I picked up a pamphlet at a dog expo called “101 Things You Didn’t Know Could Harm Your Pet” from the ASPCA recently, and I’ll be running an ongoing feature listing some of these things over the next few weeks.

According to the pamphlet, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance customers have seen bills of more than $2,500 on average to have things surgically removed from their pets’ stomachs. It’s been years ago, but when my Golden Retriever, Maggie, swallowed a baby toy, it cost us over $1,600 to have the emergency vet remove it.

The most common items are:
Balls
Coins
Buttons, Batteries
Twist ties
Rubber bands
Cotton swabs
Hair pins
Jewelry
Nylons
Paper clips
Plastic wrap
Yarn or thread
Dental floss
Electrical cords
Socks
Towels

The moral of the story: pay attention to your dog! If you can’t be home to watch what they’re getting into, confining them to a crate might be the safest option if your dog is a chewer.

Gotta stop rubbing that bacon flavoring on my nylons, I guess!

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog.