I’ve written before about how my own dog managed to eat the plastic squeaker from one of his toys. As funny as that might sound, at the time I was in panic mode until I spoke with a vet, who explained that it should pass through my dog.
But it won’t always be this way and can depend on the size of the squeaker and individual circumstances. So, please do call your vet for immediate advice as I outline in this post if your dog has swallowed one.
However, if it is small squeaker, it could possibly pass through your dog in time, but just how quickly will this happen?
I decided to research how long it takes for a dog to poop out a squeaker and here’s what I discovered…
How long does it take for a dog to pass a squeaker? It is possible for a dog to pass a squeaker in as little as 10 to 24 hours. This is only if it is small enough to pass through the digestive tract and doesn’t become stuck. Due to the dangers of internal blockages you should call a vet for an expert view.
The answer above what will happen in the best-case scenario.
But your dog might not be able to poop out the squeaker, so I can’t stress this enough; call your vet to get a professional opinion and diagnosis.
Can a dog poop out a squeaker?
Before I get into more detail about the mechanics of how long it takes for a dog to pass a squeaker, the first question to answer in more depth, is whether it’s even possible for it to be pooped out.
The answer is, it depends.
Some squeakers are bigger than others, and some dogs are small. When you look at the shape and design of a dog toy squeaker, they are either rounded or cylindrical, with smooth sides.
Due to this design, the smooth sides can help dog toy squeakers to pass through a dog’s digestive system.
This is good news of course, but there is also have another design feature in common with both shapes which is the nozzle. That can make the situation more complicated.
So, your dog can poop out a squeaker in theory, but whether it does will depend on a number of factors including:
- Is the squeaker small enough to pass through your dog’s system?
- Is your dog large enough for the squeaker to pass?
- Will the squeaker pass through your dog without getting snagged by the nozzle?
With my own dog, the stars aligned, and my vet was quite happy that my dog would poo out the squeaker due to the way it was positioned internally.
You might not know if the position is good unless your dog has X-ray or ultrasound at the vets to check the squeaker hasn’t become stuck.
How can a squeaker get stuck?
Your dog has a digestive tract which starts at the mouth, goes down the oesophagus, through the belly and small intestine, into the colon, and eventually the rectum. This is the point a squeaker could get pooped out… if it gets that far.
Whilst the majority of foreign objects will pass through a dog by the 24-hour point, some objects can get stuck inside your dog for longer.
For example, if the squeaker can’t pass into your dog’s intestine, it will stay in the stomach for months possibly. When in the stomach, a lodged foreign object can result in intermittent chronic vomiting.
According to the Zoetis website:
“If the object becomes lodged and completely blocks the intestine, an urgent situation develops as the surrounding intestine deteriorates, and the animal’s condition may worsen rapidly. This can happen within hours of ingesting a foreign object or more commonly will happen later on and worsen over time.”
If the dog’s intestine then gets perforated, the animal can quickly deteriorate and could result in death.
But many times, a squeaker will pass through a dog and get pooped out. If the squeaker can reach the colon, it should pass through completely. If it’s too big, it will often get trapped in the stomach or small intestine.
How to tell if the squeaker won’t pass and be pooped out
Just as the squeaker might pass through your dog, there’s also a chance that it won’t be pooped out; you should always talk with a vet first.
There are some stark warning signs that things aren’t right, which indicate the squeaker won’t be passing through such as:
- Your dog is vomiting.
- Your dog is pawing at his mouth.
- Your dog is hacking up or choking.
- Your dog is drooling more than usual.
- Your dog has a loss of appetite.
- Your dog is acting strange, including lethargy.
- Your dog has diarrhea.
- Your dog has constipation from a blockage.
- Your dog is showing obvious signs of pain.
Please Note: This content here is not intended to replace veterinary advice. It is based on my own personal experience and online research.
Conclusion
If your dog has swallowed a squeaker from a dog toy, please call a vet. Chances are your dog will be fine but should never take any chances. There’s no guarantee it will be pooped out.
Whilst my dog pooped the squeaker out and is passed inside of one day, he might not have been that lucky.
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