Most Common Surgically Removed Items from Dogs
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Ten Reason Why You Should Consider Insuring Your Dog
The best thing pet owners can do to prevent costly foreign body removal surgery is keep a clean living space. This includes making sure that personal items are not left on the floor or within easy reach of pets and remaining aware of each pet's chewing tendencies. Certain objects may appeal more to some pets than others. Knowledge of a pet's tastes and tendencies can help pet owners exercise caution when letting a pet near objects that could be accidentally swallowed. Also remember that table scraps can contain excessive grease, bones or other objects not easily digested by pets.
Number 10: Sticks
Who ever thought that playing fetch with your dog might actually cause harm? I know I didn't! Playing fetch isn't going to harm your dog but what you use to play fetch with just might. If you play fetch with a stick, the stick may splinter when be retrieved by your dog. These splinters can come off and scrape your dog's esophagus, stomach, and intestines.It is especially important to watch you dog when you are done playing fetch. This is the time he/she will most likely chew the stick up. A stick lodged into you dog's stomach is not something that can be easily passed through natural means. Surgery may be required.
Number 9: Hair Ties or Ribbons
Dogs like anything that is chewy. Chewing on things is a natural way for dogs to clean their teeth. So that means they will chew on anything. If you have young daughters in your house, please remind them to pick up after themselves especially their hair ties.A dog will see something on the floor and possibly start chewing on it. Hair ties are an excellent choice. They are chewy, elastic, and fun to chew on.
Hair ties are not an object you have to worry to much about because of its size but their is a possibility it could cause some intestinal problems in your pooch.

Check Out What This Guy Ate!
Number 8: Bones
What dog doesn't like to chew on a bone? Almost all do! Bones aren't bad for you dog unless they do not chew them up into small enough pieces.A sharp piece of bone can scrape your dogs throat, and intestinal tract. Larger pieces of bone could get lodged in the esophagus or intestines. This causes an unnecessary obstruction which will lead to severe problems like choking or and obstructed bowel. Anything that is lodge is going to require surgery to remove.
Number 7: Corn Cobs
Never in a million years would I have thought about a dog swallowing a corn cob, but hey anything can happen. This isn't a concern for all dog owners, just the ones that live on a farm or in a rural area.Just like sticks and bones, the major concern is choking and the object lodging in the intestine.
Did You Know!
The average cost of Intestinal Surgery for dogs is 3,000 dollars!
Number 6: Chew Toys
Just a word of caution, make sure that your dog's chew toys do not have any little attachments or adornments on them. Most of the time is something is swallowed that is chew toy related it is usually the little bells or ball parts of the toy.In some cases, a whole chew toy has been swallowed.
If you want to protect you pup makes sure the chew toys are large enough they will not be able to be swallowed and that they do not have any tiny decorations that could be a hazard.
Number 5: Balls
If it is round, you better watch out! Pets, especially dogs, have a tendency to like to chew on and swallow anything round. So make sure those tennis balls, golf balls, or your child's red bouncy balls are always out of reach.The biggest danger related to swallowing a ball is suffocation. Depending on the size of the ball it could get wedged, or stuck in your dog's esophagus blocking their airway. If your pet does manage to swallow a ball it might not want to come out. Luckily, these things are easy to spot on an x-ray.

What Dog Doesn't Like Belts and Bread Knives?
Number 4: Rocks
I haven't seen many dogs that haven't ever chewed on rocks. What a great work out for those jaw muscles! On many occasions, dogs while accidentally swallow a rock, sometimes even more.Your biggest concern is choking and obstruction the airway depending on the size of the rock. If the rock is too big it might require surgery to remove.

Number 3: Panty Hose
Just because something is fun to chew on, doesn't mean it is good for your dog. Panty hose have a unique texture that will appeal to your canine. Dog's just can't seem to pass these up.The main concern with panty hose is they can be a serious choking hazard and cause intestinal damage because of the material they are made of, there length, and elastic ability.
Ladies make sure not leave your panty hose laying around where your dog canget a hold of them!
Number 2: Underwear
What does every household with dogs need? A reliable clothes hamper. Yes, a clothes hamper. Dogs are curious creatures and have an insatiable urge to chew especially when they are young.Leaving clothes on the floor, especially underwear, can be a hazard for your dog. Why do they choose underwear? I would guess because of the texture and smell.
To save your dog a trip to the vet for a thousand dollar emergency intestinal surgery please but all you dirty clothes in a hamper, where Fido can't get to them!


Did Something Come Up Missing After A Bath?
Average Visit to the Vet for your Dog
A regular visit to the veterinarian for your dog costs on average $211.00.
Number 1: Socks
Socks and dogs go hand in hand like milk and cookies. What is the easiest thing to make into a ball and play a game of fetch with inside the house? A SOCK!Again it is texture and taste that will draw your dog to a pair of socks before anything else. The stinkier the better! The only problem your dog doesn't realize is they go down easier than they come up. Your dog's digestive system isn't meant to digest stinky cotton socks - so the only way to remove them is through surgery (did you budget that this year).
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Has Your Pet Ever Swallowed Something They Shouldn't Have?
If you pet has ever eat something they shouldn't have or had to have it removed surgically you can tell us here!
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Jennifer
Dec 27, 2010 @ 3:23 pm | delete
- My 24 week old Pitt Bull puppy ate a part of his round teething toy. We woke up to him throwing up, shivering and he had a very far away look...this was Christmas morning. We rushed him to the Emergency Animal Hospital and after an xray he was rushed into surgery. He came home last night and has been eating well. He hates being in his kennel but its mandatory for the next two weeks. At the cost of $2000. just for the surgery, I am looking into Pet Insurance. Most vet offices do not take payments and mine wanted 80% down before surgery and remainder at discharge. Merry Christmas to all pet owners and please be careful about what they chew on. Just because it is sold as a "pet toys" doesn't mean it is safe.
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Prosquote
Jul 29, 2010 @ 7:25 am | delete
- Thanks for sharing such a nice lens about dogs health thanks again for sharing. Keep sharing.
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kvandi
Jul 18, 2010 @ 1:26 am | delete
- We have a Bull Mastiff/Lab mix. His name is Nitro and he just turned a year old. He is a very big boy 130 lbs. On Wed. He was left unsupervised for a few hours. Thurs. he was eating grass, we thought his stomach was just upset. By Fri. morning he was vomiting and not interested in food or water. Fri. afternoon we took him to the vet. They gave him someting like an IV to rehydrate him, plus anti-nuasea meds. $400.00 dollars later, they sent us home and said watch him and if he vomits take him to the emergency vet and try to feed him ice cubes. Satuday morning he did not eat, drink or vomit. The vet said try a bland diet like boiled skinless boneless chicken and white rice. He was not interested and starting to get weak. We decided to take him to some of the best Vets around, Michigan State University. They listened to his symptons. They wasted no time and immediately took an x-ray. They found a blockage. He is in sugery now. I know he is in the best hands possible. The estimate for this proceedure for a dog this size starts at $3,000.
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Lilly's Owner.
Jun 21, 2010 @ 10:19 am | delete
- Hi, my dog is a great dane puppy she's only 4 months old... she ate so many small rocks that she ended up needing surgery to remove it... really expensive, around 2 thousand dollars... so watch your puppies closelly when they go outside or even inside... besides the money, you don't wanna see how much pain they go trough before you find out what they ate.
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by Bailey-Dog
I am writing this lens in memory of my dog - Bailey. He was a two year old Black Lab that passed on too soon!
If I would have had pet insurance, I would...
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