There’s something about old socks (or new ones!) and dogs. They seem to automatically go together! Dogs and puppies just love to play with socks!
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Has your puppy eaten a sock? Are you worried the sock will make your puppy sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. It’s scary when our fur babies eat things they shouldn’t.
To help you and your puppy, we’ve put together some information on socks and whether or not they can make your puppy sick. Let’s get started!
Why Do Puppies Like Socks?
Most puppies love socks! But why? Well, there are several reasons. For one thing, socks may feel good to chew on, especially when a puppy is teething.
For another, it may get your attention! If your puppy is lying there bored and wanting you to play, they may go and grab something like a sock. The puppy may choose a sock, especially if you’ve scolded them in the past for taking socks. After all, any attention (even negative) is better than no attention in the mind of a puppy!
Puppies also go after whatever is on hand when they want to play or chew. It could be your socks, shoes, pants, and more! And some puppies may even chew up socks due to separation anxiety when left home alone for long periods.
So, what happens if a puppy eats a sock? Can the sock make the puppy sick?
Socks & Puppies
The answer is yes; socks can make a puppy sick if ingested. When an adult dog eats a sock, there’s the possibility the sock will just pass through without any problem. This is because the adult dog’s digestive tract is wider, which may allow the sock to pass through and come out in his poop.
However, a puppy is much smaller. The danger of eating a sock is that the sock may become lodged in the puppy’s digestive tract. This can lead to an intestinal obstruction, which is deadly if not treated quickly.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms After Ingestion of Socks in Puppies
You may notice these symptoms after your dog has eaten a sock:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Bloating & abdominal pain
- Hunching/whining (due to discomfort and pain)
If your puppy is showing any of these symptoms, then it’s time to call the vet. This is a medical emergency.
Treatment of an intestinal blockage usually involves emergency surgery to remove the sock. Once the sock is removed, your fur baby may need to be hospitalized for a couple of days.
The good news is that in most cases if the puppy receives fast medical treatment, he will go on to make a full recovery. He’ll be back to his playful self in no time!
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.
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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