If a dog swallows something sharp, does that mean surgery?

Question

He was puking some blood this morning so I took him to the vet. I was sent home while they kept him for observation and treatment. They said he is salivating a lot and has puked some more. They called to say they are going to x-ray him because they think he has eaten something he shouldn't - like he picked up and ate something sharp somehow. Only thing I can think of is possibly some rose bushes he was poking around in. He is also coughing. They looked down his throat and didn't see anything but the vet said she can only see a little ways down. This waiting is freaking me out. Will they operate or give him something to make him pass it? I'm just sitting here by the phone worrying so bear with me. Anyone have experience with your dog eating something?

He ended up having aspiration pneumonia. She explained that this is caused by breathing (aspirating) a foreign object into your lungs (like water, saliva, food or vomit), thereby resulting in an infection (pneumonia). When they did the x-ray of his abdomen, the vet noticed fluid around his lungs. Then they did an x-ray of his chest and confirmed it. In a way, it's a relief because they won't have to cut him, but it's still pneumonia and that's scary. They gave him an antibiotic shot and sent more antibiotics home with him, along with some antacid pills. She thinks that since he's otherwise young (2 1/2) and healthy, he should recover. It even explains why his breath has been so horrendous!

Answer 1

First of all, calm down. Just because your dog ate something that was sharp doesnt necessarily mean surgery. It could be something like a peice of food that will dissolve over time, or with enough of your dogs own saliva will eventually get covered and will make it easier for him to swallow. This is not always the case and if it is something that will only cause more problems or is too large to finish swallowing they may have to do surgery. Only an x-ray and a vet can make that determination. Good luck.

Answer 2

Dogs eat the wrong thing alot and sometimes it does mean surgery. However, the surgery is usually fairly simple. With an xray they'll know what it is and where, then go in and get it and it's over. Sometimes it passes though . It's good that you took him to the vet.

Answer 3

you could locate out that the cat did no longer extremely swallow the needle. How might a cat be waiting to swallow a needle? perhaps if somebody placed it in his mouth. have you ever checked around everywhere for the needle? it ought to fall right into a crack in the floor or everywhere. in case you experience some thing sharp on the physique of your cat; examine and notice if that's the needle popping out.