Expert’s warning to pet owners: the new deadly ‘trend’ in dogs

Some dogs are more at risk than others. But, there are ways you can prevent it.

Are you even a dog owner if you haven’t had your fur baby swallow something they shouldn’t have?

As cute as they are, dogs can be mischievous, and if they want to take a bite out of something - no matter how obscure it seems to us - they’re going to do it. And, that doesn’t always work out for them.

With obstruction in dogs not going anywhere any time soon, experts are showing us how to cope with it, and potentially how to avoid it.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this.

Image: Supplied.

RELATED: The Kmart product making camping with pets a breeze

“Keep them away from your dogs!”

Dog owner Leah has had multiple frustrating experiences with her chocolate lab, and vacuum cleaner, Claude.

“I honestly didn't think landscaping our garden with lovely pebbles would be a problem... until we got our labrador! He would always poop them out, until he didn't. We had an emergency dash to the vet, which cost us $9K for an obstruction operation," she says. 

"We fixed part of the garden, which added to the cost, but it still hasn't stopped him hoovering up anything he finds on the floor. Socks or rocks are never safe in our place!"

A similar thing happened to pet owner Mel Welch, who shared her story in the Caravanning with Dogs - Australia Facebook group.

“We’ve arrived in Carnarvon WA and our BC wasn’t herself for the last 24 hours - off to the vet to find a bowel obstruction requiring surgery. So within 2 hours of the visit she was xrayed and operated on,” she wrote.

“Motto of the story - don’t let you dogs near fake grass mats - she had 1 meter in her belly from stomach to bowel where it had balled up and caused an obstruction. Why she decided to eat this is beyond comprehension but she did and we’re just putting it out there in case any others use these - keep them away from your dogs!”

Image: Facebook.

RELATED: The product every pet owner needs for shedding season

“We see triage cases regularly, at least 3 per day on average”

According to Dr Claire, vet and founder of online service VetChat, instances of obstruction in dogs are far more common than you might think - particularly in certain types of dogs.

“It’s not unusual for dogs - especially young, curious ones - to end up with obstructions from swallowing things they shouldn’t,” she told Kidspot.

“At VetChat, we see triage cases regularly, at least 3 per day on average.”

Young pets, aged 0-1 years specifically, are by far the biggest culprits due to their inquisitive and curious nature, accounting for over a quarter (26.08%) of foreign body claims from 2024, pet insurer PetSure corroborated.

Some finds are far more common than others, with the primary causes of obstruction being things you would have at home every day.

“Common culprits include bones, socks, corn cobs, toys, fishing hooks, fruit pits, rocks. Some less obvious risk items include hair ties, string, tampons, skewers, and food packaging,” Dr Claire said.

“Easy access to bins or laundry hampers is a big risk factor for curious dogs. Another is boredom - dogs left alone or under-stimulated are more likely to chew and swallow things they shouldn’t.”

Obstruction can be extremely dangerous for dogs, and can result in infection or death if not treated promptly.

You can stop it!

Thankfully, Dr Claire said that with more pet owners being aware and seeking help earlier, vets are able to catch cases sooner - corroborated by Data from PetSure, which shows there were 40901 claims for foreign body in dogs in 2024, down slightly from 42820 in 2023.

Dr Claire said are a few things which could prevent your dog from being in this position in the first place.

• Dog-proof your home: secure bins, keep laundry off the floor, and supervise access to toys and chew items.
• Choose safe toys: avoid toys that can be swallowed or shredded easily.
• Training: Teach a strong “leave it” and “drop it” command early.
• Enrichment: boredom leads to mischief. Provide plenty of mental and physical stimulation, especially when you’re not home.
• Know your dog: Some breeds and personalities are more prone to this behaviour - tailor your precautions accordingly.

But, if you think it’s too late and your pet has eaten something they shouldn’t have, Dr Claire’s simple advice is to get it looked at immediately.

“If you suspect your dog has eaten something unusual, seek veterinary advice straight away - even if they’re not showing any signs yet,” she said.

“The earlier you act, the more likely we can avoid surgery. It’s also important not to try inducing vomiting at home, as some objects can cause more harm coming back up.

“If your dog is vomiting, lethargic, not eating, or straining to poop, contact your vet immediately.”

Originally published as Expert’s warning to pet owners: the new deadly ‘trend’ in dogs