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    Kasianni's Avatar
    Kasianni Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Oct 4, 2010, 01:54 PM
    Can a dog digest thread?
    My dog was laying on a towel while his bed was being watch. I told myself to watch him closely so he doesn't chew it. I left the room for less then 1 minute and when I came back I had noticed the towel had a bald spot in an area with a thread sticking out. He might have chewed and swallowed some thread from the towel. Well he be okay? I called the vet but they haven't called back yet. The towel was not wet where the thread was missing which makes me wonder if it was already like that. Usually when a dog chews on something or bites something its wet. Not sure what to do. I fed him some wet food so if he ate thread it would pass with the food?
    JudyKayTee's Avatar
    JudyKayTee Posts: 46,503, Reputation: 4600
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    #2

    Oct 4, 2010, 01:56 PM

    He won't digest it but I'm pretty sure it will simply pass through him. I'm "assuming" (which can be dangerous) that it was nothing long or coarse - ?
    shazamataz's Avatar
    shazamataz Posts: 6,642, Reputation: 1244
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    #3

    Oct 4, 2010, 02:04 PM

    Just keep an eye on him. Like Judy said the thread will most likely just pass through, but if the threads were long there is a risk of it wrapping around bowel or intestines.
    If you notice your dog vomiting, acting lethargic or has an extended stomach get him into the vet asap... it should pass through within a day, 2 tops.
    JudyKayTee's Avatar
    JudyKayTee Posts: 46,503, Reputation: 4600
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    #4

    Oct 4, 2010, 02:07 PM

    Some day when we're all in the mood for it I MUST post the time my yellow Lab wandered on past me, dragging something, and I thought, "What is that?" and then I noticed... twine. A lot of twine. And then we both went to the Vet.

    Why would a dog eat twine? Said the Vet - he's a Lab.
    shazamataz's Avatar
    shazamataz Posts: 6,642, Reputation: 1244
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    #5

    Oct 4, 2010, 02:10 PM

    I have fished a sock out of my poodles throat. She had chewed the end of the sock and swallowed it, but a long thread was still attached to the sock in her mouth.

    Had to carefully pull the thread and piece of sock back up through her throat.

    I can understand the socks because they are 'stinky' but twine is a bit different!
    Kasianni's Avatar
    Kasianni Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    Oct 4, 2010, 02:32 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by JudyKayTee View Post
    He won't digest it but I'm pretty sure it will simply pass through him. I'm "assuming" (which can be dangerous) that it was nothing long or coarse - ?
    I believe they were small I did not see them but they were very thin and probably little tiny pieces. I have a Dachshund... he likes to chew things, have to watch him like a hawk. The vet tech called me to tell me it should pass but to give him have a piece of very wet bread with some Metamucil on it and that should wrap around the tread (if it made a small ball) and help him pass it. In fact if a dog eats bones or anything sharp that is what they suggest. Thanks for the info and such I appreciate it. I think I worry too much about the little guy.
    JudyKayTee's Avatar
    JudyKayTee Posts: 46,503, Reputation: 4600
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    #7

    Oct 4, 2010, 03:03 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Kasianni View Post
    I believe they were small I did not see them but they were very thin and probably little tiny pieces. I have a Dachshund...he likes to chew things, have to watch him like a hawk. The vet tech called me to tell me it should pass but to give him have a piece of very wet bread with some Metamucil on it and that should wrap around the tread (if it made a small ball) and help him pass it. In fact if a dog eats bones or anything sharp that is what they suggest. Thanks for the info and such I appreciate it. I think I worry too much about the little guy.

    No, you don't worry too much and even if you did you're one of the very few who calls the Vet and then comes back and gives us the answer.

    Keep us informed.
    Kasianni's Avatar
    Kasianni Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #8

    Oct 4, 2010, 03:17 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by JudyKayTee View Post
    No, you don't worry too much and even if you did you're one of the very few who calls the Vet and then comes back and gives us the answer.

    Keep us informed.
    Thanks again Judy your very kind! I will let you know how he is tomorrow.
    Aurora_Bell's Avatar
    Aurora_Bell Posts: 4,193, Reputation: 822
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    #9

    Oct 4, 2010, 04:05 PM

    Since we are sharing... When I first got Max ( my 11 yr staffy, he was one at the time) we went to the park, I was with a particular boy I thought was cute. I can see Max hunching over, in the usual, "I'm going to take a poo stance", So I walked him to a different area, impatiently waiting for him to 'do his thing' so I could pick it up with the lovely re used Wal-Mart bag I had on my hand, only to find a long piece of shoe string swinging like a helicopter propeller from his derrière, well I started gagging, just knowing what was next, and decided on the next best move. My friends came over to inspect, just in time to find me using two pieces of sticks I had found laying around like chop sticks pulling a shoe string out of my 100lbs dog's... bum.

    Who said dog owning was flattering?
    Sariss's Avatar
    Sariss Posts: 1,471, Reputation: 244
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    #10

    Oct 4, 2010, 04:05 PM

    Keep a close eye. It will probably pass but there is a small chance something could happen.
    When I was little, my cat ate thread and we didn't realise. It telescoped her intestines and she died on the surgery table. :(
    Alty's Avatar
    Alty Posts: 28,317, Reputation: 5972
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    #11

    Oct 4, 2010, 06:46 PM

    I have so many stories to share about dogs eating things they shouldn't.

    Our poodle once ate tinsel off our Xmas tree. When it finally came out it got stuck, but because it was tinsel we couldn't pull on it, it could cut his little bum. We ended up at the vet, and a few hundred dollars later Silver was tinsel free.

    That's the last year we put tinsel on our tree.

    Our lab Indy once ate a leather work glove. We rushed to the vet, but they said to let it pass. It did, one finger at a time. He's also eaten a rubber ball, an entire chicken, a shoe, a few socks.

    He's now 15 years old, and thankfully his days of eating things he shouldn't has ended. :)
    Kasianni's Avatar
    Kasianni Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #12

    Oct 5, 2010, 08:41 AM

    Well nothing yet. He did a bowel movement this morning and all was normal. I did not see any thread.. but I didn't really look through it. He seems fine, is eating well, no vomiting, full of energy. How long until I would know do you think?
    Aurora_Bell's Avatar
    Aurora_Bell Posts: 4,193, Reputation: 822
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    #13

    Oct 5, 2010, 08:50 AM

    If he had a normal bowel movement, I would say you are in the clear. Maybe just keep an eye on him for the rest of the week, make sure he eats and drinks normally, bowel movements stay the same. If you notice and excessive panting, drooling, retching I would call the vet asap.

    Good luck! :)
    lJ.'s Avatar
    lJ. Posts: 446, Reputation: 21
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    #14

    Oct 5, 2010, 02:40 PM

    I hope he is fine! One time, my cat was acting differently, so we took him to the vet, and it turned out a hard hairball had formed around a small object causing blockage, and he had to go into surgery immediately. If you notice any changes in his behavior, or diet, you can consult your vet to be safe. Hope he digests it fine.
    Alty's Avatar
    Alty Posts: 28,317, Reputation: 5972
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    #15

    Oct 5, 2010, 03:00 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Kasianni View Post
    Well nothing yet. He did a bowel movement this morning and all was normal. I did not see any thread..but I didn't really look through it. He seems fine, is eating well, no vomiting, full of energy. How long until I would know do you think?
    You may not see it, unless you actually search for it, which isn't something the majority of us would willingly do. ;)

    If he's energetic, eating, pooing, acting like himself, chances are very good that the thread will pass and you're in the clear.

    Like Bella said, just keep an eye out for a few more days. If anything seems off, go to the vet.

    I'm glad you posted, too many times people ask a question, leave, and we never know what happened or how the animal is doing.
    Kasianni's Avatar
    Kasianni Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #16

    Oct 5, 2010, 08:50 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Altenweg View Post
    You may not see it, unless you actually search for it, which isn't something the majority of us would willingly do. ;)

    If he's energetic, eating, pooing, acting like himself, chances are very good that the thread will pass and you're in the clear.

    Like Bella said, just keep an eye out for a few more days. If anything seems off, go to the vet.

    I'm glad you posted, too many times people ask a question, leave, and we never know what happened or how the animal is doing.
    He seems to be doing just fine tonight. Ate his dinner, chased after his sister, all seems good. I absolutely will get him to the vet if I notice something is off with him. Thanks for your reply. :)

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