The five weirdest items vets commonly find in dogs and cats' stomachs during emergency surgery
Dogs and cats are curious creatures, always looking for something to play with.
Unfortunately, there is always the risk that their odd plaything is consumed, creating a dangerous situation.
Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Melbourne has revealed the five most common and quirky non-food items that find their way into our pets' mouths.
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Socks are a common item dogs like to play with Getty Images/iStockphoto
Lort Smith veterinarian, Dr Harold Pook, revealed that dogs in particular are fond of underwear, socks and scrunchies due to them having a strong scent from their owners, which they find comforting.
''Additionally, these items can be a fun, chewable object, especially for puppies going through teething,'' Dr Pook said.
''Sadly we have seen many pets end up in emergency surgery as the material gets lodged in their stomach and intestines and if not treated promptly can lead to death."
Kitties are particularly attracted to small and colourful scrunchies, but this also comes with a price.
''What can seem like a harmless way for your cat to spend some time engaging in playful activity can quickly turn into a life-threatening matter,'' he said.
Also on the list are tea towels and rocks.
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Hair ties are a favourite of cats. Getty
Dr Pook says prevention is the best way to avoid any traumatic experiences or surgeries for our beloved pets.
''We know how playful and curious our pets can be but it is best that we make sure we are not leaving anything on the floor if you are going out and your pet is inside," he said.
"And if the laundry basket is lying around, place that at a level your pets won't be able to access it. Prevention is the best cure in these matters.''
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Dr Helen Palm from Greencross Vet Centre shared some other common objects that end up in our pets' stomachs.
"The swallowing of foreign objects really is a problem for dogs because it can cause them great discomfort, and sometimes make the patient quite sick," explains Palm.
Some of these items owners don't always think of as dangerous and are usually easily accessible to our pups.
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Swallowing objects can result in an unwanted visit to the vet. Getty Images/iStockphoto
"Owners may have them lying around or in the compost, or they can be fished out of the bin," says Palm, "One that's really common is the good old corn cob."
"Corn is round and almost acts like a plug. If eaten, it doesn't move, it gets stuck very quickly and can cause a really severe bowel obstruction," warns the vet.
Others include metal or wooden shazlicks used to skewer meat for barbecues, with Palm saying they're "one of the biggest problems".
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Prevention is the best solution. iStock
"Dogs steal them from the barbecue or off the kitchen table and of course, they're a pointy stick, so they cause great issues."
Other items include avocado seeds, cooked bones, peach and nectarine seeds, and the plastic, inedible vacuum-packaging that often seals cold meats like salami.
"Dogs fish them out of the bin because they smell so good," explains the vet.
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