Soft, smelly, and stretchy socks are appealing chew toys. Without proper management and training, this sock stealing habit can become a problem—and not just because your dog is decimating your underwear drawer. Dogs that eat socks and other underwear items are at risk of suffering from dangerous internal blockages.
Make unacceptable chew items unpleasant to your puppy. Furniture and other items can be coated with Bitter Apple to make them unappealing. Don't give your puppy objects to play with such as old socks, old shoes or old children's toys that closely resemble items that are off-limits. Puppies can't tell the difference!
Good to know: Your “dirty” socks smell like you. Chewing on them makes your dog feel closer to their favorite humans. When your dog chews on your socks, they feel like they're wrapped up in a cozy blanket. In other words, this is a sign of affection, so always make sure you cuddle with your dog as often as possible.
Can dogs wear non-slip dog socks all the time? It's not recommended to keep the socks on 24/7 but you can keep them on for several hours.
The use of paw socks is first and foremost about protecting the dog's paws. It can be against cold or heat, against road salt, sore paws and wear. But also as protection against damage that has already occurred, such as a torn claw or cuts and wounds.
One way to prevent that from happening is trying to wrap their paws with a pet bandage wrap (available at most pet stores) to help protect against chafing. You could also put socks on their paws first and then put the booties on. You can either use baby socks or socks specifically for dogs.
If your dog is still a pup, chances are he or she will grow out of this behavior. In the meantime, try to keep your socks or other things away from your dog if at all possible. Make sure your puppy has lots of toys to help ward off boredom and soothe aching gums. Try to give him or her as much attention as possible.
Provide More Stimulation
Mental and physical stimulation will help to distract dogs from socks and direct their attention towards other things. Make an effort to play with them more and show them toys that are safe to play with. Doggie puzzles that use food to stimulate them to solve the puzzle are very good for this.
Some dogs can eat a sock or a piece of cloth, and it may live happily in their stomach for months. When they start vomiting and going off food, it's time to investigate with some X-rays. Unfortunately, X-rays often don't show soft objects like clothing, so it may require surgical exploration to find it.
On the other hand, definitely DON'T:
Allow your dog to chew on plastic bones such as “nylabones”, real bones, marrow bones, knuckles, antlers, hooves, and rocks. These are too hard for teeth and can injure or break them.
Most commonly, a bitter ingredient is used, such as grapefruit skins. It's the bitter ingredients that deter your dog… If you have ever seen a dog suck on a lemon (It's hilarious!), you know how much they hate the sour taste. Anti-chew sprays are even more sour than a lemon.
It's normal for puppies and dogs to chew on objects as they explore the world. Chewing accomplishes a number of things for a dog. For young dogs, it's a way to relieve pain that might be caused by incoming teeth. For older dogs, it's nature's way of keeping jaws strong and teeth clean.
The issue with animals eating fabric is that textiles are not able to be broken down and passed through the digestive system like a stick. Depending on the size of your dog and the size of the sock, they may be able to vomit it back up or eventually pass it through their excretions.
Cost of surgery to remove a foreign object from a dog or cat
Typically, you can expect to pay between $2,000 and $5,000. As for endoscopy, the typical cost is between $800 and $2,000.
Dogs need food and water to survive. However, if they are otherwise well, they can survive for around 5 days without food, as long as they are drinking. It's true that dogs have survived for much longer periods without food, but there is a great risk of irreversible damage to their organs and tissues, or death.
But when they start to ingest non-edible items such as socks, underwear or even rocks, something can inevitably become stuck. The eating of substances that have no nutritional value is a disorder known as pica, and it is common among puppies and certain dog breeds such as labradors and dachshunds.
Your dog licks you to show they care, to get attention, to understand you better and because they enjoy it. However, the reason they may prefer your feet could be because they're bursting with scent information that tells them a lot about you, where you've been and what you've been doing.
They like your scent.
When it comes to stealing things like your socks, undergarments, and T-shirts, your dog may not be misbehaving; he might simply be missing you. Your scent is strong on these items, Stynchula says, and by stealing and guarding them, your dog is keeping you—or at least your scent—close.
Puppies, like infants and toddlers, explore their world by putting objects in their mouths. And, like babies, they teethe for about six months, which usually creates some discomfort. Chewing not only facilitates teething, but also makes sore gums feel better.
If your puppy bites at your feet and ankles, carry his favorite tug toy in your pocket. Whenever he ambushes you, instantly stop moving your feet. Take out the tug toy and wave it enticingly. When your puppy grabs the toy, start moving again.
Puppies and some dogs will bite your feet as a part of normal play or herding instinct. If it is too sharp or painful, you need to nip it in the bud as soon as possible. Offer him other ways to connect with you through gentle touch or non-touch forms of play.
During winter, dogs paws are especially vulnerable.
Just like us, dogs are sensitive to cold.
Duration. Most healthy medium or large dogs with thick coats can take a 30-minute walk when temperatures are above 20°F. Small dogs or dogs with thin coats start to become uncomfortable in temperatures below 45°F. Consider limiting walks to 15 minutes for these dogs when temps fall below freezing.
Usually objects end up in the stool within 72 hours (longer for heavy or large objects). Sometimes soft fabric objects are hard to see in the stool, too, so she may have passed it. I'd check with the vet for an opinion just to be sure, though.