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My dog ate greasy fried chicken and paper towel. What should I do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male

Dog ate a fried chicken breast from Popeye's and the paper towel it was wrapped in. Seems fine, isn't choking, but will something bad happen?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on July 18th, 2016

More than likely, Max will be fine. The paper towel should pass through him, and I would monitor his poop to see if it comes out. There is a chance the grease from the fried chicken could cause some problems, such as pancreatitis or GI upset. If Max begins vomiting, especially undigested food, that is a symptom of pancreatitis, and he will need to be taken into a vet right away. I would monitor him for vomiting, not eating, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting water, and not drinking water. If you see any of those signs, take him into your vet immediately.

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21Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on

    Poor Max! This is a common issue, as you can imagine - dogs are notorious for eating things that they shouldn't. The two biggest concerns in this case would be a possible intestinal obstruction from the paper towel, or a serious GI illness like pancreatitis from the greasy chicken breast. You will need to monitor Max closely for the next 24-48 hours for any signs of a serious problem, such as repeated episodes of vomiting, acting lethargic, or not wanting to eat. If you see any of these symptoms, I would recommend having him seen by a vet right away. If he continues to act normal or only has some mild GI upset (such as vomiting once or twice, or soft stool for a day or so), then he should be fine.

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    19Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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