Curious pets can quickly get into trouble with everyday household items, as demonstrated by Dr Katrina Warren’s border collie, Chilli. Photo: Supplied/Dr Katrina Warren.
Emergency vet bills for pets that swallow everyday household items are reaching $13,500, new RSPCA Pet Insurance claims data has revealed.
Australian dogs and cats are ingesting everything from nappies and batteries to hearing aids, fishing hooks and even pieces of concrete.
Accidental ingestion is now one of the most common pet insurance claim categories in Australia, with many cases requiring emergency surgery, scans, overnight hospitalisation and intensive care.
“Many pet owners are shocked by how quickly a curious pet can swallow something dangerous and how rapidly those costs can escalate,” said RSPCA Pet Insurance chief executive officer Brad Smith.
While the claims data draws on cases from across Australia, the trend is one Canberra veterinarians know all too well.
Michael Hayward, a veterinarian at Gungahlin Veterinary Hospital, said his practice treated pets needing surgery after swallowing dangerous objects every one to two weeks.
“Yes, absolutely, it’s common,” Dr Hayward told Region.
The hospital, which has 14 veterinarians, sees vomiting among the most common reasons dogs are brought through its doors. Most cases turn out to be stomach upsets or illness, but a small proportion involve pets that have swallowed something they shouldn’t have – and those are often the cases that quickly become life-threatening.
The list of culprits is surprisingly long.
Nationally, insurance claims include a labrador that swallowed an entire dish cloth, a golden retriever that chewed through an aluminium can and a pair of reading glasses, a French bulldog that ate a scrunchie, a goldendoodle that swallowed a nappy and a miniature dachshund that required emergency treatment after chewing a baby’s dummy.
In Canberra, Dr Hayward said chocolate remained the most common toxin dogs ingest, followed by grapes, raisins and sultanas, which can cause kidney damage. Dogs have also been treated after swallowing large bones, children’s toys, Lego and even silicone baking cups that expanded once inside the stomach.
“I saw a dog who had swallowed silicone cups that were used for baking,” he said.
“They still had baking residue on them, which made them attractive. They were soft enough to swallow but then expanded in the stomach, making them difficult to remove.”
Cats are less likely to swallow foreign objects, but they present their own risks. Hair ties are among the most common items requiring treatment, while lilies remain one of the most dangerous household plants.
Television veterinarian Dr Katrina Warren said pet owners often underestimated the hazards lurking around the home.
“Some dogs are naturally more opportunistic than others, especially breeds like labradors, golden retrievers, beagles and staffies that are well known for eating almost anything they can get hold of,” she said.
For owners, the first sign something is wrong is often vomiting.
But Dr Hayward said vomiting alone did not necessarily mean a pet had swallowed a foreign object.
“There might be 10 or more animals presented because they’re vomiting every day,” he said.
If a blockage develops, however, pets can deteriorate rapidly.
“They’ll get sick very quickly. Usually they’ll be vomiting, but without bringing anything up at all.”
If left untreated, sharp objects or prolonged blockages can puncture the stomach or intestines, causing severe infection.
“Those animals become septic and will die unless they receive very high-level intensive care,” he said.
The treatment itself can be costly. Dr Hayward said a straightforward operation at a general veterinary practice typically costs between $3500 and $6000, while surgery performed at an emergency or specialist hospital can easily cost twice as much, particularly if the animal required days of intensive care afterwards.
Mr Smith said those costs highlighted the value of insurance, allowing owners to focus on treatment rather than finances when emergencies strike.
Both veterinarians insist prevention remains the best defence.
Dr Warren urged owners to “pet-proof” their homes by keeping medications, batteries, rubbish bins, children’s toys and food well out of reach and to remember that curious pets often reach places owners never expect.
If owners suspect a pet has swallowed something dangerous, both vets say the safest course is to seek veterinary advice immediately rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen.
“The sooner a pet receives treatment, the better the outcome is likely to be,” Dr Warren said.
