The clinical signs associated with fishhook foreign bodies vary by the location of the fishhook. Fishhooks in the mouth may cause drooling, pawing at the mouth, or trouble swallowing. If the fishhook is in the esophagus or stomach, a dog may gag, retch, vomit, stop eating, drool, have difficulty swallowing, or experience weight loss or dehydration. Fishhooks in the paw will cause a dog to limp, favor the affected foot, and lick the affected paw.
Diagnosing the presence of fishhooks in dogs is generally fairly straightforward. An x-ray can be performed to see if a fishhook was ingested and where it may be located.
Cost to remove and treat an embedded superficial fishhook, injury or wound may cost less than $500. If surgery or endoscopy are required, costs may increase to between $800 and $1500 or more depending on the size of the dog and location of the hook.
Most mouth wounds will heal quickly without much further care. Foot wounds should be cleaned and bandaged by a veterinarian. If surgery was performed, keep the incision clean and follow any diet and feeding schedules recommended by a veterinarian as the wounds heal.
Following the removal of a fishhook, dogs should be monitored to assure that they are eating, drinking, and otherwise acting normally. If a dog remains lethargic, continues to vomit, and refuses to eat, it is possible that the fishhook caused internal damage. In these cases, immediate veterinary attention is necessary.
Avoid allowing dogs to come in contact with fishhooks by keeping all fishing tackle out of reach and off the ground.
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