Most dogs love to put things in their mouths, especially things that are pungent or interesting, such as a sock. While socks aren’t toxic, they can cause some pretty serious complications in your dog’s body. If your dog happens to eat a sock, first stay calm, then call your veterinarian. They will be able to advise you on the next steps to take which may likely include a veterinary visit. Read on for more.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats a Sock
Whether you actually witness your dog wolfing down a sock or notice that one is missing from the laundry hamper and your dog has a suspicious grin on, there will likely be a lot of questions streaking through your brain. Fortunately, we can help you answer some of those questions so you can focus on the issue at hand.
1. Stay Calm
This is likely easier said than done, but nothing good ever comes from panic. So, try to keep your emotions on an even keel so that you can do what’s best for your dog with a clear head. Take a few deep breaths while you remove your dog from the situation to prevent them from eating anything else, and give them a quick look over to check for signs of distress, such as difficulty breathing.
2. Contact Your Vet
If your dog is choking or having difficulty breathing, get them to a vet immediately. If possible, have someone call ahead so that you can focus on driving while the clinic prepares for your arrival.
If your dog simply has a pleased look on their face and seems otherwise fine, still contact your vet. There are many variables at play here, including the size of your dog, the number or size of the socks, and whether or not your dog is showing any signs. Based on these variables, your vet will formulate a game plan, which may include bringing your pup in immediately if removal is necessary or monitoring them at home for passage of the sock the way nature intended.
3. Monitor at Home
If your vet says to get your dog to the clinic immediately, it will likely mean they will induce vomiting or remove the sock via endoscopy or even surgery. This will likely be the option for distressed dogs—either having difficulty breathing or abdominal pain complete with vomiting and possibly constipation. It may also be the option for smaller dogs or those that ate multiple socks in one go.
For dogs that seem to care less about just eating a sock, your vet may recommend watching them at home, but that doesn’t mean you can necessarily sit back and relax. Instead, you need to watch them for any signs of distress. This may mean vomiting, not eating, lethargy, abdominal pain, or constipation. Any of these signs could be an indication that the sock isn’t moving through properly and veterinary attention may be needed.
If your pup continues to feel fine, you’ll want to watch their bowel movements. Within a day or two, you should see the sock in its full form come out with a bowel movement. Things like cotton and other fabrics aren’t digestible, so they won’t be broken down by the digestive tract. If you don’t see the sock within a couple of days, it could be stuck somewhere in the intestines, so you’ll want to contact your vet.
What Happens If a Dog Eats a Sock?
Socks seem fairly harmless. They’re soft, small, and aren’t toxic, but they also aren’t meant to be eaten. When consumed, socks won’t be broken down, so they will have to move through the digestive tract as a whole. This becomes a problem because the digestive tract is mainly a series of narrow tubes with many twists and turns for a large item to become lodged.
Choke
The first issue you’ll want to watch out for when your dog eats a sock is choking. This is when something gets lodged in the esophagus, potentially blocking airflow to the lungs. Choking is an emergency, so if your dog is pawing at their mouth, hacking and gagging, or having difficulty breathing, contact your vet immediately. In some cases, your vet will have you perform the Heimlich Maneuver at home.
Intestinal Blockage
The second major issue that can arise from eating a sock is an intestinal blockage. The intestines are a long tube that meanders through the abdomen in a series of twists and turns. Since a sock isn’t broken down in the stomach like your dog’s kibble is, it can become lodged in any of those turns, causing digestion to slow and backup behind it. Dogs with intestinal blockages may show up with vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, and constipation.
Intestinal blockages are considered an emergency, and they may require surgery to fix.
Frequently Asked Questions
My dog ate a sock but is acting fine, should I be concerned?
Whether or not your dog is showing any issues after swallowing a sock, you should still contact your veterinarian. While they may recommend that you watch your dog at home, they may also recommend bringing them in immediately. Though your dog may be acting fine now, they may not be tomorrow, so you’ll want to make sure your vet is in the loop should treatment be needed.
How long does it take a sock to pass through a dog’s system?
Most things will move through a dog’s digestive system within 24-48 hours. However, sometimes things like socks may take a little bit longer. So, as long as your dog continues to act normal, monitor their bowel movements until you see the sock. However, if your dog suddenly stops eating, starts vomiting, or isn’t having any bowel movements, see your vet as soon as possible.
How can I keep my dog from eating socks?
When a dog eats a sock, it likely isn’t because they are hungry. Rather it may be because they are bored or seeking attention. Of course, you’ll always want to keep socks out of reach of your dog, but also making sure they get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and one-on-one attention will hopefully help prevent your dog from eating socks. Speak to your veterinarian if your dog gravitates towards eating non-food items like socks.
In Conclusion
While it may seem strange, it’s not uncommon for dogs to eat things like socks. If this is something your canine companion has done, keep a cool head and contact your vet immediately. Eating socks can lead to problems like choking and an intestinal blockage, so veterinary treatment may be necessary to remove it before it can wreak too much havoc. Your vet will either remove the sock by inducing vomiting, endoscopy, or surgery or they may advise you to monitor them at home while they pass it naturally. Even if your dog is acting normal after eating a sock, it’s always best to contact your vet.
Featured Image Credit: jzphotostock, Shutterstock