Keep Chewing Behavior From Becoming a Medical Emergency

It might not be your dryer that’s eating them ublai the mastiff is a fiend for playing fetch. In fact, he loves it so much that his mom let him spend an entire summer playing with a full bucket of tennis balls. Several months later, however, Kublai didn’t seem to be his healthy, happy self. His concerned pet parents brought him to the veterinarian, where a radiograph revealed four tennis balls in Kublai’s stomach and one in his small intestine. The balls had been sitting in his stomach for several months before one began to descend into the intestines, making Kublai sick. He was immediately taken into surgery, where the veterinary team was able to extract all five balls, in addition to several pieces of rawhide and towels. In about a week, he was back to normal, but his owners had learned an important—and all too common—lesson.

The home is a big place for dogs and cats to explore, and sometimes their curiosity can get them into trouble. Without proper supervision, these furry creatures are able to turn a simple household object into a serious, and expensive, health threat. Here, we explain why animals find personal items like your dirty socks so tasty and how you can prevent your pet from biting off more than he can chew.

I BARK, THEREFORE I CHEW

Any dog owner can attest that her dog loves to chew. But why do dogs practice this behavior? According to Pamela Reid, PhD, CAAB, vice president of the ASPCA’s Animal Behavior Center, it all comes with the territory. “Chewing is part of being a dog,” says Dr. Reid. “Dogs are very oral; they don’t have hands to investigate, so they use their mouth. They chew for many reasons: for entertainment, to clean their teeth, and to strengthen their jaw muscles.”

The reasons that dogs may be attracted to personal items, such as underwear and socks, is that the odor reminds them of their owners, explains Dr. Reid.

Cats, on the other hand, are not natural chewers, but they do enjoy playing with string-like objects, which are also dangerous if swallowed. “Ribbons and hair ties are appealing to cats because they move in a way that a rodent moves,” says Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI, which tracks the incidence of objects ingested by pets. However, Dr. Reid advises that owners of a cat who won’t stop munching may have a reason to be concerned. “When a cat frequently chews on objects, it tends to be indicative of a compulsive behavior that is anxiety based,” she says, recommending that owners of these cats seek advice from their veterinarian, who may suggest a consultation with a veterinary behaviorist.

SAFETY COMES FIRST

Sticks and stones can do more than break bones, especially if your furry friend swallows them. While it is perfectly normal for a dog to chew on some objects, ingestion of a large or linear object is a very serious health threat. If the object doesn’t move properly through the intestines, the blood supply can be cut off in that area. When this happens, treatment may include partial removal of the intestines— an invasive, risky, and potentially expensive procedure. These facts may be scary to pet owners, but there are ways to help ensure that your pet remains safe:

• Know your pet. All pet owners should pay attention to their pet to know what items the animal is particularly interested in chewing, suggests Dr. Ramesh Sivacolundhu, BVMS, MVS, FACVSc, a veterinarian at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. “If you know that your dog or cat is interested in something that isn’t safe, keep it away from them,” he suggests.

• Keep a clean environment. “Put personal items away or on high surfaces,” says Dr. McConnell. “Most owners throw their clothes into a hamper and don’t think twice about it, but an open hamper is very appealing to a pet. Make sure that all items that your pet may want to chew are out of his reach.” This step should begin with pet proofing a home, as you would for a child, and should continue throughout the pet’s life.

• Supervise. Veterinarians agree that it is important to supervise your pet, especially a puppy, when he’s playing. Also, Dr. Sivacolundhu recommends that pet owners consistently check their pets’ toys to ensure that the toys are not deteriorating from rough play or age.

• Train. Dogs sometimes chew because they are anxious or bored. Crate training is a helpful tool in ensuring a safe environment when you are unable to supervise your pet. Certain types of commands, such as “leave it” and “drop it,” are also effective in preventing your dog from swallowing something he shouldn’t.

DOCTOR’S ORDERS

Even the most careful pet owner can find that his pet has had a mishap with a toy or a household item. The following are signs that your pet may have an intestinal blockage:

• Diarrhea
• Drooling
• Lethargy
• Persistent vomiting or dry heaving
• Refusing to eat
• Restlessness

If your pet exhibits any of the above symptoms, contact your veterinarian.

If you are aware of what your animal is doing and how he is acting, you will have a better chance of noticing if he ate something inappropriate and getting your pet immediate treatment. “With prompt treatment, most animals that have ingested a foreign body will do well,” Dr. Sivacolundhu says. If you make safety a priority, you and your pet will both appreciate the results.

• Balls
• Bones
• Chew toys
• Corn cobs
• Hair ties/ ribbons
• Panty hose
• Rocks
• Socks
• Sticks
• Underwear