Veterinarian or Vet Tech advice please:?

Question

My dog just ate a leather baseball cover. He is a 100 lb Rottweiler mix. How long can I safely observe him for signs of bowel obstruction? Is there anything else I should do while he is under observation?
Medical opinions only please....I am a responsible pet owner and I already feel bad enough that I wasn't watching him as carefully as I should have.

Answer 1

One of my golden stripped a soft ball and he was fine. It all came out in his poop. I'd just watch him for the next day or two if he starts to vomit after eating than I'd get him to the vets.

Answer 2

While I am not a vet tech, I love to play one on yahoo answers.

ha ha - that was a joke.

In all seriousness something like this really depends. The cover is sewn together so you have two problems, the leather, and the string. At times, string can be a bigger problem. Given that the leather pieces are sewn together, that will make the leather pieces smaller, which should make them easier to pass.

Up to 2 hours post ingestion you can induce vomiting. See the link below for the how to. It is important to know that drooling usually precedes the vomiting. We actually had to make our dog "run". Put him on a leash and jogged him to the mailbox (about 20 yards) and blech. The H2O2 builds up gas and that will cause the "eruption" so to speak.

See what comes out. If most of the baseball cover does - whew - if not - when my dog ate chicken bones he said watch for 72 hours.

Watch for signs of distress. Spinning, unable to be confortable, lack of eating and drinking, nipping themselves on the belly, excessive licking, hiding, whining. Once the 2 hours has past your only options are to wait, x-ray, and/or surgery.

Please do let us know how this all turns out. You can email me after it's all passed.

Answer 3

I was a vet tech for nine years.

Hopefully you might see it pass in the next couple of days. I would try to watch if I were you so hopefully you'll know sooner than later. You want to watch for watery diarrhea, which means the leather might be blocking all solid stool and only allowing water to pass. Also look for vomiting and general lethargy. If he got to the point where he is painful in the abdomen, I think you would notice other signs beforehand. If he has several bowel movements and eats well over the next few days, you'll probably be fine.
Good luck.

Answer 4

I would watch for straining, decreased appetite,vomiting and lethargy.
As soon as there are signs of discomfort like straining,panting or abnormal vocalizing bring the dog to a vet for x-rays.
Make sure to moniter the dogs bowel movements and/or vomitus to ensure elimination.

Answer 5

He's either going to pass it or he's not. If it does become an obstruction things to look for.....vomiting, not eating, straining to have a BM, diarrhea, and it should pass in a day or two. Id keep an eye on his BM's and see if you notice it pass. Things like this happen I wouldnt feel bad about it but as soon as hes acting sick I get him in ASAP!

Answer 6

I had one of my dogs die from a piece of towel he ate. I had him operated on and he died a few days later. I would call your local Emergency vet, if it was very recent they might want you to make the dog throw up. I use Hydrogen Peroxide and water or mustard and water.

Answer 7

Watch for vomiting, straining to have a BM, loss of appetite, lethargy, etc..pay attention to his stool to make sure it passes..also if he vomits check to see if he vomits up any pieces or even the whole thing...
It would be wise to alert your vet as well.

Answer 8

I can't imagine he will be able to pass this. you may be ok until tomorrow or check with an AEC tonite.

he should at least be x-rayed, so that its progression can be watched.

I would love to know how this one comes out ( no pun intended )