating life-threatening conditions.
⬆️ Can't see the wooden skewer here either! Tricky...
8. Batteries
Highly visible on X-rays, batteries are dangerous if they leak. The chemicals inside batteries can cause severe burns to the digestive tract, and ingestion requires immediate veterinary attention.
⬆️ Battery in the stomach
9. Hairties, Rubber Bands, and Scrunchies
Common in homes, these can cause intestinal blockages. Cats and dogs might chew on these out of curiosity or play, leading to blockages if multiple items are swallowed or if they are swallowed whole.
⬆️ Again, an item that isn't visible on x-ray so we need to evaluate the gas pattern of the intestines and the patient's symptoms
10. Airpods/Earbuds
Surprisingly, cats & dogs can be attracted to these small, shiny objects. Swallowing Airpods or earbuds can lead to blockages and potentially require surgical removal, as their components can be harmful to pets' digestive systems.
⬆️ Anything with metal will show up on an x-ray pretty bright like in the above x-ray.
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The gut is a resilient organ, but ingesting foreign objects is always a roll of the dice. Sometimes items pass on their own, but many require medical intervention. If your pet has eaten any of these items, please contact your vet immediately. Making decisions about what we do next depends on what was eaten, where it's located in the gut and what symptoms the patient is showing. I'll save that for another blog article!