Ask Dr Claire

My dog threw up all his breakfast, is very lethargic, and seems to have high temp. Could a swallowed outside of tennis ball cause this?

Any foreign object has the potential to be dangerous when eaten.

Obviously it depends on the size of the object in comparison to your dog, so a piece of tennis ball might be okay to be passed by a full grown Labrador, but not for example a Chihuahua.

While some objects go straight in one end and out the other, there’s also a chance of them getting stuck in the intestines and forming a blockage along the way.
This is called an obstruction of the gut and is really serious (can be life-threatening) if left untreated.
Common symptoms of an obstruction include:

• Vomiting,
• Reduced or no appetite,
• Weakness,
• Diarrhoea, and
• Weight loss.

Abdominal imaging (such as radiography and ultrasound) is often used to assess where the object is and whether it’s passing through. Swallowing the outside of a tennis ball could cause these signs if the tennis ball is blocking the bowel. 

I would definitely advise you head to your local open bricks and mortar vet for a hands-on assessment without delay. 

If you’d like to chat in person, you can get a vet on a live video call or start a chat to discuss in more detail now.

We’re here to help!

Chat soon,

Dr Claire