Dogs might be man’s best friends, but sometimes, they can get themselves in trouble…
In fact, I’m sure every doggie parent can tell you stories of the things their fur baby tried to eat including socks, toys, and even things like earrings.
But what about if your dog ate string? Should you be worried or is it harmless?
Well, there are actually a lot of people who have those same questions, and in this article, we’ll be answering them by going over the following information…
- My Dog Ate String – Should I Be Worried?
- The Potential Risks Of Your Dog Eating String
- What To Do If Your Dog Ate String
- What Not To Do If Your Dog Ate String
- How To Prevent It from Happening Again
In the end, you’ll know why eating string can be particularly dangerous for dogs, and you’ll know exactly what to do if the situation occurs…
Let’s get started…
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My Dog Ate String – Should I Be Worried?
If your dog ate string you should contact a veterinarian immediately. Dogs who ingest string are at risk for things such as intestinal perforations and intestinal obstructions, both of which can be life-threatening.
Worried About Your Dog’s Health? Click Here To Get Answers From A Verified Vet In Minutes (24/7)!
The risks that eating string may pose to your dog can certainly be a little frightening…
Just take a look around your house, and you’ll undoubtedly find string in one form or another just about everywhere.
You might have a loose thread from a shirt here… a ball of yarn there… hem wrapping… a rope toy for your dog (which you should not!)… or dental floss.
But understanding those risks and then having a clear idea of how to prevent them is the best way to protect the health of your dog. So let’s discuss those risks in a little more detail.
The Potential Risks Of Your Dog Eating String…
Thankfully, most of the strings found in our homes are not toxic or choking hazards. And it’s also rare for string ingestion to lead to intestinal obstruction.
Also, unlike when some bones are swallowed, string won’t outright puncture your dog’s esophagus and stomach.
In fact, in the best cases, the string will simply pass through your dog’s digestive system without interference just as many other small objects would.
But all that being said, eating string can potentially lead to some very serious complications.
Intestinal Perforation…
In the medical world, string is known as a linear foreign body, and that means it can extend across more than one organ of the digestive tract.
So, one end of the string can get stuck in one organ while the other end gets pushed on to the next. This is an incredibly dangerous scenario if your dog has eaten string.
The reason why is because of something called peristalsis. Peristalsis is the rhythmic movement of the smooth muscles in the digestive system.
And when the intestine fails to digest the string which is caught in your dog’s digestive tract, it can rub against the inside of your dog’s organs or get caught around things and cinch down.
This leads to internal cuts or perforations in your dog’s system, and as you can imagine it’s incredibly dangerous and painful for your dog.
On top of that, bacterial infections can begin broiling which can make the situation even worse.
So if your dog swallowed any type of string including string from a rope toy, you should contact a vet immediately…
Worried About Your Dog’s Health? Click Here To Get Answers From A Verified Vet In Minutes (24/7)!
Some of the signs that may indicate your dog is experiencing intestinal perforations include:
- Abdominal pain
- Bloody diarrhea
- Hematemesis or bloody vomit
- Loss of appetite
- Lack of energy
Intestinal Obstruction…
With fine strings or threads, obstruction isn’t a likely complication unless your dog consumed a large quantity.
It basically requires entire rolls of the string that can become tangled up and form a blockage.
This is more common in cases where the dog eats large amounts of rope because it’s a thicker and bulkier material. Yarn used for knitting and crafts can also ball up pretty easily.
If your dog does have an intestinal obstruction, it is life-threatening and will require surgery to remove the obstruction.
Here are some of the signs that may indicate your dog has an intestinal obstruction:
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting or throwing up
- Lethargy
What To Do If Your Dog Ate String…
Most foreign bodies can pass through your dog’s system in 24 to 72 hours, but with string, the longer it takes to pass, the higher the risk.
Because of that, you should contact a vet as soon as you discover that your dog has eaten string…
Worried About Your Dog’s Health? Click Here To Get Answers From A Verified Vet In Minutes (24/7)!
The management protocol can vary from case to case, but generally, there are a few things the vet might do:
X-Rays…
X-Rays will help your vet see if the string is stuck and where it’s stuck which will help him or her determine how to approach it.
Barium dyes are often used to enhance visibility and information gained from the X-rays, and they’re particularly useful in cases of intestinal obstruction.
Laxatives…
Your veterinarian might feed your dog laxatives to help ease the string’s way out. Some say that you can try this yourself at home…
But the truth is that this should only be done by or under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Hydration…
Just as with the laxatives, the goal here is to make it a little easier for your dog to pass stool and hopefully the string with it.
Fluids can also help dislodge the string from intestinal walls, and prepare your dog if surgery is going to be required.
Endoscopy…
An endoscopy is when the vet puts a scope in your dog’s esophagus and stomach to see what’s going on, and it’s also used to perform minimally invasive procedures.
A vet can also use an endoscope to dislodge a stuck foreign object. However, for really thin, or slippery strings, there isn’t really much that an endoscope can do.
Surgery…
Surgical removal of ingested string is a last resort, but it may be necessary to save your dog’s life.
Vets can opt for surgery if the intestinal lining has already been compromised, or if it’s a case of a stubborn obstruction.
Surgeries to remove string from the intestines are invasive and can be quite costly, and afterward, your dog will have a long road to recovery.
What Not To Do If Your Dog Ate String…
If your dog ate string it might be partially visible, either from your dog’s mouth or rectum.
If that’s the case, it might seem like a quick fix to simply pull it out, but whatever you do, do not pull on stuck strings.
This pulling action can literally cut through your dog’s intestinal lining, causing more perforations. The risk for this type of thing happening increases if your dog ate elastic, slick strings like dental floss.
Therefore if you notice any string hanging from your dog’s mouth or rectum, instead of tugging on it, try to trim it so your dog doesn’t pull it out himself.
Also, try to keep the strand just barely visible so that you can monitor its exit from your dog’s body.
How To Prevent It from Happening Again…
Typically, we expect these types of shenanigans from younger puppies because they’re more curious and less experienced.
However, it’s not unusual to find cases of foreign body ingestion in older dogs. Sometimes it’s a one-time deal and they learn their lesson, other times it’s more of a habit.
So if your dog is a repeat offender, here are some tips to help prevent your dog from eating string in the future:
- Provide distractions for your dog. Walks and toys can help to keep a dog out of trouble.
- Keep hazardous objects like string out of reach.
- Don’t leave your pet unattended or bored for an extended period of time (Check out this is you need help solving a boredom problem).
You Should Also Consider Obedience Training…
One of the best ways to prevent your dog from eating foreign objects like string is to have him or her go through proper obedience training.
If you don’t know where to start when it comes to training your dog, there are a lot of great training programs out there, but the one I recommend is called Brain Training For Dogs…
I like it because it’s simple and easy to follow, it works quickly, and you can access the program from the comfort of your own home…
The reason why it works so quickly is because it teaches you how to use your dog’s natural intelligence to follow your directions…
If you’d like to learn more about how Brain Training For Dogs can help you prevent your dog from eating dangerous objects, click the link below…
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Wrapping Up…
So to sum it all up, if your dog ate string, there are some very serious potential problems that can occur inside your dog’s digestive tract.
Things like intestinal perforations and intestinal obstructions are no joke and can very easily be life-threatening for a dog.
So you should contact a veterinarian as soon as possible, and hopefully, your dog will be able to pass the string easily.
In addition to that, you should consider proper obedience training to help prevent your dog from eating foreign objects in the future.