Dogs Stuck in a Sticky Situation

By Kay Hisano | Dated July 8, 2024

It is not uncommon to see dogs come in with an object stuck in their mouth. However, having two dogs come in for the exact same issue in one afternoon seemed too much of a coincidence to believe!

Pono and Lady both came into Gordon Vet for having something stuck in their mouth on the same day. Lady had been enjoying her afternoon, chewing on her afternoon Kangaroo treat in the backyard. Suddenly, the owners noticed that she could not closer her mouth and had started breathing in an odd manner. After coming straight into the clinic Dr. Tahlia could see the treat lodged between her upper molars. This is a very common place for objects to get lodged and always nearly impossible for dogs to dislodge it themselves.

Two hours after this incident we got a call from Pono’s owner that Pono had something stuck in his mouth. Pono just like Lady came in with his mouth open and salivating more than usual. Turns out Pono had been chewing on a bone right before this happened, and owners could see the bone lodged between his teeth. Unlike Lady, Pono’s treat was lodged into his teeth. Thankfully the bone had not fractured her tooth, but did leave a bit of inflammation on her gums.

Here are pictures of Pono and Lady after the successful removal of a bone and treat from their mouth.

Lady and Her Treat

Objects, such as treats or sticks can commonly get stuck in a dog’s mouth. When a treat gets wedged between a dog’s teeth or lodged in the throat, it can lead to discomfort, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, choking. If you notice that something is or may be stuck its important not to attempt to forcibly remove it but to head down to the Vet, just like Pono and Lady.

The common signs of dogs having an object stuck in their mouth include:

• Excessive drooling
• Pawing at the mouth
• Bleeding from mouth
• Coughing
• Gagging sounds
• Foul breath

If you notice any of these signs book in a consultation immediately with your vet.