Dog Ate the Kong Toy Rubber – What to Do Next

The ingestion of Kong toy rubber has the potential to introduce health risks to dogs. The seriousness of the health risk will depend on factors like the size of the Kong toy piece the dog ingested and the dog’s size.

What happens when a dog eats a Kong Toy?

Kong toys are designed with safety in mind. They are built using non-toxic, natural rubber. This mean any potential health risk isn’t likely to be caused by the material used to construct Kong toys. Instead, the risk that the ingestion of the Kong toy may introduce is with blockage and choking.

If the piece of Kong Toy rubber is big relative to the dog’s body size, it has the potential to get stuck somewhere in the dog’s body. This, for example, may happen near the top of the dog’s gastrointestinal tract, such as the throat and esophagus. The dog won’t be able to breathe properly if the piece of Kong toy gets stuck in the air passage. The dog might start to show clinical signs like retching and vomiting in an attempt to dislodge the Kong toy rubber.

The trouble doesn’t end there. The Kong Toy rubber may also cause blockage in various organs like the intestines. Bowel obstruction is a serious health hazard. Potential symptoms include: vomiting, body weakness, diarrhea, and dehydration.

What to do if your dog ate Kong Toy rubber?

In most cases, it’s unlikely for a dog to have eaten a piece of Kong toy rubber that’s large enough to introduce the risks of choking and blockage, especially if you bought a Kong toy that is suited for the dog’s age and breed. That said, it may still give you piece of mind to call the vet for advice. They will be able to tell you whether a trip to the clinic is necessary based on information like the size of the Kong toy that the dog ingested.

For the next few days, keep a close watch of the dog’s behavior, especially when they poop or eat. These are the moments when it may be more noticeable if the Kong toy is causing any trouble in the dog’s stomach. For example, partial blockage could be a potentiality if the dog is straining while he poops.