Yesterday morning around 9 o'clock, hubby called me at work to say that our dog Nickie had gotten into the bathroom and grabbed a latex glove out of the wastebasket. Before he could stop him, he had gulped it down.

He seems fine - eating, playing, sleeping, etc. just like normal. This morning when I fed the dogs at 4:30 and took them outside to potty, I took the flashlight to see if the glove had come out in the poop - nothing yet.

Any thoughts on this? I'm thinking that this item will just pass on through by this evening. In case it matters, Nickie weighs about 80 lbs, is a little over 2 years old, and is a bullmastiff and pitbull mix (also known as an "urban goat")!!

Hi Diane! I think a latex glove will pass eventually. Give it another day and you should know. (and of course keep watching for unusual behavior that would indicate a blockage)

Hi Lynne,

I think I know what "unusual behavior" would be - vomiting, not eating, lethargy, stomach bloating - is this correct and did I miss anything?

 Quote: diane joslin

Hi Lynne,

I think I know what "unusual behavior" would be - vomiting, not eating, lethargy, stomach bloating - is this correct and did I miss anything?

Those would all be on the top of my list to watch for - I might add excessive drooling or panting to the list as well.

So many dogs pass foreign objects with no problem at all - it sounds like Nickie isn't giving you any reason to think otherwise, just watch him like a hawk for any of the above signs. But just for future reference, if you're present when the dog ingests the plastic, you can induce vomiting with hydrogen peroxide (just a few tablespoons for a dog Nickies size), or head to the vet where THEY can induce vomiting (usually with a shot). Depending on the vet, some will opt to wait it out, some will want to avoid all risk of complication.

I've been spooked by 2 friends dogs dying after complications from swallowing plastic bags... so I take this type of scare seriously. Oscar swallowed a plastic sandwich bag last winter and I just didn't want to wait around to find out if things would 'come out' okay, so after a phone conversation with our vet, I made him herk it up. I felt awful about it (Oscar was clearly nauseous all day) but after seeing what came up, I was glad his digestive system didn't have to deal with it.

NOTE: Hydrogen peroxide IS POISONOUS to dogs, which is why they throw it up, so only minimal amounts should be used, and I would urge anyone considering it to call their vet first! Sometimes the object swallowed is better left NOT passing through the esophagus twice (like anything bulky or with sharp edges), so vomiting is not always preferred...

*Don't mean to scare you at all, Diane - this could easily (and hopefully likely) pass with absolutely no problems. I'm just a natural born nervous nelly!

~Natalya

I had a bonehead Boxer that was practically addicted to latex gloves.

No matter where they were kept, he'd always ending up finding one and eating it. Over the course of his life, he probably ate a box worth of latex gloves. (He loved to eat Bag Balm as well. Nasty habits.)

He never had any complications, and passed them 24-48 hours after they were consumed (he was on kibble, so that may account for the 48-hour time length).

I would adopt an attitude of watchful waiting, and not stress too much. If they haven't passed after 48 hours (and you WILL notice, trust me), or the dog develops the above symptoms, then I would head straight to the vet.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

I would adopt an attitude of watchful waiting, and not stress too much. If they haven't passed after 48 hours (and you WILL notice, trust me), or the dog develops the above symptoms, then I would head straight to the vet.

Thanks Alyssa, that's excellent advice, and just the kind of story I was hoping someone would post in response.

~Natalya

After the first latex glove incident with Buster, we tried our darndest to prevent further latex glove consumption- but when it did occur despite our best efforts, we didn't worry too much.

He always passed them easily and with no complications. He was a total goat-dog. Over the course of his life, I can't even begin to recall all the things he ate. Latex gloves, crayons (made for rather colorful poop), Bag Balm, balloons, assorted plastic Army men and other small children's toys, batteries (those really scared us, but he turned out okay. The vet assured us he'd be fine, and he was)...

We once thought he might have eaten one of these:
http://www.baodingballs.com/

Generally they contain a small bell or similar type noise-maker. We were picking him up, shaking him (not easy with a 90 lbs Boxer) and listening for the jingle in his gut.

We found the ball a few days later under the couch.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

We were picking him up, shaking him (not easy with a 90 lbs Boxer) and listening for the jingle in his gut.

LOL, why can I picture this so clearly?

(I agree with all the advice given, so there is no need for me to add anything...)

My dogs have gakked up stuff that I didn't even know was around, just when you think you have watched them closely, out comes something you have been looking for (like the squeakers out of stuffed toys).....LOL

Natalya & Alyssa,

Thanks so much for your responses! My husband said he hardly slept at all last night worrying about Nickie (even though he wanted to strangle him when it happened!)

Looks like I will be taking the flashlight out in the backyard this evening when I get home from work!

Just remember, he may vomit it up as well. So if you keep him in a crate with a blanket, you will want to check in there as well.