What to Do If Your Dog or Cat Swallows Something They Shouldn’t
By Dr. Alberto Fernández
Veterinary Surgeon & Co-Founder of MYVET Marbella
A baby’s pacifier on the floor.
A small plastic toy.
A sock.
A piece of bone.
A ribbon.
A hair tie.
A moment of silence in the house.
And suddenly, your dog or cat has swallowed something they should never have swallowed.
As veterinarians, Rocío and I know that this is one of the most frightening situations for pet owners. It often happens in seconds. You may see it happen right in front of you, or you may only realise later when something is missing, your pet starts vomiting, or they suddenly seem uncomfortable.
The worst part is the uncertainty.
Will it pass naturally?
Is it stuck?
Should I make my pet vomit?
Is this an emergency?
Can I wait until tomorrow?
This article is written to help you understand what to do, what not to do, and when to seek veterinary help immediately.
Because when a dog or cat swallows a solid object, time and the right decision can make a very big difference.
First: stay calm, but take it seriously
If your pet has swallowed something solid, the most important advice is simple:
If your dog or cat swallows a pacifier, toy, bone, string or plastic object, early veterinary advice can prevent serious complications.
Do not panic, but do not ignore it.
Some objects pass naturally through the digestive system. Others can become stuck in the oesophagus, stomach or intestines. Some can cause choking, obstruction, internal damage, perforation, infection or toxicity.
A baby pacifier, for example, may look soft and harmless, but it can be dangerous if it becomes trapped in the stomach or intestines. Plastic toys, rubber pieces, socks, bones, stones, corn cobs, strings and small household objects can all become serious foreign bodies.
The safest first step is always to contact your vet and explain exactly what happened.
What is a foreign body?
In veterinary medicine, we call this a “foreign body”.
A foreign body is any object swallowed by a dog or cat that should not be inside the digestive tract.
Common examples include:
Baby pacifiers or dummies
Socks and underwear
Plastic toys
Rubber balls
Chew toy fragments
Bones, especially cooked bones
Stones or pebbles
Corn cobs
Food wrappers
Hair ties
String, wool, ribbon or thread
Needles or sharp objects
Batteries or small metal objects
Pieces of fabric
Earplugs
Bottle caps
Dogs often swallow larger, softer or food-scented objects. Cats are especially at risk with string-like objects such as wool, ribbon, thread, dental floss or hair ties.
In both dogs and cats, the danger depends on the size, shape, material, toxicity and location of the object.
Why can swallowing an object be so dangerous?
The digestive tract is a long, delicate tube. Food is designed to move through it. Plastic, rubber, fabric, string and sharp objects are not.
A swallowed object may cause several problems.
1. Choking
If the object blocks the airway or gets stuck near the throat, your pet may struggle to breathe. This is an immediate emergency.
2. Oesophageal obstruction
The object may get stuck in the oesophagus, the tube between the mouth and the stomach. This can cause drooling, gagging, repeated swallowing, discomfort and regurgitation.
3. Stomach blockage
Some objects reach the stomach but cannot pass into the intestines. Dogs may vomit repeatedly, stop eating or become painful.
4. Intestinal obstruction
This is one of the most serious risks. If the object becomes stuck in the intestines, food and fluid cannot pass normally. This can quickly become life-threatening.
5. Perforation
Sharp or hard objects can damage or puncture the digestive tract. This can lead to infection inside the abdomen and may require emergency surgery.
6. Toxicity
Some objects are dangerous not only because of their size, but because of what they contain. Batteries, certain metals, medication packaging, chemicals, nicotine products, chocolate wrappers or toxic substances can create an additional poisoning risk.
Symptoms that your dog or cat may have swallowed something
Sometimes the symptoms appear immediately. Other times, they develop hours or even days later.
Warning signs include:
Vomiting
Repeated retching
Gagging
Excessive drooling
Pawing at the mouth
Difficulty swallowing
Loss of appetite
Lethargy or weakness
Abdominal pain
Restlessness
Hunched posture
Crying or discomfort when picked up
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Straining to pass faeces
Bloated abdomen
Regurgitation of food or water
Black or bloody stools
Fever
Collapse
A very important point: your pet may look normal at first.
This is why “let’s wait and see” can be dangerous, especially if the object is large, sharp, toxic, string-like or you are not sure what was swallowed.
When is it an emergency?
You should contact a vet immediately if your dog or cat has swallowed:
A baby pacifier or dummy
A toy or part of a toy
A sock, fabric or underwear
A bone, especially cooked bone
A stone or hard object
A sharp object
String, ribbon, wool or thread
A battery
A magnet
Medication or packaging
Anything toxic
Anything too large to pass naturally
You should also seek urgent veterinary help if your pet is:
Vomiting repeatedly
Unable to keep water down
Drooling excessively
Trying to vomit but nothing comes out
Painful or hunched
Weak or collapsed
Not eating
Struggling to breathe
Unable to pass faeces
Passing blood
Acting very differently from normal
If you are unsure, call your vet. It is much safer to ask early than to wait until your pet is seriously unwell.
What should you do immediately?
If your dog or cat swallows something, follow these steps.
1. Remove access to any remaining pieces
If the object broke into parts, remove the rest immediately. This helps prevent your pet from swallowing more.
2. Do not try to pull anything from the throat unless it is clearly visible and safe
If your pet is choking and you can safely remove the object without pushing it deeper, do so carefully. But never put yourself at risk of being bitten, and never force your hand deep into the mouth.
3. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to
This is very important.
Some objects can cause more damage if they come back up. Sharp objects, bones, chemicals, batteries or large objects may injure the oesophagus or airway during vomiting.
In some cases, a veterinarian may decide that inducing vomiting is appropriate, but this decision depends on the object, timing, size, symptoms and your pet’s condition.
4. Do not give oil, bread, milk, laxatives or home remedies
Many owners try to “help it pass” with food, oil or home treatments. Please do not do this unless your vet has specifically advised it.
These remedies can delay proper treatment and sometimes make the situation worse.
5. Call your vet and provide clear information
Try to tell your vet:
What your pet swallowed
When it happened
How big the object was
What material it was made of
Whether it was sharp, toxic or flexible
Whether your pet has vomited
Whether your pet is eating and drinking
Your pet’s size, age and breed
Any existing medical problems
If possible, bring a similar object or a photo of the object to the clinic.
Special warning for cats: string, ribbon and thread
Cats are especially at risk with linear foreign bodies.
These include:
String
Wool
Ribbon
Thread
Dental floss
Sewing thread
Fishing line
Tinsel
Hair ties
A string-like object can become anchored under the tongue or in the stomach while the intestines continue moving. This can cause the intestines to bunch up, creating serious damage.
If you see string coming from your cat’s mouth or bottom, do not pull it.
Call a vet immediately.
Pulling the string can cause severe internal injury.
What will the vet do?
At the clinic, your vet will examine your pet and decide the safest next step.
Depending on the case, this may include:
Physical examination
Checking hydration and pain
Mouth and throat examination
X-rays
Ultrasound
Blood tests
Contrast imaging in selected cases
Hospitalisation and monitoring
Medication
Endoscopy
Surgery
Not every swallowed object needs surgery. But every case needs proper assessment.
Possible treatments
The right treatment depends on the object and your pet’s condition.
Monitoring
If the object is small, smooth, non-toxic and your pet is stable, your vet may recommend careful monitoring. This may include checking stools, repeat examinations and follow-up imaging.
This should only be done under veterinary guidance.
Inducing vomiting
If the object was swallowed very recently and is safe to bring back up, your vet may induce vomiting.
This is not appropriate for all objects.
Endoscopy
If the object is in the stomach or oesophagus, endoscopy may be possible.
Endoscopy uses a small camera and specialised tools to retrieve the object without opening the abdomen. It can be less invasive than surgery, but it is only suitable in certain situations.
Surgery
If the object has moved into the intestines, is causing an obstruction, has caused damage, or cannot be removed safely by endoscopy, surgery may be needed.
Surgery may sound frightening, but in many cases it is the treatment that saves the pet’s life.
The sooner an obstruction is diagnosed, the better the chances of avoiding severe complications.
Can a pet pass a pacifier naturally?
Sometimes, but you should never assume it will happen safely.
A baby pacifier can be too large, too flexible or the wrong shape to pass through the digestive tract. It may remain in the stomach, cause vomiting, or move into the intestines and become stuck.
The risk depends on the size of the pet, the size and type of pacifier, whether it was swallowed whole or in pieces, and how long ago it happened.
If your dog or cat swallowed a pacifier, call your vet.
Do not wait for symptoms.
Can I just watch my pet at home?
In some mild cases, veterinary-guided monitoring may be appropriate. But home monitoring without speaking to a vet can be risky.
A pet with an obstruction may initially seem almost normal. By the time vomiting, pain or weakness appears, the situation may already be more serious.
You should be especially cautious with puppies, kittens, small dogs, senior pets and pets with existing health problems.
How to prevent dogs and cats from swallowing objects
Prevention is not always perfect, but it helps enormously.
For dogs
Keep baby pacifiers, toys and small objects off the floor
Choose chew toys appropriate for your dog’s size
Throw away damaged toys
Avoid cooked bones
Supervise dogs with new toys
Keep laundry baskets closed
Use bins with secure lids
Be careful with corn cobs, skewers and food wrappers
Teach “leave it” and “drop it”
Use enrichment toys safely and under supervision
For cats
Keep string, ribbon, wool and thread out of reach
Avoid leaving sewing materials accessible
Be careful with hair ties and elastic bands
Store gift wrapping materials immediately
Avoid letting cats play unsupervised with linear objects
Check toys regularly for loose pieces
A simple rule: if it is small enough to fit in the mouth, interesting enough to chew, or smells like food, it may be swallowed.
A personal message from Alberto
As vets, Rocío and I know how quickly these situations happen.
Nobody plans for their dog to swallow a pacifier. Nobody expects their cat to eat a piece of ribbon. Nobody thinks a few seconds of distraction can become an emergency.
But it can.
And when it happens, the best thing you can do is not blame yourself. The best thing you can do is act quickly, calmly and correctly.
Call your vet.
Ask for advice.
Do not try risky home remedies.
Do not wait until your pet is suffering.
The earlier we assess the situation, the more options we usually have. Sometimes that means reassurance and monitoring. Sometimes it means inducing vomiting safely. Sometimes it means endoscopy. Sometimes it means surgery.
But in every case, early action gives your pet the best chance.
How MYVET Marbella can help
At MYVET Marbella, we are here to help families in Marbella, San Pedro de Alcántara, Nueva Andalucía, Estepona, Benahavís and across the Costa del Sol when something unexpected happens.
If your dog or cat has swallowed a pacifier, toy, bone, string, plastic object or anything unusual, please contact us as soon as possible.
We can advise you on the safest next step and examine your pet if needed.
Because when your pet swallows something they shouldn’t, waiting is not always safe.
And asking early can save lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my dog swallowed a baby pacifier?
Call your vet immediately. A pacifier can become stuck in the stomach or intestines, especially in smaller dogs. Do not induce vomiting unless your vet tells you to.
What should I do if my cat swallowed string?
Contact a vet urgently. Do not pull the string if you see it coming from the mouth or bottom, as this can cause serious internal damage.
Can foreign objects pass naturally?
Some small, smooth objects may pass naturally, but others can cause obstruction or injury. Your vet should help decide whether monitoring is safe.
How long does it take for symptoms to appear?
Symptoms can appear quickly or develop over hours or days. Some pets seem normal at first, which is why early veterinary advice is important.
Should I make my dog vomit?
No, not unless a veterinarian specifically instructs you. Some objects can cause more harm if vomited back up.
What are the most serious warning signs?
Repeated vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling, weakness, collapse, inability to pass faeces, difficulty breathing or blood in vomit or stools are urgent warning signs.
Can endoscopy avoid surgery?
Sometimes, yes. If the object is still in the stomach or oesophagus and can be safely retrieved, endoscopy may avoid abdominal surgery. But it depends on the object and the situation.
By Dr. Alberto Fernández
Veterinary Surgeon & Co-Founder of MYVET Marbella
If your dog or cat has swallowed a pacifier, toy, bone, string, plastic object or anything unusual, do not wait for symptoms. Contact a VET or to MYVET Marbella.
