Instructions
Listen for your dog's coughing or hacking. If the pen became lodged in your dog's throat on its way down to the stomach, the dog could cough or hack in an effort to remove the object. You may be able to see the pen in the dog's throat if you open its mouth. An obstructed throat is a medical emergency, and the dog should receive treatment immediately.
Watch your dog's appetite. According to the Pet Place website, dogs that have foreign objects in their bodies may suddenly refuse to eat.
Monitor your dog for signs of gastrointestinal upset. Dogs that have eaten foreign objects will often experience gastrointestinal issues, including vomiting and abnormal bowel movements, in which the color, consistency or amount is unusual. Look in your dog's vomit or stool, if possible, to look for any signs of the pen, such as the material it was made from or the pen itself.
Look for changes in your dog's behavior. Dogs that aren't feeling well as a result of foreign body ingestion will often act abnormally. For instance, your dog may seem lethargic, refuse to engage in its normal activity or act moody or aggressive.
Take your dog to the veterinarian for a radiograph of its stomach. Unless the pen was metal, it will likely not show up on the X-rays. However, a blockage caused by the pen can be detected. Typically, dogs that have these types of radiographs taken are first given barium, which will help make the blockage easier to spot.
How to Tell If My Dog Ate a Pen
Dogs will eat the wildest things, including pens. If your dog consumes inedible objects regularly, it may have a condition known as pica. Eating inedible objects, such as pens, can be extremely detrimental to dogs because they can cause obstructions in the intestines and stomach, which can lead to a variety of problems. If you are concerned that your dog ate a pen, look for the signs of a foreign body, and then take it to a veterinarian if you suspect the dog did ingest the writing tool.