Why does my mother’s dog eat my underwear?

Our question this week was:

Dr. Debra – Why does my mother's dog eat my underwear? I don't live near her and when I come to visit for a while he will dig through my luggage to get my undies. I have lost several pair due to his expensive "taste".

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Kelly Ressequie

Answer

Hi – thanks for your email. You wrote asking why does a dog eat underwear. Good question. Dogs like to eat many things that they shouldn't which can be dangerous and even life threatening.

I can't tell you how many dogs I've seen "foreign bodies" removed from – which can be anything from underwear (a real favorite), socks, pantyhose, as well as toys, etc. I think the smell and texture of socks and underwear make them especially appealing. This seems to be most common with items that are smelly and worn.

This is more common in young dogs (less than 2 years) that are still exploring their environment and like to chew.

An article that might be helpful to you is Gastrointestinal Foreign Body in Dogs.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra

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