Puppies Eating Hair - Is it in them? For how long?

We have two 5-month-old mini Yorkie puppies. There is a problem we are having wherein they are going to the bathroom and the poop is hanging out of their backside, attached by a piece of long human hair. My brother's hair is very long and is all over the house, regardless of how much vacuuming we do. We have to remove the poop each time by hand. This happens to one or both of the puppies at least once a week. We have so many questions and yes, of course we are taking them to the vet asap. One of them coughed up very light foam 3 times tonight and I have no idea if that is related. The same puppy is sort of dry-coughing all night tonight and we are frantic. Can this have anything to do with the hair thing? If not, what could it be? Re: the hair thing: what happens in this kind of situation? Does the hair STAY in their stomach or intestines? Does anyone know anything about this? And yes, we're trying to get him to cut his hair off. I seek answers only about the hair, the foam, the cough.

Puppies Eating Hair - Is it in them? For how long?

The answers or rather the opinions based on your inputs are here. First of all -hair in the digestive tract is not good for the puppy. Hair does not get digested in the stomach acids. It can go and block the duodenum or intestines and as it happens in case of Bovines the animals face risk of death by the block in intestines. Another bad thing about hair is that they have a tendency to join up with each other inside the body and form some kind of cluster and a hard ball like thing which can be risky to the life. So as you have decided ask brother to cut his hair short and also watch the dogs so they dont eat from the floor where obviously hair is in abundance. The foam and cough dont seem to be related to the hair. Since you are taking the dogs to the vet, they will get medicines for that ailment. Try giving papaya fruit to your dogs, It is a good laxative -that it it makes the intestines push out any blockage as it happens in constipation and in this case it helps in cleaning up the hair which is already inside the intestines. Good Luck.

Puppies Eating Hair - Is it in them? For how long?

My dog does the same thing...he is almost 12 years old and it hasn't affected him...yeah, it is gross when you have to wipe the poo off the behind, but there's really no way to stop it. Puppies and dogs instinctively lick and try to eat obscure things. Our dog coughs and gags sometimes, but he's never been hurt by eating hair. If anything, eating people food has made him sick, not hair. Don't panic...your pups will be okay.

Puppies Eating Hair - Is it in them? For how long?

first of all, buy one of those rubber rakes(sweepa is one brand) and clean your carpet. then take your pups to the vet. the cough doesn't sound good, could be kennel cough.

Puppies Eating Hair - Is it in them? For how long?

I had the same thing happen to my pug when he was a puppy. My wife has long hair, and he would eat it and sometime, when he pooped, it would stick to him. Basically, the hair will be digested and pooped out. It shouldn't be a problem, but its a good to take him to the vet if you are worried.

They should learn, with age, to not eat the hair anymore. At least, that is what happend with my dog. As far as the coughing and foam throw up. I have had shih tzu's in the past, and both of them and my pug have had foam like throw up. A lot of times this is because of their shorter faces. They ingest more of their own hair and it causes them to gag and basically induce vometing to get it out. It is a little strange that both dogs are coughing at the same time.

I suggest you keep water close to them tonight to help them clear their throats. Then take them in to the vet and explain it all to them. I am sure that they will be okay, but its good that you are concerned.

Puppies Eating Hair - Is it in them? For how long?

My dog does it too. He is big enough to push it out, but it looks like the terds are on a string as he is pooping out the hair. He gags when he has a piece of hair in his throat, but does just fine. I have long hair and you can't keep it cleaned up. It is in the carpets then when he is playing w/ his toys the hair gets wrapped up on the toys then he ends up eating it. I don't know about the cough %26amp; such, probably would check w/ the vet