What happens if my dog ate something and it stays in her stomach?

Persistent vomiting, abdominal pain and reluctance to eat are the main signs of an obstruction, difficulty passing feces can also occur if something gets stuck very far down. A small piece of paper would be unlikely to cause any discomfort but bones, stones and tots are common culprits

It's difficult to know for sure without knowing the size or type of object ingested, but it's definitely a concern for causing an obstruction in the stomach or intestines. If she ate it within the last three hours, then it's possible that it can be retrieved from the stomach if you take her to the vet. This may require anesthesia and special instrumentation though, so it would be expected to be somewhat costly - especially at an emergency clinic. This is the best option though. The other option is waiting to see if it passes OK. Normal GI transit time is 3-5 days. During this time you would just be waiting to see if she has any signs of an obstruction. Signs of an obstructions are vomiting, not defecating, acting very painful/depressed and a decrease in appetite. If you notice these signs, then Olive would need to go to the vet immediately for emergency surgery. I hope that helps and all is well with Olive.

The biggest problem with a bigger piece of something swallowed is that it could remain stuck in the esophagus which can be dangerous. Typically signs of this are excessive swallowing/gagging, drooling, acting restless, decreased appetite, etc. If it was fully swallowed then it may or may not upset his stomach (decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy). If you become concerned that it may not have been fully swallowed or if he is acting off then a visit to your family vet is in order. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Unfortunately it might happen, especially in the small intestine. Usually the signs (vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea, lethargy, inappetence) are seen in the following 48hours after ingestion. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

It seems there is something in the stomach indeed but it is not likely to cause an obstruction, it could be the cause of the symptoms though but an ultrasound is indeed necessary to confirm it. another option is to repeat the xray with contrast media in order to get a better idea regarding what could be in the stomach.

Your dog still may vomit the bone or some of the bone fragments and she will probably have an upset stomach for a day or so. She will probably also develop diarrhea or soft stools because of ingesting the bones. Keep a close eye on her and if the vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or she starts having bloody stools, you will need to take her to the veterinarian. Likewise, if she refuses to eat for more than 12-24 hours you should take her in. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

It will either pass through or it could potential get stuck and cause an obstruction. If she chewed it in pieces than it will likely pass through without getting stuck. It may cause some inflammation in her intestines and you may notice some diarrhea. If she starts vomitng, becomes lethargic, or stops eating than she needs to be seen right away.