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Fishhooks in Dogs

Fishhooks in Dogs

Fishhook foreign bodies

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Updated on October 31, 2024

SUMMARY OF CONTENT

Fishhooks can pose a variety of problems if they are ingested or walked upon. The removal of fishhooks can be difficult and often requires veterinary attention.

SEVERITY:

Severity is mild to moderate
  • Time to Cure
    Resolves within hours
  • Treatment Icon
    Treatable by a veterinarian, by the pet parent
  • Prevention Icon
    Avoid allowing dogs to come in contact with fishhooks
  • Spread Icon
    Transmission is not possible between animals or animals to people
  • Lab Icon
    Diagnosis requires physical exam, x-rays

VERY COMMON IN

Dogs of any age, breed, or gender can be impacted by fishhooks.

Symptoms & Signs

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.

Diagnosis

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.

Causation

Dogs may ingest fishhooks, which can then become lodged in the mouth, esophagus, or stomach. Fishhooks may also become stuck in the paw pads if a hook is walked on. The barbs present on fishhooks cause them to become deeply lodged in the tissue they are in contact with, and it can be difficult to remove without causing tissue damage. Due to these barbs, the induction of vomiting is not safe or effective after the ingestion of fishhooks, and it may make matters worse. In severe cases, fishhooks can perforate or migrate through the esophagus or stomach, leading to severe complications.

Treatments

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AT-HOME CARE

To remove a fishhook that is embedded in the skin, push the hook through the flesh in the direction the barb is pointed. When the barb is visible, cut it off and pull out the hook. Many dogs will not allow this to happen at home and may require sedation at a vet clinic. If a hook is embedded deeply or more than one barb is through the skin, embedded in the mouth or throat, or if it has been swallowed (even with line attached), seek veterinary assistance immediately. Do not attempt to pull back on swallowed fishing line since this may set the hook and make it harder for a vet to remove.
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SUPPORTIVE CARE

A veterinarian may give a dog an anesthetic to aid in removing a hook that is deeply embedded in flesh, in the mouth, or in the esophagus. If a dog has become dehydrated as a result of a hook that has been swallowed, hospitalization for intravenous (IV) fluids may be necessary.
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MEDICATIONS

If a fishhook has perforated the esophagus, stomach, or skin of a foot, antibiotics are needed to treat possible infection. Pain medication and anti-inflammatory drugs are often needed.
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DEVICES

None
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SURGERY

If a hook has been swallowed, a veterinarian may remove it surgically.
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SPECIALISTS

Fishhooks may be removed by general practitioner veterinarians or may be referred to veterinary specialists in emergency/critical care, surgery, or internal medicine (for endoscopy).

Cost Of Treatment

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.

Recovery

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.

Monitoring

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.

Prevention

Avoid allowing dogs to come in contact with fishhooks by keeping all fishing tackle out of reach and off the ground.

Questions about Fishhooks
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My dog I heated uses tampon is it an emergency

Unfortunately I'm having a little trouble understand your question as I'm not sure what you mean by "My dog I heated uses tampons..." I'm wondering if Bella ate a tampon or if you wanted to use one on her while she is in heat. I will answer both to be safe. If she ate a tampon, then yes this is a medical emergency and she has to see a vet now. Tampons can easily cause obstructions in the GI tract, especially since they are absorbent and can get large in the stomach from liquid in there. if Bella ate a tampon, you need to take her into a vet immediately to get it removed. If she is on heat, no you cannot use a tampon to control her bleeding. It's not safe to use at all, and are not meant for dogs. You can put a diaper on her to catch any bloody discharge. There are dog specific diapers online and at pets stores, or you can use one made of a human child. Just cut a hole in it for her tail. Hopefully this answers your question. If it doesn't, I'm sorry and ask you post again in the forum for free to it can get answered!

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I have a cat that as a kitten was very ill. We got him from 7 months old. We knew he’d had cat flu prior to him coming here. He is now nearly 5 yrs old. He picks huge fights with our other cat. He keeps urinating and scratching at doors and windows around the house. We allow him to go out via the cat flap unlimited. What is happening to him

I'm glad to see that Pippin has been neutered because this eliminates that possibility of hormone-fueled behavioral changes and aggression. Behavioral changes in cats can occur at any point in time, and could be related to anxiety or stressful situations (even rearranging furniture or introducing new people to the home can be stressful to cats). Without a lot more information and observing Pippin's behaviors, I can't precisely tell you why these changes are occurring. It may be best to consult a veterinary behaviorist in your home so that they can observe everything firsthand. You can also try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one example), and discussing the use of anxiety medication with Pippin's vet. I hope that all goes well!

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Hi! My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes. He’s taking insulin and taking antibiotics for a Uti. It’s been 4 weeks and he wobles when he’s walking. He can’t jump up on the bed like he used to.He’s blood sugar is 250 it’s better than it used to. I don’t understand why he’s so wobbly.

Cats can develop what's called diabetic neuropathy, where their hindlegs become progressively weak. The best thing to do is try to get his diabetes under control as quickly as possible. Here is a link describing the conditon: http://www.diabeticcatcare.com/DCCCOK/Neuropathy.htm

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My senior cat has metastized cancer.17 yrs old. My vet gave her predizone1 and one half tabs a day.i wanted to know if i can just stop the meds.

Is there a reason you want to stop the prednisone? I would recommend not stopping it and if you feel it is better to stop the prednisone then I would recommend weaning off of the prednisone. I would discuss how to wean the prednisone with your veterinarian. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.

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My dog has an ear infection

Sorry to hear Marley isn't doing so well with his ears. It is not possible to tell from tge picture tve exact nature of the irritation but if it is indeed infected (typically red, hot, painful and smelly), he will need prescription medication from his regular vet. In the meantime I recommend gently cleaning tge outer war with cotton wool and a pet safe ear cleaner to reduce the build up of wax/discharge

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My dog vomited a pinkish colour. Does this look like blood vomit? She doesn’t have diarrhoea or anything else. Yesterday i fed her plain chicken with rice.

That is very red vomit, however, this color could be linked to a number of things including blood in the vomit, inflammation of the GI tract, having chewed on a toy this color, eaten a food item this color, or gotten into a plant or other item this color. If the vomiting continues, worsens, or other symptoms appear such as a painful or bloated abdomen, diarrhea or blood in the stool, or severe distress, I would schedule a veterinary appointment right away to rule out more severe issues. In the meantime I would continue the bland diet for 24 hours, and monitor for any additional vomiting or illness symptoms.

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Disclaimer

The information contained on this page is for educational purposes only. Treatment should only be provided under the advice of a veterinarian who has examined your pet under the laws applicable to your state of residence.