Your BBQ is in full throttle. The jams are pumping. Guests are laughing. Kids are off their electronics and playing tag. The neighbors are a little jelly. Guess who else has a twinge of missing out? For sure, your dog. He’s eyeing up those shish kabobs on everyone's plate but his. Have no doubt, he’s just waiting for a chance to snag one or a few. And if that happens, the party’s over.

What Should I Do if My Dog Eats a Wooden BBQ Skewer?

If your dog eats a wooden barbecue skewer, take them to VEG or to your nearest emergency pet hospital right away.

Sometimes dogs can swallow a skewer whole. This spells trouble for your dog’s gastrointestinal tract. Remember, everything he or she ingests has to pass through or be vomited up.

Why Is Eating a Wooden BBQ Skewer Dangerous for my Dog?

Wooden BBQ skewers can be hazardous for dogs for several reasons:

• Sharp Points: These skewers are typically very sharp, and if ingested, they can puncture or tear through the delicate tissues of the mouth, throat, stomach, or intestines.

• Potential for Blockage: If the skewer doesn’t pass through the digestive system properly, it can get lodged, causing an obstruction in the stomach or intestines. This can lead to serious conditions such as peritonitis, a life-threatening infection of the abdominal cavity.

• Splintering: Wood splinters easily and can break apart inside your dog’s digestive tract. These sharp fragments can puncture internal organs, causing bleeding, infection, and other complications.
  

If your dog at a wooden barbecue skewer, or even if you suspect they did, call and visit a VEG location right away.

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How Will The Vet Treat My Dog?

At VEG, we treat a lot of accidental ingestions and abdominal obstructions. But an ingested barbecue skewer is tricky. We may start with an ultrasound or x-ray to see where the skewer is currently and determine if it’s been chewed up into pieces or not. If the skewer was swallowed whole and hasn’t traveled into the stomach, an endoscopy can be performed to remove it from the esophagus.

If the skewer is in pieces or it’s moved further into the digestive tract, surgery is sometimes the answer.

Symptoms to Watch For After Your Dog is Treated

Even after the skewer has been removed, it’s important to keep a close eye on your dog for several days. Here are some symptoms that require immediate attention:

• Lethargy or Lack of Appetite: If your dog is lethargic, unusually tired or refuses to eat, it could indicate an infection or other complications.

• Vomiting or Diarrhea: Watch for ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, particularly if it contains blood.

• Painful Abdominal Area: If your dog shows signs of pain when their abdomen is touched, it could mean there’s an internal injury or infection.

• Fever: A fever can indicate an infection, which is common if a foreign object like a skewer punctures internal organs.

So, Can I Bring My Dog to a BBQ?

Dogs and barbecues go together like, well, cats and dogs. Of course you want your favorite furry friend there but your dog needs to be constantly monitored if he’s not crated or on a leash during the party.

Check out ways to have a pet-safe barbecue or picnic. Contact VEG if your pet needs emergency or urgent care. We have locations all over the country with emergency vets who are available 24/7 to help you and your pet. When you come to VEG, our emergency-trained team will triage your pet within seconds.