Help! My Dog Eats Plastic Toys, Vet Advice and tips

Okay, so, the other day, I noticed something pretty alarming. My dog, Max, he's a golden retriever, a real goofball, had something... different... in his mouth. Usually, it's his squeaky hedgehog or a tennis ball, but this was bright blue and kinda crinkly.

The Discovery

I got closer, and my heart kinda sank. It was a piece of a plastic toy, one of those cheap, hollow ones that he'd apparently managed to chomp apart. I've always been super careful about keeping small, breakable things away from him, but I guess I missed this one.

The Freak-Out

First, I panicked. You know, the whole "Oh my god, my dog ate plastic!" internal screaming. I immediately took away the remaining piece of the toy and then started frantically checking his mouth for any other bits.

• I pried his jaws open (he wasn't thrilled, but he's a good boy).
• I felt around with my fingers (gross, I know, but necessary).
• I looked for any cuts or anything stuck in his gums or teeth.

Thankfully, I couldn't find anything else in his mouth.

The Waiting Game

So the toy that was destoryed,I throw it into the trashcan.

The next few hours were agonizing. I watched him like a hawk, looking for any signs of distress.

• Was he vomiting?
• Was he choking?
• Was he able to poop okay?
• Was he acting lethargic or in pain?

Observed for 24 hours. Fortunately, Max showed no signs of discomfort.

I guess it has already been excreted, hah.

The Aftermath

I did a sweep of the whole house. Found a couple more toys that were on the verge of breaking, and I just chucked them. It's not worth the risk. I'm sticking to tougher, more durable toys from now on, even if they cost a bit more. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind, and more importantly, for Max's safety.

The lesson learned, I replaced with some super-tough, almost indestructible chew toys. He seems to love them just as much, and I can relax a little knowing he's not going to swallow another piece of plastic. And all of those broken toys,I throw them away.

It was a scary experience, but thankfully, it had a happy ending. Just a reminder to all the dog owners out there – double-check those toys!