A Puppy Who Swallowed Six Children's Ear Plugs
by A reader
Call your vet or an emergency vet as soon as you can, even if he seems fine right now. Small soft objects often pass, but six ear plugs swallowed at once can clump together, and soft silicone or foam can swell or stick to each other. That raises the risk of a blockage in the stomach or intestines, especially in a young puppy.
If it happened within the last couple of hours, a vet may be able to make him vomit them up safely. Please don't try to make him vomit at home unless a vet tells you to, because home methods can be harmful.
If your vet advises watching at home, check his stools for the next few days for the ear plugs, and watch for signs of a blockage: repeated vomiting, not wanting to eat, a painful or bloated belly, straining with little or no stool, diarrhea, or being unusually quiet. Any of these needs a vet the same day. See bowel obstruction in dogs and what to do if your dog ate something.
For the future, keep small items like ear plugs, hair ties and socks out of reach, since puppies explore with their mouths. See ear plugs and ear muffs for dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
