Does your dog love to chew up shoes and other leather items? You’re not alone! In researching this article, we came cross numerous stories of dogs eating and chewing all types of leather items. These including furniture, shoes, belts, and more!
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While dogs love to chew leather, could it be dangerous for them?
Why Do Dogs Chew Up Leather?
The main reason seems to be that the leather still has remnants of its original scent, even after being processed. Dogs love to eat anything that smells like food, which could include leather.
Dogs also sometimes eat non-food items for various reasons. These can include underlying health issues such as parasites, nutritional deficiencies, and more. Other times dogs may be hungry or curious about the leather item, while some dogs chew on leather to relieve anxiety, and more.
There are many reasons that dogs choose to eat and chew on leather. What happens if they ingest leather?
Leather Can be Dangerous to Dogs
Eating leather can be dangerous to dogs. The leather could present a choking hazard that can cause your dog to stop breathing. Or it can become lodged in the dog’s digestive tract, where it can become lodged and cause an intestinal blockage. These can be life-threatening emergencies.
So, it’s best to keep all leather objects away from your dog’s reach. If your dog happens to go after furniture, then you should consult with the vet on how to deal with this problem.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of an Intestinal Blockage
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has swallowed leather, which has caused an intestinal blockage:
- Lack of appetite
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Constipation
If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, then it’s time to call the vet. This is a medical emergency.
What to Do if Your Dog Swallowed Leather
If your dog has only eaten a very small piece of leather, he should be OK. He may not have any symptoms, though some dogs may have vomiting and diarrhea. Just monitor his symptoms and call the vet for anything that is concerning. Otherwise, the leather will most likely come through your dog and out in his poop.
On the other hand, if your dog has eaten a large amount of leather, this could be dangerous. It may take a while for your dog to show any symptoms. However, you should call the vet immediately. The sooner your dog can be treated, the better his prognosis will be.
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Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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