My dog ate dental floss, should I be concerned?

So your dog ate dental floss? Well, it is a strange but true fact that dental floss can occasionally be a significant hazard for both dogs and cats. Dogs are probably attracted to dental floss because of the minty taste so it is not unusual for them to eat some if given the chance.

What damage does dental floss do if swallowed by a dog or cat?

In my experience, smaller pieces of dental floss say four inches or less will not cause any problems. The chances are it will just pass straight through your dog or cat’s intestinal tract in an unremarkable fashion. And it would be a plus point if the floss was bunched up into a ball.

However very occasionally in the past, I have dealt with resultant problems where dogs or cats swallowed much longer pieces. These longer pieces can potentially tie up the intestines up into a knot and cause an intestinal tract obstruction.

Dental floss is an example of what is called a linear foreign body and it can not only occur with dental floss but with things like string or ribbon. The sort of string which is wrapped around meat, for example, would be a common culprit.

What symptoms would you expect to see if your dog or cat swallows dental floss?

So if you suspect your dog or cat has an intestinal tract obstruction what symptoms might you expect to see? Well, these could include things like vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite.

What action should you take if your dog or cat swallows dental floss?

Well firstly if you see your dog or cat swallow a suspect object such dental floss then it would be an idea to induce vomiting ASAP. This could possibly save your dog a lot of pain and discomfort due to surgery and save you quite a lot of expense.

Please follow this link for an accurate article on how to safely induce vomiting in dogs: LINK

But also be aware that an ER vet will be able to quickly induce vomiting with prescription drugs

Secondly, if you suspect your dog or cat has swallowed a linear foreign body and then you see the sort of symptoms I described then your only option is to take your pet to a local vet ASAP, even if this means using an ER vet. Sadly where the diagnosis is confirmed surgical intervention is normally required.

Finally: Prevention is better than cure though so be sure and keep all items such as ribbon, string or indeed dental floss out of your dog or cat’s reach. By the way, in my experience cat’s seem to suffer more from this sort of condition than dogs.