Dog Ate a Christmas Ornament or Tinsel

Ornaments are made from glass, plastic, metal, or wood, and some contain small parts, hooks, or paint. Glass can break into sharp shards. Hooks and wire can puncture or lodge in the throat or the gut. Painted or glittered surfaces may also irritate the stomach.

Tinsel and ribbon are particularly dangerous because of their length. A long strand can anchor at one end, for example around the base of the tongue or in the stomach, while the intestines try to move the rest along. The gut can bunch up or be cut, which is a serious emergency. Cats are better known for this problem, but dogs are affected too.

Stay calm and take away any remaining pieces. If something is hanging from your dog's mouth or rear end, do not pull on it, because it may be attached inside and pulling can cause injury. Contact your veterinarian immediately in that case.

1. Identify what was swallowed: material, size, and whether it was sharp or stringy.
2. Estimate how much and when it happened.
3. Note your dog's weight and any health conditions.
4. Call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic and follow their advice.
5. Keep your dog calm and prevent access to more items.

Note: Do not make your dog vomit unless a veterinarian instructs you to. Sharp or stringy objects can cause more damage on the way back up.

Your vet may ask you to bring your dog in for an examination, and may recommend an X-ray or ultrasound to see where the object is. Glass and metal usually show on X-rays, while plastic, ribbon, and tinsel may not, so a normal X-ray does not always rule out a problem.

Depending on what was eaten, the options range from careful monitoring at home to inducing vomiting in clinic (when considered safe), to endoscopy or surgery to remove an object that will not pass. The sooner your vet is involved, the more choices there are.

Some objects pass without trouble, but others cause problems days later. Keep a close eye on your dog and call your vet promptly if you notice any of the following.

• Repeated vomiting, especially after eating or drinking.
• Loss of appetite or refusing food.
• A tense, swollen, or painful belly, or a hunched posture.
• Straining to defecate, or passing little or no stool.
• Diarrhea, particularly with blood or mucus.
• Lethargy, whining, or hiding.
• Drooling or gagging, which can suggest something is stuck in the throat.

Some ornaments carry extra risks beyond the physical. Salt-dough ornaments can cause salt poisoning if eaten in quantity. Ornaments filled with liquid or glitter may contain irritants. Button batteries in light-up ornaments can cause serious chemical burns in the throat and stomach within hours, and need emergency care.

Edible decorations, such as chocolate ornaments, popcorn strings with thread, and candy canes, add toxic, sugar, and choking risks of their own. If you are unsure what your dog ate, keep the packaging or a piece of the ornament to show your vet.

The goal is to make the tree less tempting and less risky. Dogs go for what is easy to reach, and wagging tails knock things off.

• Hang fragile or small ornaments high, and use shatterproof ones on lower branches.
• Skip tinsel and thin ribbon, or keep them well out of reach.
• Use secure hooks and avoid small loose parts.
• Place a pet gate or pen around the tree if your dog cannot be trusted.
• Pick up fallen ornaments immediately.
• Teach leave-it and a mat command, and reward your dog for ignoring decorations.

Different materials create different risks. Tell your vet what the ornament was made of.

• Glass: can shatter into sharp pieces, and cut the mouth or gut.
• Plastic: may crack into sharp shards, or cause a blockage.
• Wood and paper: usually less sharp, but can obstruct, and may carry paint.
• Salt dough: dangerous in quantity because of the high salt content.
• Edible ornaments, such as candy canes, cookies, or chocolates: risk of toxic ingredients.
• Light-up ornaments: may contain batteries, which are an emergency.
• Metal hooks and wire: can pierce or lodge in the throat.

After an incident, review your setup. Move fragile ornaments higher, replace glass with shatterproof ones, and use ribbon or sturdy hooks. Consider a barrier or a smaller tree on a table. Increase supervision, and give your dog plenty of safe chews and exercise, since a bored dog is more likely to take ornaments. Practice leave-it near the tree, and reward your dog for ignoring the decorations.

Some situations should not wait for a regular appointment.

• Your dog is choking, gagging, or having trouble breathing.
• They swallowed a glass ornament or a sharp object.
• They ate a button battery or a magnet.
• They are vomiting repeatedly, or cannot keep water down.
• They have a swollen, painful belly.
• They are very lethargic, or collapsing.