Your Pet Ate What?

Most Unusual Foreign Object Ingestions Revealed

Harley the pug may have captured the 2011 VPI Hambone Award when he ate more than 100 rocks, but he wasn’t the only pet with an unusual appetite this year.

More than 6,500 foreign object ingestion claims were submitted to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) in 2011. While many pets opted to snack on commonly ingested items, such as socks and underwear, others chose to explore inanimate objects of a different variety.

All of the pets made full recoveries from their gastro adventures. Here, a list of the most notable items that passed their lips.

Most Notable Foreign Objects Consumed by a Pet

Symptoms and Expenses for Foreign Body Ingestion

Symptoms of foreign body ingestion include depression, a reluctance to eat or drink, vomiting and occasionally diarrhea. If a pet owner suspects foreign object ingestion, the animal should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

VPI policyholders spent a whopping $5.2 million treating pets that ingested foreign objects between January and November 2011.

Surgery to remove foreign objects from the stomach of a pet cost an average of $1,472; while surgical removal from the intestines was $1,910 on average.

Tips to Prevent Foreign Body Ingestion

To prevent costly emergencies, VPI recommends closely monitoring pets’ behaviors and environment. Items small enough to be swallowed should be placed safely out of reach.

Pet parents should also be careful to select toys that are appropriate for all animals in the home and to monitor the items for small pieces that may have been eaten.

While preventative measures are essential for pet safety, the 2011 list of unusual ingestions is proof that pets – and their appetites – are often unpredictable.

Return to the VPI Pet HealthZone

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