Dogs can sometimes or maybe more often eat objects or things that are not food material. Such objects can cause issues or maybe lead to serious illness or death as well.
Dogs can take in various non-food objects or may even digest some as well. There are possibilities that your dog may act completely normal after eating a sock but it is recommended to take the necessary steps to avoid any major issues or harms to your dog.
So the question here is: what to do if my dog ate a sock?
Well, this brief guide will go through all minor to major aspects of the question so that you can deal with it efficiently.
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My dog ate a sock, what is the best thing to do now
Socks can normally don’t cause any major issues especially if your dog is just behaving normally as nothing has happened. But it doesn’t mean that you should ignore it at all. Instead, you should follow some steps to protect your dog from any major complications or illnesses.
1. Look for the sock in vomit contents
There are huge chances that your dog will immediately spit the sock out of its stomach with vomit. You should look for the content and if the whole of the sock has come out after the vomiting, there is nothing to worry about and you can relax but if the sock is not in its full form, there should be some concerns. The residues of sock fabrics can get stuck in the stomach or intestines of your dogs which can cause immediate issues or sometimes slow illnesses as well.
2. Keep an eye on your dog’s bowel movement
If your dog doesn’t vomit at all after eating the sock, it is highly recommended to keep an eye on his body language. You should also have to keep an eye on their bowel movement as there are huge chances that the sock will come out from that only passage.
Experts and specialists claim that socks normally take 1 to 2 days, some can even take up to 7 or even more days to move through all the digestive systems and come out of the dog’s body. Not only just socks, the type, breed, food, and daily routine of dogs can also have an impact on the days for the sock to come out of their body.
3. Consult a vet or dog specialist
If you are sure that nothing has come out even after a week, it is probably the best time to get help from some vets. They will surely provide you with some tips that can help dogs to expel the sock from their body. The vet may also ask you to bring your dog so that he can examine it properly before suggesting you some treatment or providing you with effective tips.
What to do if I am not sure if my dog has eaten socks
It is not always the case that you are watching your dogs when they eat something. Dogs can eat non-food objects while they are alone and it can become difficult or impossible for the pet parents to realize what they have taken in.
The worst part is that socks are almost impossible to identify even if you use an x-ray procedure. This leaves endoscopy as the final and best suitable option. The vet will insert an endoscope in your dog’s body’s digestive system to see what is laying inside but there is no other way to identify it by yourself.
The issue will occur if the sock gets stuck in the intestines as this is probably the best part and cannot be resolved without surgery. This factor cannot even be realized as you may only think of the issue as some illness.
Signs of illness normally shown if your dog ate a sock
There are various signs and gestures of a dog’s body movements that will tell you what the issue is. Do keep this fact in mind that signs of illness will only be shown if your dog is getting into trouble or sock is not going properly through their digestive tract or system. The most common and basic signs of illness that should be an indication to visit a vet include:
- Whining
- Abdominal Pain
- Hunching Over
- Dehydration
- Bloating
- Loss of Appetite
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
If your dog is showing any of the above-mentioned signs after eating a sock, you should immediately visit your vet without wasting time by practicing other treatments. Such signs are clear indications that your dogs are in trouble and these issues can only be resolved with proper treatment.
Why would one of my dogs behave normally if ate socks while the other did not
Different breeds of dogs are different in handling non-food items. Some dogs are capable of eating and handling the situations efficiently while others just start showing the signs of illness. Apart from this, there are also possibilities that there is a difference in the size of dogs even if their breed is the same.
Bigger size dogs will find it easy to swallow socks while small dogs will tend to feel difficulties or may even experience blockages as well. So, the best thing here is to just take your dog with signs of illness to a doctor while waiting for the normal one to expel sock through its bowel movements.
Do I cause my dog to vomit if they eat a sock
Surely you can use this practice to help your dog vomit and take the sock out of its mouth. 3% of hydrogen peroxide is probably enough for the dog to vomit and take its content out but you should consult a vet before doing so. Although it can help you out, it is not a good option especially if your dog is acting normal.
Forcing the dog to vomit can cause the sock to get stuck in the dog’s throat especially if it is bigger. This will block the throat and may make it impossible for the dog to breathe properly. That’s why people recommend not to disturb the dog if it is acting normal and take them immediately to the vet if there are some issues, nothing should be tried on them except this.
When should I visit a vet if my dog ate a sock
If your dog has eaten a sock and behaves normally as it was behaving before, there is nothing of importance and no need to visit a vet. You should only take your dog to a vet if you notice any signs of illness or your dog is finding it difficult to move.
Apart from the signs of illness mentioned in previous sections, if your dog has become lazy or stopped eating, these factors also urge the need to consult a doctor.
Do keep this fact in mind that if you notice even minor issues, it is essential to meet an expert because sock inside the dog’s body can block the intestine or other parts of the digestive system. This can result in immediate trouble or may sometimes cause issues slowly that can eventually lead to their death as well.
