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If you’re like most people, you have a nice assortment of phone cords and charger cables lying around. And if you have a family, that means that there are even more cords and cables around the house. That’s usually not a problem, except that sometimes dogs are drawn to eating things like cords and cables.
Dogs Eating Foreign Objects
Dogs are known for eating a wide variety of things including food and non-food items. When it comes to non-food items, vets have found all sorts of things inside dogs including:
- Socks
- Jewelry
- Electronics
- Nails
- Acrylic fingernails
- And more
When dogs eat something that’s a non-food item, then the item is called a “foreign object” or “foreign body”. A foreign object is just a fancy name for that non-food item your dog may have eaten.
The Dangers of Foreign Objects in Dogs
The obvious dangers include toxic substances, but also include the development of an intestinal blockage. Sometimes a dog will eat a foreign object, such as a phone cord or charger, and then vomit it back up. Other times, the foreign object will pass on through the stomach and into the intestines.
Once inside the intestines, the non-food item can cause something called an intestinal blockage. This is when something becomes stuck in the intestines and nothing can move. If the dog eats, the food stays ahead of the foreign object and they may vomit. An intestinal blockage is a very dangerous medical condition, which can lead to death if not treated promptly.
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It may be that your dog has eaten only a portion of the cord or charger cable; however, it’s also possible he’s snarfed down the entire cable. Either way, your fur baby can become very sick. Not only can this cause an intestinal blockage, but the cord or cable can wrap up the intestines.
Sometimes if a dog eats something like a cable, you may notice that part of it may be sticking out from your dog’s behind. The temptation is to “help” your dog by pulling the cable out. However, this is the worst thing you could do. The reason is that the pressure applied when pulling out the cable could cause the intestines to tear, which could quickly cause death to your dog.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats a Phone Cable or Charger
If you suspect or know for sure that your dog’s eaten a cable or charger, then please call the vet immediately. This could be a life-threatening health issue, which requires treatment as soon as possible.
The vet will explain what you need to do next, and the next steps in helping your dog. Don’t wait for this to resolve itself. Call the vet right away—you may just save your dog’s life.
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Aisling O'Keeffe, MVB CertSAM ISFMCertAdvFB
This article has been reviewed and approved by an independent Veterinarian: Aisling qualified as a vet 7 years ago from University College Dublin. She has worked in a mixture of UK small animal hospitals along with Irish practices. She worked for 3 years in a feline-only hospital where she further developed her feline medicine and surgery skills. She currently lives and works in a small animal hospital in Cork, Ireland. Aisling's full professional bio is available here.
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