If you’ve ever owned a dog, then you’ve probably uttered the phrase “what’s in your mouth” in frustration, likely while trying to prise their jaws open like some kind of Roman lion tamer.
It’s no secret our dogs like to eat things. In fact, they use their mouths as a primary mode investigation, though this doesn’t always go to plan, and your dog can end up sick or needing an expensive trip to the vet if they eat the wrong thing.
A survey, conducted by YouGov and commissioned by health insurer HCF, has found around three out of five dog owners (61 per cent) said their dog had swallowed something unusual. Now, what counts as unusual will differ for everyone, but I think most of us can agree dogs shouldn’t be eating these things.
Shoes
Top of the list were shoes, with 32 per cent of respondents saying their dogs have made a meal out of a pair of shoes in the house, turning streetwear into doggy treats. Depending on what the shoe is made of, your dog could be swallowing anything from cured leather to PVC to the metal around shoelace holes.
Tennis balls
It’s surprising that these weren’t top of the list. Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of dogs regularly eat their tennis balls. The size of the balls can become a problem if they obstruct the bowel and stop the passage of food.
Children’s toys
One in five (20 per cent) dogs couldn’t resist chewing on toys (that aren’t theirs). Like shoes, children’s toys are made from a wide variety of materials, but plastic is the predominant problem here. Since plastic takes thousands of years to break down, its passing through your dog’s digestive system almost completely intact.
Underwear
Around 16 per cent of dog owners said they had had their underwear stolen and swallowed by their dog, proving that no piece of laundry is safe. Again, it’s the danger of blockages caused by fabric not breaking down that is the biggest risk. There is also a small risk of your dog picking up some gastrointestinal nasties from the underwear itself.
Batteries
A shocking (pun intended) 5 per cent of dog owners said their dogs had swallowed batteries at some point. Apart from the risk of obstruction, batteries are dangerous and can chemical burns in the mouth and throughout the digestive system should the battery break.
Certain types of batteries also contain heavy metals such as zinc, mercury, lead, cobalt and nickel, which can be toxic. Disc-shaped ‘button’ batteries have even been found to pass electrical current into living tissue, causing a condition called current-induced necrosis that can cause perforation of the mouth, oesophagus, stomach or small intestine.
Lorraine Thomas, HCF chief operating officer, says incidents like these can end up costing you thousands in vet bills.
“While these incidents make for amusing anecdotes, they also underscore the importance of being prepared for the unexpected,” she says.
“Many dog owners might not realise just how dangerous everyday foods and objects can be.”
Has your dog ever swallowed anything they shouldn’t have? Did you have to go to the vet? Let us know in the comments section below.
Also read: Six extraordinary things you never knew your dog could do
We have always had labradors. Several years ago one dug up BBQ rocks and ate them. This caused her to have an operation to get them out. Don’t remember how much it cost.
This year we dog sat my son’s labrador. She ate a bit of my homemade compost and a few hours later started to twitch, shake and was vomiting. A trip to the 24 hr vet and she was diagnosed with fungal toxicity. Affects the brain and the nervous system, hence the twitching and shaking. Had an injection to make her vomit again and then had to stay overnight on a drip with some sort of fat emulsion to absorb the toxins. All fine next morning and special diet for next 5 days, small meals often and tablets. $1700 all up, $1000 paid as a bond up front. Fortunately, son has pet insurance. Might have been cheaper at the kennels.