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Do you have kids with dolls that have hair? Then you may want to pay attention to this article. For some reason, there are dogs who try to eat doll hair! You read that correctly. Why they would eat this, no one is certain. The dog may suffer from a condition called pica, be jealous of the doll, and more! But what happens if a dog eats doll hair?
Has your dog eaten doll hair? Are you worried the doll hair will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog eats something like this.
We’ve put together information about doll hair and whether it can make a dog sick.
What is Doll Hair?
There are many different types of doll hair. For instance, some doll hair is made of wool, human hair, mohair, or synthetic fibers. The hair is used to create hair for dolls. Some of the hair may be rooted in the doll’s head, while others may be glued.
One thing all of these doll hair types have in common is that they are fibers. What happens if a dog eats doll hair made of fibers?
Doll Hair & Dogs
Unfortunately, it’s possible that doll hair could cause a major problem for a dog. The condition is called linear foreign body and is a common problem in many dogs.
When a dog eats anything like a string (such as doll hair), the string hair can become lodged in the digestive tract. The tread can even wrap around the dog’s tongue, though that’s rare.
Once in the intestines, the string, or doll hair, can tighten and twist the intestines. The doll’s hair can cut through the intestinal wall, causing a perforation. A perforation is a whole, which allows bacteria and contents from the intestines to spread into the abdominal cavity. This can lead to serious infections such as peritonitis and sepsis, both of which can be deadly.
This can be a serious problem even if your dog vomits up some of the doll hair or poops some out. It’s possible some of the doll hair could still be in the intestines creating a serious problem.
So, if your dog has eaten doll hair, it’s best to call the vet immediately. Let the vet know about how much doll hair your dog has eaten and when your dog ate it.
The vet may want to see your dog and recommend emergency surgery to safely remove the doll hair. This is much better than allowing your dog to become sick.
The good news is that most dogs will make a full recovery if they receive prompt medical treatment. And in the future, you may want to ensure dolls are kept out of your dog’s reach.
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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