11/19/2023 0 Comments Colored pencil lead![]() ![]() The sharp pieces risk injuring their esophagus and throat, causing a lot more harm than good. It is extremely important never to make your dog vomit after eating or chewing on a pencil. If they are worried about injury to the mouth or throat, your vet may sedate or anesthetize your dog to examine and treat this area further. If there is a blockage that needs removing, surgery, or endoscopy will be performed. If they are concerned about an intestinal blockage or a penetrating injury to the gut or mouth, they will admit your dog to the hospital to run further tests such as x-rays, ultrasound scans, and blood tests. From here they may recommend taking a “wait and see approach” and feeding a soft, dense, wet food to help bind up any pieces of pencil, allowing them to pass more easily through the gut. ![]() Your vet will start by taking a thorough case history and performing a comprehensive physical examination of your dog. Image Credit: Olexandr Andreiko, ShutterstockĪt The Vet: What Happens if a Dog Eats a Pencil? Difficulty chewing, blood from the mouth, pain around the head, or head-shy behavior is also of concern, as these signs are often associated with a penetrating injury to the mouth or throat. If any of these signs are present, you should contact a vet immediately as they could be indicative of intestinal obstruction. Signs to be concerned about are vomiting (especially multiple times), loss of appetite, lethargy, and constipation. However, it’s not uncommon for your dog to have a mildly upset tummy after eating something it shouldn’t. If your dog has only eaten a small piece of the pencil or has chewed it up into small pieces, you might not notice too much at all. You may see pieces of wood, eraser, or even metal passing through in their feces over the next few days. If the vet tells you to “wait and see” if the pencil passes through, make sure to keep a very close eye on your dog over the next 2–3 days. Any vomiting should be reported to a vet (see step 4) as this may be indicative of intestinal obstruction. If your dog is active and bright and does not appear to be in distress, continue to step 2. If your dog is extremely flat and lethargic or in a lot of pain go straight to an emergency vet. So, what should you do if you notice your dog has eaten a pencil? Don’t panic and follow these step-by-step instructions! 1. Remember if there is any concern about your pet’s health and safety, it’s always best to seek advice from a vet. Large pieces of pencil (including the eraser and metal ferrule), also risk getting stuck and causing a blockage in the gut, especially in smaller dogs (intestinal obstruction). However larger sharp pieces of pencil risk damaging the gut as they move through and can even cause perforation and associated infection (septic peritonitis), which is life-threatening. In some cases, especially for larger dogs or if the pencil has been chewed up and swallowed in small pieces, the pencil will simply pass through the gut with no issues. Unfortunately, once swallowed, the same risk of injury applies to the gut, as the stomach juices will not break down the inedible pieces of the pencil. ![]() Image Credit: jular seesulai, Shutterstock ![]() In unlucky cases, pieces of wood have been known to cause deeper damage, may require surgery, and can result in infection due to the presence of foreign material. These sharp pieces can cause injury to your dog’s mouth and to the back of the throat. When your dog chews up a pencil, the wood splinters. Though pencil lead isn’t toxic, pencils can pose other risks to your dog if eaten or chewed. Why Could Pencils Be Dangerous to Your Dog? ![]()
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