With about a week to go until the premiere of The Last Jedi, I’m fully on board as a Star Wars fan after many years of being less into the films than just about everyone I know. My new conversion is a result of learning that the inspiration for Chewbacca was a dog. Specifically, this lovable wookiee is based on George Lucas’ Alaskan Malamute, Indiana. According to Lucas, Indiana would sit in the front seat of his car like a co-pilot and was regularly mistaken for a person. (On a side note, his dog is responsible for the name of one of Lucas’ other famous characters—Indiana Jones.)
When I first found out that the character is based on a real dog, I assumed that his name, as well as his nickname (Chewie) was a reference to the chewing behavior that we all know so well in our own dogs. However, the name Chewbacca is actually a derivation of “sobaka”—the Russian word for dog. The character was visualized by creators as a mix between a monkey, a dog and a cat, and his voice comes from bear vocalizations mixed in with sounds from other species, including lions, badgers, camels, rabbits and walruses. Still, there is no doubt that his behavior is extremely doglike, in the sense that he is Han Solo’s best and most loyal friend. It’s no surprise that he is considered one of the top 10 movie sidekicks of all time.
Though Chewbacca is not actually a dog, it’s easy to get pulled into a game of guessing which breeds would lead to a Chewbacca-like individual. My picks are a Briard crossed with a Brussels Griffon. With apologies to George Lucas, I see no signs of an Alaskan Malamute, though perhaps the resemblance to his own beloved dog is more behavioral than morphological.
Dogs are notorious for eating things they shouldn’t, and many of those things are not necessarily food. Dogs can chew and gulp down almost anything. So, if your dog ate a sock, you’re not alone — it’s a commonly swallowed item.
“Dogs seem to love cloth,” says Kelly Diehl, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, scientific communications advisor for the Morris Animal Foundation, a nonprofit foundation that funds animal health research. “I’ve pulled out a lot of socks and underwear. Amongst us gastroenterologists, people kick around the idea that sometimes dogs eat inappropriate materials because they have some kind of GI problem, whether that’s a food allergy or intolerance. I also think there’s a behavioral component to it, which we can’t really explain, but some dogs just seem to be sock eaters.”
If Your Dog Ate a Sock, Here’s What Happens to That Sock
When dogs swallow items they have no business swallowing, several things might happen. If the dog is big and the item is small like a sock, the dog might simply vomit it back up — either right away or a day or two later. If that doesn’t happen, it’s possible that the dog might pass the sock and eventually poop it out. This could take several days, and you will want to take a close look every time your dog poops to check for the sock.
In some cases, the item might even become stuck in the stomach. “When the stomach empties, food will go first and indigestible objects go last,” Dr. Diehl explains. “Items can stay in a dog’s stomach and cause periodic problems. They got them down but they can’t throw them up, and they’re too big to go into the intestine, so they bounce around and cause some discomfort. These dogs usually become chronic vomiters.”
What If You’re Not Sure If Your Dog Ate a Sock?
Because some types of items are difficult to see on an x-ray, and because dogs sometimes swallow things without their owners realizing it, your veterinarian might elect to take a look at the stomach with an endoscope. “Sometimes, I go down there with a scope because I think they have bowel disease or chronic inflammation, and I say, ‘Oh! Look, there’s a ball down here!’” Dr. Diehl says.
One outcome you really hope to avoid is an intestinal obstruction, where the sock lodges somewhere in the intestines, causing a blockage. An obstruction is serious and it requires surgery to remove the item. The tricky thing about intestinal obstructions is you might not realize your dog has one if you didn’t actually witness him swallowing a sock or something he shouldn’t.
What to Do If Your Dog Swallowed a Sock
If you were lucky enough to witness your dog swallowing a sock or other item, one option is to bring him directly to the veterinarian to see if the item can be removed from the stomach with an endoscope. This is an especially good option if your dog is small and the item is large.
“One thing about socks in the stomach is they’re really easy to pull out with an endoscope,” Dr. Diehl explains. “It’s going to cost you some, but it’s less expensive than a surgery. Once they get in the intestine, it’s a problem because you can’t get a scope down that far and then they can swell from the gastric and intestinal juices and they can get stuck.” Your regular vet might be able to remove a sock with an endoscope, but if not, he or she can refer you to a specialist who does endoscopy.
According to Dr. Diehl, many dogs, especially large dogs, will either throw up socks or pass them in their stool. If your dog is not acting sick and isn’t throwing up, one option is to wait and see if it comes out on its own. If you don’t see the object come out in a few days, or if your dog starts acting sick, it’s time to see the vet.
If you’re not sure whether your dog ate a sock or another inappropriate item, but you notice telltale signs of an obstruction, go to the vet to have him checked out. “If your dog starts vomiting profusely, especially if he’s not eating or drinking, and he just keeps vomiting and vomiting, that’s often a classic sign of obstruction and that’s definitely a medical emergency,” Dr. Diehl explains. “Additionally, if your dog isn’t typically a barfer, but starts vomiting several times a week, it could be because something is stuck in the stomach.
If your dog swallows a sharp object, a battery or a very large object, see the vet immediately, as these types of objects may cause serious problems. And if your dog swallows underwear, take him in to try to remove it with an endoscope before it gets to the intestine, where the elastic band can cause problems.
“Really be careful about leaving socks and underwear out,” Dr. Diehl cautions. “It’s almost like a habit with some dogs. It’s much more common in young dogs because they’re often sampling stuff and eating things they shouldn’t. A lot of dogs will grow out of that habit, but some dogs persist.”
Bringing your dog to the vet can be nerve-wracking as you wonder just how sick he might be. Worrying about how much your bill will be only adds to the stress. Thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, dogs can now receive tests and treatments for almost anything that humans do. While lifesaving, many of these treatments come with some steep costs. Depending on the illnesses or accidents, some of the expenses associated with dog diseases and injuries are downright shocking.
Pet insurance is one way to worry less about the costs of your dog’s medical care. With an accident and illness policy, the fees for your pet’s care will be reimbursed to you when he is sick or hurt (pet insurance doesn’t cover routine care like vaccines or teeth cleaning unless you purchase a special wellness add-on). The actual out-of-pocket costs you’ll see with pet insurance vary depending on the specific policy you choose, including the policy’s annual premium, deductible, coverage, exclusions and reimbursement percentage, but in general, you can save a lot if your pet experiences an illness or injury. (Read more about pet insurance here.)
Lots of dog owners wonder if pet insurance is really worth the cost of the annual premium. “I’ve seen claims that have crazy dollar amounts attached to them,” says Jenna Mahan, a registered veterinary technician and director of claims for Embrace, a pet insurance provider based in Cleveland, Ohio. “A pet who gets a case of pancreatitis, and then is hospitalized, and if it’s over a weekend or holiday, you could have easily a $4,000 bill.”
To get an idea of the costs associated with veterinary care for dog diseases and injuries, let’s take a look at some common and unusual insurance claims from 2016 to Embrace.
Top Dog Diseases and Injuries on Pet Insurance Claims
The most common claims vary from gastrointestinal upset like diarrhea (13,239 claims in 2016) and vomiting (11,184 claims), to ear infections (9,586 claims), cranial cruciate ligament tears of the knee (7,562 claims) and urinary tract infections (7,224 claims). The costs associated with some of these common claims are less, and for others, more. Take a look at these examples:
Illness/Injury
Average costs of care without pet insurance
Average costs of care with pet insurance*
High cost of care based on claims
Intestinal issues
$861.18
$172.24
$7,181.22
Ear infections
$324.01
$64.80
$5,994.00
Urinary tract infections
$522.84
$104.57
$11,673.89
Allergic reactions
$520.12
$104.02
$13,167.96
Cruciate ligament injuries
$4,503.72
$900.74
$21,047.00
Pet Insurance Saved Big for These Dog Injuries and Illnesses
Some types of accidents and illnesses occur less frequently, but when they do happen, they can be costly. For instance, a 5-year-old mixed breed dog from Ventura, California, was bitten by a poisonous snake. Because the dog was insured, the dog’s owner was reimbursed $6,712.26.
A retired show Cocker Spaniel named Ori was bitten by a tick and contracted Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. She became gravely ill and nearly died. Thankfully, Ori survived her ordeal but the treatment was extraordinarily costly. The final bill was $15,232.76, but thanks to insurance, Ori’s owner was reimbursed $11,426.21.
A 2.5-year-old rescue dog named Buddy was diagnosed with early onset cataracts. Rather than allow the dog to lose his eyesight, his new owners chose cataract surgery on both eyes. The surgery was a success, but he later developed cherry eye (a protrusion of the third eyelid), which required another surgery. Buddy also has chronic allergies that require monthly medication. Over the years, Buddy’s owner has amassed vet bills amounting to close to $10,000, but has been reimbursed $7,554.56.
The Bottom Line on Pet Insurance for Dogs
So, is pet insurance worth it? Every situation is different, but paying a little bit each month might save a lot in the long run.
“The whole point is peace of mind,” Mahan says. “You don’t have to depend on what you’ve saved or what you have available on your credit card to care for your pet. With pet insurance, you know you have coverage and that helps you make your decisions based on what’s best for your pet medically and what’s best for your family, and not what’s in your pocketbook.”
As with any decision as a pet parent, do your homework and choose what’s best for you and your dog!
* Actual costs will vary depending on the insurance provider and specific policy.
