September 6, 2025
From socks to balls, stones to string, Foreign Body Ingestion is more common in pets than you might think. And when it happens, it can become a serious and costly emergency.
Knowing what to do if your dog or cat swallows something they shouldn’t can mean the difference between life or death – literally!
Dogs and cats chew for many reasons. It’s how they explore and learn about the world around them when they are young. They may enjoy the texture, taste or just the fact that it smells like you, dental issues, boredom, anxiety and more.
However, if the chewing turns into destructive chewing, or they are constantly swallowing everyday items, you may need to look at what else could be going on with your pet. To learn more about that, check out our article here.
For dogs, things likes balls, sticks, socks, rocks, fruit stones are very common in cases of Foreign Body Ingestion. While for cats it tends to be pieces of string or small, fluffy toys and shiny objects.
Foreign body ingestion is life-threatening, as the object can become stuck in their throat, stomach or intestine, causing and cause chocking, a blockage, perforation, or severe internal damage.
Always seek veterinary attention promptly if you suspect your pet has swallowed something unusual.
The longer a foreign body is left in the body, the more severe the damage and the more difficult it is to repair, and can cause death from choking or internal blockages.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Behavioural Changes
Physical Signs
If a dog or cat swallows an object they shouldn’t, treatment depends on the type of object, how long ago it was eaten, and where it is in the digestive tract.
A physical exam to check for pain, bloating, or dehydration will likely be done, along with imaging such as X-rays, ultrasound, or contrast studies to locate the foreign object. Blood tests might also be done to check for infection, dehydration, or electrolyte imbalance.
If the object was eaten very recently and is still in the stomach vomiting may be induced, (not suitable for sharp objects, corrosives, or string), or an Endoscopy, using a flexible camera, which can sometimes retrieve the object without surgery.
If the object has moved into the intestines or is causing a blockage it might involved surgery to open to the intestine or stomach. In severe cases where tissue has been damaged, part of the intestine may need to be removed.
Treatment of foreign body ingestion can be costly, so ensure that your pet insurance covers this potential problem, and any clauses that might be in the policy as to how many incidents they will cover during the policy period.
But most importantly, prevention is much better than cure when it comes to Foreign Body Ingestion, so if your dog is prone to chewing things, try to keep any potentially risky items out of your dog’s reach or use a safe and durable chew toy that they can’t swallow instead.
See our Destructive Chewing article for extra tips, and also click HERE to read why dogs should not be allowed to chew on, or play with, sticks!
To learn how Knose Pet Insurance may cover your pet for Foreign Body Ingestion, visit their website.
About the Author: Dr Melissa Meehan BVSc (Hons), MANZCVS (Int Med)
Dr Melissa Meehan is a highly experienced and respected veterinary surgeon with over 16 years experience. Dr Melissa obtained her Members in Small Animal Medicine through examination in 2008 and now runs her own veterinary ophthalmology service vetophthalmology.com.au
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