Unfortunately, it’s surprisingly common for dogs to eat toothpicks, especially since toothpicks are often used to skewer foods. Most dogs that eat toothpicks have either been going through the trash or have snatched a couple of snacks from a table at a party.
Whether plastic or wooden, toothpicks can be very dangerous for dogs. Keep food well out of your dog’s reach, and make sure your guests put their cocktail sticks into the trash as soon as they finish their snacks. Make sure your trash can is dog-proof, too.
However, accidents happen, and if your dog has eaten a toothpick, here’s what to do next.
My Dog Swallowed a Toothpick. What Do I Do?
1. Prevent Further Access
First, prevent your dog and other opportunistic pets from eating more toothpicks. This involves removing them from the area and clearing up any spills.
2. Call your Vet
If your dog ate a toothpick, you should call your veterinarian for advice immediately. Toothpicks can be extremely dangerous to dogs, and your veterinarian is the best person to advise. You’ll need to tell them how many you think your dog swallowed, whether they’re made of wood or plastic, and the size, age, and breed of your dog. You’ll also need to let your veterinarian know if any food remains on the toothpick and what sort of food it is. This will help them to make the best decision for your pet.
Do Not Treat at Home!
You should not treat your dog, give them any medications, or make them vomit. Removing a toothpick should only be done under veterinary guidance. Depending on your dog’s breed, size, and the type of toothpick, it’s likely that making them vomit the cocktail stick is not recommended—after all, it could do more damage on the way back up.
In addition, the contraction of the stomach over a sharp object like a toothpick can cause the toothpick to puncture the stomach wall. In other words, vomiting is not risk-free: if your veterinarian decides it’s worth the risk, they’ll instruct you on how to make them vomit as safely as possible.
Possible Treatments
If your dog ate a toothpick, your veterinarian will determine the best treatment for your dog. Possible treatments include endoscopic removal, surgical removal, or a wait-and-watch approach.
Endoscopic Removal
Endoscopic removal is often the safest approach if your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. It involves giving your pet general anesthesia, then using a camera called an endoscope that is pushed down the throat and into the stomach to locate the toothpick.
Long tweezers are then inserted to grab the toothpick and remove it. This method works well when the toothpick is likely to cause problems, for instance, if it’s very long or sharp. However, it can be expensive, and not all practices have access to an endoscope, so you may need to travel to another clinic.
Surgical Removal
Surgical removal may be necessary in some cases. This involves general anesthesia, opening up your dog’s abdomen, opening up the stomach/gut, removing the toothpick, and then stitching everything back up again.
This method is sometimes used where access to an endoscope is not possible or if the toothpick has moved too far down the gut for the endoscope to reach. It is not without risk since it’s a serious procedure.
“Watch and Wait” Response
Some situations may be suitable for a “watch and wait” response. This is risky since the toothpick could pierce the gut at any point, leaking dangerous fluids into the abdomen, but it can pay off if the cocktail stick moves through safely, which it does more often than you would think! There are various suggested methods for ensuring that the toothpick doesn’t cause damage on the way through, from feeding bread to “cushion” the toothpick to feeding asparagus to “wrap” the toothpick.
No methods are proven, but if you and your veterinarian decide to watch and wait, you may choose one of the methods to increase the chances that the toothpick passes without damage. It’s not a good idea to feed your dog any of these without checking with your vet, as this could make a subsequent anesthetic much more dangerous.
In Conclusion
Whatever you think will be the best option for you, it’s best to talk to your vet to get their advice before deciding on what to do after your dog eats a toothpick. If they recommend bringing your dog to the clinic, be honest about your available funds, and they’ll be able to adapt their plan to fit your budget. They’d much rather do plan B than be presented with an ill dog because you didn’t seek help from the start.
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Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
My Dog Swallowed a Toothpick. What Do I Do?
