There are very few things a dog won’t try to chew but sometimes they eat something that is outright dangerous for their health. There are some dogs that out of curiosity, will try to swallow socks they find around the house, and this is surely not something to be abused about, considering that this can become life-threatening. So what can you do if your dog eats a sock? Below you will find a few steps you can take to make sure that you keep your dog away from any long-term complications when this happens.
The obvious step: call your vet and ask for help
The first thing you should do when you believe that your dog has swallowed a sock is to talk with a veterinarian and book a consultation. It is better if you already have a great relationship with a vet that knows both you and your dog because then you know for sure that they can give you the best advice based on your particular situation and your dog’s health history. keep in mind that timing is one of the most important things your vet should know when you tell them about your dog eating a sock. As soon as your vet finds out all the needed information, they will be able to give you the best advice on what you should do.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide to induce vomiting
Although making a dog vomit with the help of hydrogen peroxide is something, in theory, you can do yourself, it’s always better to contact the vet first and get their approval beforehand. Only attempt this trick if you know for sure that the sock has been ingested in the last couple of hours because only then is it close enough to the top of the dog for him to be able o spit it out. Don’t just feed your pet with a random amount of the substance. There is actually a clear formula you will have to follow and it will depend mainly on the dog and his exact weight.
The measurement will have to be as accurate as possible, as hydrogen peroxide is still a very strong chemical. You will give your dog anywhere between .5 ml and 1 ml of hydrogen peroxide per pound of weight. Simple math tells us that you should give 10 ml of the chemical to a 20-pound dog. If you give the pet just slightly more than you should, the effect might be non-stop vomiting.
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You can also wait for the dog to eliminate the sock through poop
There is also the possibility that the dog might be able to eliminate the sock himself, without external help, through pooping. Although just waiting it out is a solution, it can only work within certain conditions. This, again, is something you should only decide after talking with your vet because they will be the only one able to tell you if this is the right decision. You will only be able to wait it out if the sock is small or the dog is big. So either the sock belongs to a child, or you have a bigger-sized dog.
Can a dog eating a sock become a dangerous situation?
Of course, your dog eating any foreign object of considerable size can become a life-threatening situation because it can get stuck in the animal’s stomach. One of the things that you should look for and should worry you once you spot them is a dog swallowing the sock and then having a hard time pooping at all because this usually means that the object has caused an obstruction of the digestive system. Also, don’t just ignore the occurrence if you see the dog acting normally after he had his sock meal. Call the veterinarian as soon as you suspect your might have eaten a sock because a professional is the only one who can tell you what has to be done and when, and most importantly, if a medical procedure will be required to remove the sock or not.
How long should you wait for the dog to pass the sock?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a set time on when the sock will be passed by the dog naturally. If you want to speed up the process then you can talk to your vet about giving the dog either fiber snacks or laxatives that are safe for the pet. Sometimes waiting it out is not an option considering that it can take anywhere between a few hours to a few days for the sock to pass and your dog might be in pain or his health might deteriorate while you wait.
