Dogs and cats are curious by nature. They explore the world with their mouths, and sometimes that means swallowing things they absolutely should not. A sock left on the floor. A piece of a chew toy. A corn cob fished out of the trash. For many pet owners, the moment you realize your dog ate a foreign object is filled with panic—and rightly so.

Sometimes a swallowed item passes through on its own with no issues. But other times, that object gets stuck in the stomach or intestines and creates a life-threatening blockage. The difference between a close call and emergency surgery often comes down to one thing: how quickly you recognize the warning signs and act.

This guide will help you understand what a gastric or intestinal obstruction looks like, why time matters, and what to do if you suspect your pet swallowed something dangerous.

When your dog or cat swallows an object that cannot be digested, it can become lodged in the stomach (gastric obstruction) or somewhere along the intestinal tract (intestinal blockage). This foreign body physically blocks the normal passage of food and fluids through the digestive system.

A partial obstruction means some fluid and gas can still pass around the object. Your pet may vomit intermittently and seem off, but they might still drink water or show occasional interest in food. This can be misleading—many owners assume the problem will resolve on its own because their pet doesn’t seem “that sick.”

A complete obstruction means nothing is getting through. This is a true emergency. Without treatment, the intestine can lose blood supply, the tissue dies, and the gut wall can perforate—leading to a catastrophic abdominal infection. Complete obstructions can become fatal within 24 to 48 hours.

Common Foreign Objects Pets Swallow

You might be surprised by the range of items veterinary surgeons remove from pets’ stomachs and intestines. At Dogwood, our veterinary surgeons have seen it all. The most common foreign bodies include:

• Socks, underwear, and dish towels — fabric items are among the most common objects dogs swallow, and they frequently cause complete obstruction
• Toys and toy parts — squeakers, rubber chunks, stuffing, and pieces of rope toys
• Bones (especially cooked) — cooked bones splinter and can cause obstruction or perforation
• Corn cobs — a summer barbecue hazard; they are the perfect size and shape to lodge in the intestine
• String, ribbon, and thread (especially in cats) — linear foreign bodies are particularly dangerous because they can saw through intestinal tissue as the gut tries to move them along
• Hair ties and rubber bands — small but capable of bunching up and causing blockages, especially in cats
• Rocks, pacifiers, bottle caps, and other small household items — dogs especially are indiscriminate chewers

If you know your pet swallowed something—or you find a destroyed item with pieces missing—contact an emergency vet in Marietta immediately, even if your pet seems fine at first.

Warning Signs of a Blockage in Dogs and Cats

Not every pet owner catches the moment of ingestion. Often, the first clue that something is wrong comes from changes in your pet’s behavior or appetite. If your dog is vomiting and not eating, these are the signs of blockage in dogs and cats to watch for:

• Repeated vomiting — especially if it happens every time your pet tries to eat or drink. Vomiting that persists beyond 24 hours is a red flag.
• Loss of appetite or refusal to eat — a pet that suddenly has zero interest in food, including treats, may have an obstruction.
• Lethargy and weakness — your normally active dog is lying around, reluctant to move or play.
• Painful or distended abdomen — your pet flinches, cries, or tenses when you touch their belly. The abdomen may look bloated.
• Diarrhea or absence of stool — with a complete blockage, your pet may strain to defecate but produce nothing. Some pets pass small amounts of diarrhea around the obstruction.
• Excessive drooling — nausea from the obstruction causes hypersalivation.
• Restlessness or pacing — your pet cannot get comfortable. They may repeatedly lie down and get up, or assume a “prayer position” with their front end down and hind end raised.

Important: Cats with a linear foreign body (string, ribbon, or thread) may show subtler signs. You may notice a string under their tongue or protruding from the rectum. *Never pull on a visible string*—it may be anchored internally, and pulling can cause severe intestinal damage.

Why Waiting Is Dangerous

We understand the impulse to watch and wait. Maybe your dog ate a sock two days ago and has only vomited once. Maybe your cat seems a little off but is still drinking water. It’s natural to hope the object will pass on its own.

But here is the reality: every hour that an obstruction remains untreated increases the risk of irreversible damage.

When a foreign body blocks the intestine, several things happen in rapid succession:

• Tissue swelling and loss of blood supply. The intestinal wall around the obstruction becomes inflamed and begins to die.
• Perforation. Dead intestinal tissue develops holes, allowing bacteria and gut contents to leak into the abdominal cavity.
• Peritonitis. This infection of the abdominal cavity is excruciatingly painful and triggers a massive inflammatory response.
• Sepsis and organ failure. Without aggressive intervention, the infection enters the bloodstream, blood pressure drops, organs begin to shut down, and death can follow.

A foreign body that would have required straightforward surgery on day one can become a complicated, multi-day ICU case—or a fatal one—by day three. Early intervention saves lives, reduces suffering, and significantly lowers the cost of treatment.

What to Expect at Dogwood Veterinary Specialty and Emergency

If you bring your pet to Dogwood for a suspected foreign body, here is what the process typically looks like:

Diagnostic Imaging

Our emergency team will start with X-rays to look for the foreign object and signs of obstruction, such as distended loops of intestine or trapped gas patterns. In some cases, an abdominal ultrasound provides additional detail—especially for objects that do not show up well on X-ray, like fabric or soft rubber.

Endoscopic Removal (When Possible)

If the object is still in the stomach and has not moved into the intestine, endoscopy may be an option. This minimally invasive approach uses a flexible camera passed through the mouth to visualize and retrieve the object without surgery. Recovery from endoscopic removal is significantly faster.

Foreign Body Surgery

When the object has moved into the intestine or is causing a complete obstruction, surgery is necessary. Our veterinary surgeons perform foreign body surgery for dogs and cats regularly. The procedure involves opening the abdomen, locating the blockage, and carefully removing it. If any portion of the intestine has died, that section is surgically removed and the healthy ends are reconnected.

Recovery and Aftercare

Most pets that receive timely surgical intervention recover well. Your pet will be monitored in our hospital, with pain management, IV fluids, and a gradual reintroduction of food. We will send you home with clear discharge instructions and follow-up care details.

How to Prevent Foreign Body Ingestion

While you cannot eliminate every risk, a few practical steps go a long way:

• Pet-proof your home. Keep socks, underwear, hair ties, ribbons, and small household items off the floor and out of reach. Use trash cans with secure lids.
• Supervise playtime with toys. Inspect toys regularly and discard any that are torn, missing pieces, or small enough to swallow. Avoid rope toys if your dog tends to shred and ingest them.
• Never give cooked bones. Cooked chicken, turkey, and pork bones splinter easily and cause obstruction or perforation. If you want to offer a recreational chew, ask your veterinarian for size-appropriate options.
• Be cautious with string and thread around cats. Cats are drawn to string, yarn, ribbon, tinsel, and sewing thread. Store these items securely and never leave them out unsupervised.
• Train a reliable “drop it” command. Teaching your dog to release items from their mouth on cue can prevent an emergency.
• Watch for counter-surfing and trash-diving. Dogs who raid the kitchen trash or steal food from counters are at especially high risk for swallowing bones, corn cobs, packaging, and other dangerous items.

Don’t Wait. Call Dogwood Now.

If your pet is vomiting repeatedly, refusing to eat, or acting painful and lethargic, do not take a wait-and-see approach. These are signs that something may be seriously wrong—and with a foreign body obstruction, every hour counts.

Call our veterinarians at (404) 609-1234 to receive assistance. Dogwood Veterinary Specialty and Emergency is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our emergency veterinarians and veterinary surgeons are equipped to diagnose and treat gastric and intestinal obstructions at any hour—including nights, weekends, and holidays.