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Some dogs will chew on just about everything, including furniture! It’s not usual for a pet parent to come home to find their fur baby has eaten the couch! Why would a dog eat a couch? No one knows for sure. Can eating a couch make a dog sick?
Has your dog eaten a couch? Are you worried eating the couch will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it’s concerning and scary when your dog eats something like this.
We’ve put together information about couches and whether they can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
What is a Couch?
A couch is also referred to as a sofa or settee. This is a piece of furniture that may be cushioned and upholstered. Couches are usually made to seat multiple people, and these are usually found in the living room of a home or even in a breakout room at wor, and other places.
Couches usually include the following materials:
- Frame (wood or metal)
- Springs (metal)
- Padding
- Upholstery (a textile/fabric/leather)
Couches come in various sizes and in a broad range of styles. While couches are safe for humans to sit on, what happens if a dog eats a couch? Can the couch materials make a dog sick?
Couches & Dogs
Dogs often chew up things, including couches. This is normal canine behavior. But what about eating a couch? If a dog eats a couch, there’s usually an underlying reason for this, which may include:
- Hunger
- Boredom
- Anxiety (including separation anxiety)
- Frustration
- Poor nutrition
- Pica (a behavioral issue that can cause a dog to eat non-food items)
Do dogs really eat couches? Yes, in some cases, it’s possible a dog may eat the material of the couch and not just chew up the couch. And unfortunately, if a dog eats any part of the couch it could make him sick.
The main issue is that the pieces of the couch could become lodged somewhere in the dog’s digestive tract. This could cause intestinal blockage, which can be deadly if left untreated.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Couch Ingestion in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten a couch:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain & swelling
- Dehydration
- Restlessness
If your dog develops these symptoms, call the vet immediately. This is an emergency.
Treatment of Intestinal Obstruction in Dogs
The vet may need to use either a non-surgical or a surgical procedure to remove the blockage from your dog’s digestive tract. The location of the blockage determines how the vet will treat your dog. In some cases, the vet may need to perform surgery to safely remove the blockage.
The prognosis is best for dogs who receive prompt medical treatment for this condition. And if your dog has a habit of eating the furniture, it’s time to talk with the vet. They will check your dog for underlying health and behavioral issues and suggest treatments and interventions based on their diagnosis.
Eating the couch or other furnishings is a serious condition that must be addressed ASAP. Prevention is always the best medicine!
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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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