HELP! My bulldog just swallowed a popsicle stick (wooden 4 inch long)

Submitted by mark on May 25, 2010 - 6:39pm

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My 5 year old bulldog just swallowed a popsicle stick without chewing on it. However I am worried because he didn't chew on it at all; I saw him eat it and then I tried to open his mouth but he wouldn't let me. It was then too late and there was no sign of the popsicle stick in his mouth.

I immediately called my vet and he said that dogs eat wood all the time and it should pass. What can I feed my bulldog to make the stick soften and break up in his stomach? Should I not feed him anything to let the stomach acids work?

I will take him to the vet if need be but please give me advice other than taking him to the vet.

thanks

should I give him hyrdoperoxide/water mix? saw elsewhere.

Submitted by mark on May 25, 2010 - 7:00pm.

n/a

Don't try to make him throw it up...

Submitted by Kathy Chester N... on May 25, 2010 - 7:16pm.

it could get stuck. Just keep an eye on him, blockage symptoms are vomiting, lethary, no pooping. If he does any of these things, take him in, otherwise just hope it breaks down and passes out of his system.

Popsicle stick!

Submitted by Micki Jablonski on May 25, 2010 - 8:21pm.

The same thing happened to our first Bulldog when my daughter was babysitting him while we were away. She knew we gave him popsicles, while holding them, of course, but didn't realize how quickly he could grab the whole thing and swallow it. She too called the vet and got the same advice as yours gave you. We never saw it, and didn't give anything special to eat. He must have just digested it. He was fine. Hopefully yours will be the same. Best wishes.

Please let us know what happens.

Submitted by Stephanie and David on May 26, 2010 - 1:40pm.

Keep an eye on him and he'll be OK. Have him sleep by or in your bed for a couple of days.

Thank you all for any advice!

Submitted by mark on May 25, 2010 - 8:50pm.

The popsicle stick just disappeared. I have never seen him eat so quickly.

UPDATE: He seems normal but...

Submitted by mark on May 28, 2010 - 1:04am.

I think the stick is still in his stomach. I have fed him regularly and he has had four bowel movements since the swallowing the popsicle stick. No sign of the stick. I saw him swallow the stick, I know he swallowed it so I imagine it is dissolving in his stomach. I have fed him yogurt, dog food, oranges, bananas, and carrots so far. Will update with any further news in the next couple of days. Hopefully tomorrow morning will bring out the stick.

thanks for your advice, Mark

popsicle stick

Submitted by InekeV on May 29, 2010 - 5:59pm.

My old boy did the same, years ago.... We called the vet and he adviced to give him some "breakfast cook", which is a soft kind of cake like cook. We only had a spiced one at hand (it was weekend, off course) and fed him that. He was blowing his tongue and mouth for hours, but never had any other problem!

BTW he was an old boy by then and lived for years after that!

Ineke

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Ineke