Dog Ate Squeaker: What to do next?

**Advice and content of this page is based on my own personal experience from working in veterinary clinics, owning dogs and going through this with my own dog. Utilizing this post and website in general is not intended to replace the medical advice given by your veterinarian. Always consult with a veterinarian for medical advice concerning your pets care.

Act quickly. Call the vet immediately. Do NOT make your dog throw up unless the vet says so. Inducing vomiting could result in more damage to the esophagus if the squeaker has sharp edges or was made of certain material. If you can visualize the squeaker, try to get it out. Be very careful not to push it further down the dog's throat. 

Dog Ate Squeaker

I originally wrote this post a few years ago when my personal dog had only ever enjoyed squeakers and never ate them.

However, I came back to update this post in October 2024, when my own personal dog ate a squeaker right in front of my eyeballs as my hand was reaching for it. 

My dog is 7. She has been enjoying toys with squeakers in them for 7 years. She loves to find the squeaker, and flea bites it and chomps on it. We usually take it from her after a couple minutes. She has never swallowed it- until about a month ago when she did. So, I came back to update this post with what happened.

Because even though I had written an article about what to do when your dog swallows a squeaker, I felt myself at a complete loss with my own dog. It can be hard to figure out what to do in the moment! In this post I'll share what I did and the outcome, as well as share what I learned working for five years in veterinary medicine.

Large Dog Ate Squeaker

I have been there at least twice a year, if not more, with my dog. My dog was enjoying her new squeaky toy and then suddenly, it's not squeaking, and I can't find the squeaker or all the parts of the squeaker.

So, if you ever find yourself in a spot like me, where you're not sure where the squeaker is, the rest of this post will walk you through the next steps.

Is your dog choking or able to breath?

In the case that your dog is actively choking, pawing at his face or opening his mouth in distress, it's possible the squeaker is stuck.

If your dog is having any trouble breathing take him or her to an emergency veterinary clinic ASAP. If there is no time to transport the pet, utilize the dog heimlich maneuver for canines.

If you can visualize the squeaker, try very carefully to pull it out with your finger. Be careful not to push the toy further down the esophagus. 

What does the squeaker in a dog toy look like?

The squeaker in a toy usually is a round plastic bubble with a narrow tip at the end that creates the sound, though they can vary in shape depending on the toy.

Toys that honk or make other sounds will have different parts, and are not immune to the temptation of swallowing. 

A destructive dog may have pulled the squeaker into multiple pieces. In order to confirm you have all the pieces you may have to put it back together like a puzzle.

Usually, any small pieces will pass through a dogs GI tract, though that depends on the size of the pieces and the size of the dog.

Will my dog pass a squeaker?

Once you've contacted your veterinarian, they may recommend bring your pet it or inducing vomiting.

Again, do not induce vomiting unless your vet recommends this as this could be more damaging to your pet.

Your vet may recommend monitoring your pet which we'll cover later in this post. On the other hand, if your vet recommends bringing your dog in there's a few treatment options available based on your dog's history and the nature of the incident.

Related: 21 Best Toys Your Dog Can’t Destroy in 5 Minutes

My Dog Ate a Squeaker But Seems Fine

Once your dog is assessed by the veterinarian, there are a few ways the appointment could go.

The first plan that could be offered includes inducing vomiting via an injectable medication. This is usually only done if you're in a 2 hour or less window from the initial incident and also depends on the type of squeaker that was ingested.

The second plan a vet could recommend is to complete radiographs to confirm the presence and location of the squeaker.

If the squeaker is confirmed to be ingested, there are a few paths for what the vet could recommend depending on the location. A veterinarian may choose to induce vomiting if the squeaker is in an ideal place in the stomach and the ratio of the size of the dog and squeaker is safe.

However, if the squeaker is in a questionable place, there could be an option to continue to monitor with additional radiographs. This would help to watch the squeaker travel and monitor for any signs of blockage. 

Radiographs could also reveal signs of blockage within the abdomen. An intestinal blockage can usually be diagnosed 12-48 hours after the squeaker was swallowed. In these scenarios, an exploratory surgery is usually recommended.

In rare scenarios, a barium study could be offered when a GI block is uncertain. A barium study is a procedure where the pet is given liquid barium followed by a series of timed radiographs.

Barium shows up as bright white on X-Ray so the doctors can easily watch the substance travel through your dogs abdomen and visualize any area along the GI tract where movement might be backed up.

My dog threw up a squeaker

If your dog threw up the squeaker on their own, things are probably okay! To be on the safe side, contact your vet. They can advise you with the specifics for care based on your dog's history and the individual situation.

If your dog continues to vomit, cough or gag after the squeaker was produced, get in touch with your veterinarian ASAP.

This could be a sign that the squeaker did damage to the dog's esophagus on the way up or down.

Dog Ate Squeaker What to do

It depends on a lot of factors. If your vet opts to have you monitor your pet, this means watching for the squeaker to pass and for signs of blockage.

The size of the squeaker and the size of the dog will play an important role in determining if your dog will pass the squeaker.

If you do not see your dog pass a squeaker within 12-24 hours of consumption, then you should alert your veterinarian and monitor closely for any signs of:

• Inappetence
• Vomiting/Hacking/Coughing
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Change in behavior
• Signs of pain

These symptoms or combinations of these symptoms could indicate a blockage in the GI tract which the veterinarian would diagnose with radiographs.

How to tell if your dog ate a squeaker

In general, it's best to never leave your dog unsupervised with any toy. Of course, some dogs mature out of their destructive stage, but until you're 100% sure that your pet knows the boundaries of playing with fun toys, it's best to not leave anything to chance.

It is up to your own judgement to decide if it's still okay to allow your dog to play with squeak toys since it is possible that swallowing a squeaker was a freak accident.

The easiest solution to prevent scares is to stop buying toys with squeakers. Of course they're fun for your dog, but is it fun for you to be on constant stand-by and have to worry about your dog engulfing a squeaker?

Furthermore, is it fun for your dog if they end up needing veterinary intervention?

My Dog Ate a Squeaker But Seems Fine

Now, for what happened with my dog. 

7pm on a Saturday- I'm watching her pull the squeaker out of a toy, and she just had a different look in her eye. Like she REALLY wanted this squeaker. 

Admittedly, it was a smaller squeaker than usual. As I go to take it from her quickly because I can see this is turning into a game of keep away, the squeaker disappears from her mouth. 

Immedietaly, I panic. I tell my husband I'm going to make her vomit. I'm going to grab the hyudrogen peroxide, but he is telling me not to panic and it's fine. He states that she'll be able to pass the squeaker and it's no big deal. 

Somehow, I am agree to this despite my best knowledge. 

Around 4am on Sunday- Razz throws up yellow bile. 

For the next two days I am shifting through poop with a stick to find the squeaker. 

No squeaker. 

5 days go by, there are no signs of vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence, or other symptoms. Razz is perfectly fine. I'm almost beginning to question if she even swallowed the squeaker to begin with. 

I felt like I was being gaslit by my own dog. Maybe she didn't even swallow the squeaker at all? 

I nearly forget about the squeaker and two fridays later- 13 days from when she swallowed the squeaker she starts licking her lips and dry heaving. 

And then suddenly, she throws up a bright, terrible smelling, yellow squeaker. 

Her body had been trying to digest it this whole time. 

Dogs have an innate defense mechanism in their stomach that helps them vomit anything up that they cannot pass through their GI tract. 

I suspect that eventually, her body decided it was not going to pass or digest the squeaker from the stomach, so she vomited the squeaker up. 

I'm grateful she did! It was a scary moment. Below is the resilient squeaker who refused to be digested. 

Alternatives to Squeak Toys

Related: 21 Best Toys Your Dog Can’t Destroy in 5 Minutes

There's so many options when it comes to finding the perfect toy for your dog! It's totally possible to find something that your pet enjoys, is safe and affordable

Indestructible squeakers- This is the only toy I've found that actually prevents my dog from getting the squeaker.

The PetSafe ninja star has a big, fun squeaker in it that is pretty indestructible. My super chewer has tried and a year later the squeaker is still intact and noisy as ever!

There isn't a dog who isn't obsessed with the rolling food ball IMO.

This type of food-based toy provides hours of entertainment and makes dinner much more rewarding. Busy buddy has a ton of options for interactive toys that keep your dog busy better than any slow feeder.

Alternatively, snuffle mats or using a blanket or cardboard box for your dog's food will provide much more entertainment than a squeaker. 

Best Dog Toys Without Squeakers

Playology offers so many fun toys for dogs! Each toy smells like beef, peanut butter, sweet potato or even chicken. Dogs play with these toys 25% longer than most other toys, too. 

This post was all about dog ate squeaker.