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  • My Dog Swallowed a Toothpick What Should I Do?
Categories:
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My Dog Swallowed a Toothpick What Should I Do?

Kyoko

June 27, 2020
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Categories:
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  • Health
  • Safety
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My Dog Swallowed a Toothpick What Should I Do?

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Note: Has your dog swallowed a toothpick? Or do you believe he’s swallowed a toothpick? If so, then it’s time to call the vet to get some advice. This could be a medical emergency and your vet will have the best guidance for you and your fur baby.

Dogs do love to snarf up human food when they have the chance! In fact, some dogs are wonderful opportunists. A dog may see an hors d’oeuvre on the counter or on a table. It may be something like a small sausage or cheese on a toothpick. When no one’s looking, the dog quickly snaps up the yummy morsel, toothpick and all! It happens!

The Problem with Toothpicks

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Toothpicks come in two kinds—wood or plastic. You’d think the wooden toothpick would be OK and there’s no need to worry if your fur baby swallows one. But that’s the case. Both wooden and plastic toothpicks can be dangerous is swallowed.

The wooden toothpick, even if partially chewed, could still cause a problem. Both types of toothpicks are sharp on the ends, and can become lodged in your dog’s throat, pierce the esophagus, or become lodged in the gastrointestinal tract.

What to Do If Your Dog Swallows a Toothpick

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The first thing is to stay calm. If your fur baby isn’t choking, then the toothpick’s traveled down to his stomach. On the other hand, if your dog is drooling excessively, coughing or choking, then this is a medical emergency and you’ll need to get your canine companion to the vet as soon as possible. The toothpick, in this instance, could be caught in your dog’s throat. Do not attempt to induce vomiting, as this could cause your dog to choke and be unable to breathe. Get to the vet quickly.

After your dog has swallowed the toothpick without problems, then it’s still a good idea to call the vet. They’ll have the best advice on what to do next. In some cases, the vet may ask you to give your dog some white bread, possibly covered with butter or peanut butter. The bread works to surround a sharp object, such as a toothpick, as it travels through the intestines. This keeps the sharp edges of the toothpick covered, which may save your dog’s intestines from being pierced.

Another option the vet may choose is to recommend giving your dog canned pumpkin (not the canned pumpkin used in pies). This works in much the same way as the bread, by coating the toothpick’s sharp edges. The hope is this will help the toothpick to pass out of the dog’s system safely.

Vets usually recommend watching your canine companion for any of the following signs:

  • Discomfort, restlessness (unable to get comfortable)
  • Vomiting
  • Heaving/retching (without vomiting)
  • Diarrhea
  • Bloating
  • Loss of appetite

These symptoms could indicate your dog is suffering from a bowel obstruction, which is a life-threatening emergency. In this case, your canine companion will need to see the vet immediately.

In most cases, the toothpick will pass out into your dog’s pooh in a few days. While our next suggestion may seem gross, it’s a good idea to check your pup’s pooh for the toothpick each day. It will look slightly different, but you’ll definitely notice it in the pooh.

If you don’t find the toothpick in your dog’s pooh after about 3-5 days, then it’s a good idea to call the vet and see if anything needs to be done. Chances are your fur baby will be acting completely normal, in which case he may be just fine. But it’s always a good idea to check with the vet!

Dogs who eat toothpicks can become very sick; however, with prompt medical treatment, they should make a full recovery. You two will be back to playing and going for walks in no time!

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The contents of the OurFitPets.com website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website!
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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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5 Comments Hide Comments

Lariat says:
October 17, 2020 at 5:57 am

This is indeed an emergency situation. If you notice any strange symptoms in your dog and you are thinking he might have swallowed a toothpick. Give your vet a call immediately to salvage the situation before it gets completely out of hand.

Reply
Arbor says:
October 20, 2020 at 3:29 pm

Inducing vomiting does not even seem safe in this instance. One’s best bet is to take the dog to the vet for examination, just to be on the safe side.

Reply
Raymond says:
October 17, 2020 at 5:58 am

Nobody has the time to be checking the poo of a dog, just take the dog to the vet and the vet can carry out an x-ray.

Reply
Inspired says:
October 20, 2020 at 3:27 pm

Inducing vomiting does not even seem safe in this instance. One’s best bet is to take the dog to the vet for examination, just to be on the safe side.

Reply
Ryan says:
October 20, 2020 at 3:29 pm

It seems keeping white bread handy will be a good idea for the sake of emergencies like this. I’m getting to know about that for the first time though.

Reply

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