My dog ate a pork rib bone and is scratching. Should I go to ER?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Lip licking is a clear sign of nausea. I would be concerned about mostly a gastrointestinal obstruction or dietary indiscretion. You can watch closely for signs consistent with these conditions such as abdominal pain or discomfort, vomiting and/or inappetence and have him evaluated right away if noticed. There is a chance that what you are observing at home currently will be transient. Good luck and have a great day!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Bones and raw food of any kind are a huge danger to any dog as they can cause serious infections, can perforate (poke a hole in) the intestines, cause gastritis, pancreatitis, and other issues. I would be very worried about a septic abdomen with Rowdy. If he is still not acting normally I would have him rechecked with your vet ASAP to do x-rays, a possible abdominal ultrasound to make sure there is no free fluid in his abdomen. If these are normal then your vet will likely treat for a gastritis/pancreatitis. If he can't stand and is having diarrhea, he could be very dehydrated and need IV fluids as well. I would strongly suggest pursing these other tests, especially if Rowdy is still acting the way you have described, with diarrhea and unable to stand. Best of luck with Rowdy.

This is an emergency at this point. My best guess is that he either has an intestinal obstruction or pancreatitis. Regardless, he needs to be seen by a vet. This can be extremely serious so please get him examined right away. Both are life-threatening.

Oh no, that's not good. This may cause some problems, but do not induce vomiting. I would keep a close eye on Snickers for the next couple of days. If you see vomiting, diarrhea, blood in his poop, lethargy, excessive drooling, or a loss of appetite, have him seen by a vet immediately. I hope this helps!

Most small bones will be softened during digestion in the stomach. They can usually pass without an issue, however fatty or salty meats can irritate the intestinal tract causing problems like pancreatitis. I would monitor Nana for signs of vomiting,diarrhea or abdominal pain and have her seen by your veterinarian if noted.

Poor Cooper! It sounds like you're already on the right track for ruling out issues, however, environmental allergens can also flare up this time of year which may be causing the excessive itchiness. Since that area is very badly irritated and inflamed, I definitely agree with getting into your vet ASAP. Since it's right on his neck, you can try inverting an Elizabethan (cone) collar so that the cone part covers the irritation and the neck park sits up closer around his ears, so that it doesn't rub against the irritated spot and protects it from further scratching. Keeping the area clean and dry can also help reduce any secondary infections that may take hold in the irritated skin. An over the counter allergy medication such as Benadryl can also help by reducing any irritation/itchiness, and may also have the added benefit of making him a little drowsy so he's less likely to scratch. However, getting into the vet like you planned is the best course of action. If there is a big wound opening up, it gets worse, it oozes debris, or Cooper seems in major distress, getting into your vet sooner or reaching out to an urgent care vet may be a good idea.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It could be that the bone scratched his throat and that's way he has been hacking. Please, offer Wilbur soft food only as it may be easier for him to swallow. However, if the symptoms persist for longer than 24-48hrs, you should get him checked by your local vets.