If you live near water or if there’s a fisherman (or woman) in the family, a fishhook injury is a possibility for your pets.
What makes a fishhook attractive? It has a nice, strong bait smell that can be very enticing to a curious dog or cat. Young pets are most often the ones who get into trouble with fishhooks, but a pet of any age can get a hook caught in the lips or mouth.
Signs that your pet may have a fishhook injury can include:
- Gagging or drooling
- Pawing at the mouth
- Trouble swallowing
- You may see a fishing line hanging from the mouth
If the hook is inside the mouth or down the throat, your pet will need vet attention as soon as possible — surgical intervention may be necessary.
If you see fishing line hanging from the mouth, DO NOT pull it out. Swallowed line can cause intestinal blockages, cut tissue, and cause a deadly inflammation in the abdomen. If you believe that your pet has swallowed fishing line, call your veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately.
However, if the hook is caught in the lip or paw, you may be able to remove the fishhook and treat the injury at home.
- Have a friend or family member help restrain your pet.
- You may need to muzzle your pet — wrap a length of panty hose or fabric around the snout (leaving the injured area exposed). If you can’t use a muzzle without disturbing the hook, it’s best to let your vet handle the injury.
- Remove the hook. Most fishhooks have a barb at one end and an eye at the other end to hold the line. If the barb has passed completely through the skin, you can use wire cutters to clip it off. Then you can bring the hook backwards out of the wound. If the barb has NOT passed completely through the skin, you’ll need to push it through so you can cut the hook cleanly.
- Mouth injuries often heal quickly without much treatment. A paw injury will need to be cleaned daily — and you may want to bandage the injured area.
If you are not comfortable removing the hook, your veterinarian can definitely handle it for you!