My dog swallowed floss. What symptoms should I watch for and for how long?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
What is the timeframe that I need to monitor my dog after ingesting floss?
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on April 1st, 2019
Hello. It is difficult to say if & when the floss may pass. In general, things transit the gut of dogs in about 18 hours, but floss can potentially get hung up somewhere. If this just happened, you vet may be able to retrieve the floss with an endoscope. If it has been many hours, I would feed your dog 2 pieces of bread slathered with Vaseline. Feed him a piece at a time. This will bulk up & lubricate any ingesta hopefully moving the floss along. In total, just monitor him over the next 3-5 days for any signs of inappetence, bloating, vomiting or belly pain. Hope all is well in the end & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
5Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on May 29th, 2019
A piece of floss may pass without problem. I would keep an eye on Bandit for now. If you see vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or anorexia, then I would be worried and have him seen by a vet. Best of luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on May 12th, 2020
Hi there. With a relatively small piece of dental floss like this, there's a good chance it will pass through mixed in her food without causing any problems. You can go ahead and feed her regular dinner now, or give something bulky like a slice of bread torn up into pieces, to help surround the floss and help it to pass. The biggest concern is that it could become tangled on something and get stuck in the stomach or intestines - this is relatively unlikely in a 20 lb dog with a small piece of floss or string, but still possible. Because of this, I would monitor her for the next 2-3 days for any signs of a problem. Signs of a possible blockage would include repeated episodes of vomiting, not eating, acting painful or lethargic, and/or not having regular bowel movements. If you see any of these problems, then I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam and x-rays. But as long as she's acting normal, you shouldn't need to worry. :)
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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