Cats and dogs sometimes do things that are hard to understand, like eat rocks, paperclips, or other items that can be dangerous. Repeated, this type of behavior is referred to as Pica, but even just one incident can land you and your pet in an emergency room, so it's something diligent pet owners should be aware of, no matter what.
Emergency Symptoms
You could watch your cat or dog eat something small and seemingly digestible, such as the eraser off a pencil or a candy wrapper, but any non-food item can spell big trouble. While you're more likely to panic if the object eaten is obviously something more dangerous, like a wire bread-tie or your Bluetooth earpiece, anything swallowed can lead to internal obstruction or injury; hence, you need to know what to be on the lookout for:
- Throwing up, even if there's no food in the stomach to hurl
- Discomfort, particularly in the abdomen
- Refusing to eat or drink anything
- Acting tired and lacking interest in the surroundings
Sometimes, an animal won't present any symptoms immediately after consuming a non-consumable, but eventually, it will most likely catch up with them. You'll see a loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness, and/or diarrhea, among other possible manifestations.
Emergency Actions
It is necessary, in any case of potentially dangerous ingestion, to have your pet examined. The vet may do an ultrasound, endoscopy, or simple x-ray, to see where the object is and the threat it now poses. They'll also ask you a lot of questions, from what was eaten to the slew of symptoms you've observed since. Be prepared for events to unfold quickly, as an obstruction is usually treated with urgency.
While some odd objects can pass through an animal via the normal process of digestion and excretion, surgery is often required to remove the animal from immediate danger. Objects might block the passage of food through the body, but they can also cause damage along the way or become lodged. Either way, treatment will be swift and serious and is considered, in most cases, life-saving.
Precautionary Measures
Preventing a mischievous animal from taking strange and scary items into their mouth is extremely challenging, but if this behavior is a habit with your pet, you must stay on top of them all the time. With dogs, it may become necessary to use a leash every time they're walked, so you can always monitor what that mouth is doing. A cat who eats odd things should not be allowed to go outdoors and while inside, nothing should be left accessible which could cause harm if eaten, as much as is possible. Close monitoring may be an urgent part of your parental pet duties indefinitely, but it will keep your pooch or feline safe.
It's difficult to understand why an animal would eat a hard, unpalatable object, but no matter what motivates your cat or dog to do so, you must act quickly when it happens. Even if you only think your pet is guilty of consuming that magic marker or earring, call your veterinarian immediately for important instructions. The constant watching and worrying may be rough on you; however, it will definitely pay off for the health and well being of your beloved animal.
For more information, contact companies like Sepulveda Animal Hospital.
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