Meet Tito, a playful and curious Bernedoodle who recently reminded us all why keeping an eye on what our pets chew is so important.
Tito came to our clinic after vomiting all day and refusing to eat. His owner also noticed he was acting lethargic and uncomfortable. With Tito’s history of occasionally swallowing things he shouldn’t (like socks and fabric), we were immediately concerned about a possible foreign body obstruction.
X-rays confirmed our suspicion — fabric material was visible in Tito’s small intestine, causing a blockage in his gastrointestinal tract. This meant food and fluids couldn’t move through normally, leading to pain, dehydration, and vomiting.
Initial Treatment
Tito was hospitalized overnight and started on:
• IV fluids for dehydration
• Anti-nausea medication
• Strict fasting (no food by mouth)
• Repeat x-rays planned for the next morning
Unfortunately, the material did not move on its own, which meant Tito needed surgery to safely remove the obstruction.
Surgery & Recovery
During surgery, foreign material was found in Tito’s ileum, the last part of the small intestine. The foreign material had caused a significant amount of inflammation and had also cut off blood supply to that portion of small intestine, leading to a perforation. Thankfully no GI fluids leaked into his abdomen but he did need to have that portion resected. This means the unhealthy intestine was cut away and the healthy ends were stitched together. The foreign material turned out to be a large sock and once removed Tito's body could finally start healing.
Tito recovered well and went home with:
• Pain medication
• Antibiotics
• A bland diet
• Activity restriction while his incision healed
Today, Tito is back to being his goofy, happy self — but now with a very important lesson learned (for all of us!).
Signs of a Possible Foreign Body
If your pet swallows something they shouldn’t, watch for:
⚠️ Vomiting
⚠️ Loss of appetite
⚠️ Lethargy
⚠️ Abdominal pain
⚠️ Straining to defecate or not passing stool
⚠️ Drooling or gagging
Foreign bodies can quickly become life-threatening if not treated promptly.
How to Prevent It
✔️ Keep socks, underwear, and fabric items out of reach
✔️ Supervise chewing
✔️ Use safe, size-appropriate toys
✔️ Crate train if your dog tends to eat objects when unsupervised