My Dog Swallowed a Squeaker: Our Vet Answers What to Do
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If your dog has been over-enthusiastic with their squeaky toy and managed to destroy it, remove it, and then swallow the squeaker, what should you do? Treat this situation with urgency and call your veterinarian. Do not make your dog vomit at home unless the vet recommends it. In some cases, inducing vomiting can do more harm than good. So, remove the remainder of the toy to prevent further ingestion of foreign objects and call your vet for advice.
The consequences of swallowing a squeaker will depend on many factors such as the size of your dog and the squeaker itself.
What Will Happen if Your Dog Swallowed a Squeaker?
Swallowing a squeaker or any other inedible foreign object should be treated as a medical emergency, and you should contact your veterinarian for further instructions.
- It passes through in a few days with few consequences (if they are lucky).
- It leads to gastrointestinal obstruction with potentially life-threatening complications.
- It sits in the stomach for a long time and may pose a risk for obstruction in the future.
- The object is not swallowed but obstructs breathing (choking).
As you can see the consequences are varied and a good outcome will depend on seeking treatment and advice early on from your veterinarian.
What To Do if Your Dog Swallowed a Squeaker
You’ve come home and your dog’s new toy is a tattered mess on the floor and there is no sign of the squeaker. Here’s what you should/shouldn’t do:
1. Assess the Situation: Is Your Dog Choking?
Although in most cases your dog will have chewed or swallowed the squeaker whole, sometimes it can get stuck in the throat or mouth causing choking. This is a medical emergency.
Signs that your dog is choking can include:
- Gagging or retching
- Coughing
- Panic/distress
- Drooling
- Pawing at the mouth
- Pale or blue gums
- Collapse
If it is safe, try to extract the squeaker from their throat. For this, you have to be gentle and take caution (you might get bitten).
- Restrain your dog and look thoroughly in their mouth; if the object is small, you may want to use a flashlight.
- If you can see the object, insert your hand/fingers gently, and try to take it out. Be careful not to push the object deeper into your dog’s throat.
- If you are unable to retrieve the object, try to dislodge it using gravity: While they’re on all fours, lift your dog’s back legs like a wheelbarrow so their head is below their back end. Hopefully, they will be able to cough out the squeaker.
- If you have been unsuccessful but it is obvious that your dog is suffocating, take them to the vet immediately, or try the Heimlich maneuver.
NOTE: The Heimlich maneuver should only be used if you are certain that your dog is choking on a foreign object and their airways are obstructed. The maneuver can result in internal injuries to your dog and is only to be used as a life-saving tool.
2. Contact the Vet
It is advisable to call the vet as soon as you have seen your dog swallow a squeaker or another foreign body. Sometimes, especially in the case of small or soft objects, and if not much time has passed, the vet can extract the object with the help of endoscopy or induce controlled vomiting to retrieve it. The longer you leave it the fewer the options for retrieving the object are and increases the risk of potentially severe problems, like an obstruction.
The signs of a gastrointestinal blockage may include:
- Vomiting, drooling
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain (hunched posture, tender to touch)
- Lethargy
- Fever (Hot to touch)
- Abdominal bloating
- Whining
- Restlessness
- Defensive or aggressive behavior
Intestinal obstruction is a potentially life-threatening problem and will require treatment and likely surgery by your veterinarian.
3. Do Not Induce Vomiting
Never try to make your dog vomit at home (unless your veterinarian gives you guidance on this). You can do more harm than good. If the swallowed object has sharp edges, it can injure or even puncture the digestive or esophageal lining when it comes back up. In addition, many substances recommended on the internet to make your dog vomit can be toxic and harmful themselves, making the situation worse. It is also possible for your pet to choke when they are vomiting the object back up. Therefore, if you have seen your dog swallow a squeaker, or suspect that they have, contact your vet ASAP.
Will My Dog Poop Out the Squeaker?
In certain cases, if the squeaker is small enough to pass through the digestive tract or if your dog has chewed the toy into small pieces, it can be eliminated along with the feces.
Your dog can poop it out in 12–24 hours after the accidental ingestion. However, it is recommended not to wait at all and to contact the vet immediately. Your veterinarian will guide you as to whether it is safe to take a wait-and-see approach and may prescribe some medications or treatments to aid its passage.
How Can I Prevent My Dog From Swallowing Foreign Objects?
Although it is almost impossible to stop a dog from picking up objects in their mouth, especially toys, there are still measures that you can take to prevent this from happening:
- Always supervise your dog when they chew a toy or treat.
- Supervise your dog when they play.
- Collect all the objects on the floor or those that are in accessible places, whether they are your dog’s toys, your child’s toys, or personal items.
- Keep food scraps away, especially if they include bones or any other items that may pose a risk.
- Be careful about the type of treats that you offer, especially when they are small enough to be swallowed whole.
- Restrict your dog’s access to the kids’ room, if necessary.
- Regularly inspect toys for damage and dispose of them.
- Match your dog’s strength, bite force, and chewing habits with the toys you choose.
- Use a muzzle when taking them for a walk if they often pick up or swallow objects.
Conclusion
If your dog has swallowed a squeaker, contact the veterinarian immediately to reduce the risk of serious complications. Unless you saw your dog actively swallow the squeaker, have a good look around for the missing object. Many times, fortunately it is just lurking under the sofa or in a corner and not inside your dog! If after a good look you cannot find it then be sure to call your veterinarian for your next steps. It is possible that the squeaker can pass out with the poop in a day or two but it is also possible for choking and intestinal obstruction to occur. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
Featured Image Credit: Labylullaby, Shutterstock
