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My puppy ate a stick. Should I go to the vet if it hasn't passed?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired) | Male | unneutered | 2 months and 20 days old | 5 lbs

My 12 week old puppy ate a very thin approx 3inch twig yesterday morning. He still has not yet passed the twig. He has been acting like his normal self; full appetite; no diarrhea; no vomiting. However I’m still concerned. I gave him some canned food with pumpkin in it to boost his fibre intake. Should I wait for it to pass or go to the vet given that it’s been 24 hours and still hasn’t passed?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on October 4th, 2022

I can certainly understand your concerns about Finn's stick ingestion, but the good news is that it sounds as though he's still doing very well at home. Stick ingestion is a bit of a tricky situation. Even if you had taken Finn to his vet immediately after he'd eaten the stick, your vet would likely have advised against inducing vomiting. The induction of vomiting of potentially sharp objects risks perforation of the esophagus, which is extremely dangerous. The only other ways to get the stick out are a) wait for it to pass or b) surgically remove it. At this point, the fact that Finn is doing well at home (namely eating, drinking, and acting normally without any vomiting or diarrhea) indicates that it's still more than reasonable to simply wait and give him more time to pass it. While I can't definitively tell you that surgery is absolutely not indicated without having examined Finn, it doesn't sound as though it's something that you need to urgently pursue by taking him to the vet. For the time being, I think it's reasonable to continue monitoring Finn closely at home. If you notice anything change, such as a loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, retching, gagging, or diarrhea, be sure to take him to see his vet right away. Otherwise, feeding him a bulkier diet, such as bread and rice, pumpkin, and boiled chicken may help him to pass the stick through his stool a bit more efficiently. I hope this helps and that everything goes well!

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on

    I would worry that the stick is stuck somewhere (in the throat or GI tract) or may cause problems if it was very large or sharp. If Finn has any signs of a problem such as coughing or choking, pawing at the face, sudden bad breath (all signs of a stick stuck in the mouth or throat), or is vomiting, having diarrhea, has blood in either, a painful abdomen, or is refusing to eat or drink (signs of foreign body in GI tract/injury to it), seeking veterinary care ASAP is best.

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