8 week old kitten swallowed half a rubber nipple

Ok, so my boyfriend was feeding my kitten from a bottle.  Even though we told him he is to old and completely ready to be off the bottle because all he was doing pretty much was biting the nipple.  Anyway, he was feeding him from the bottle and Tigger, bit of half the nipple and swallowed it.  I called his vet and she said all we can really do is wait and see.  She said cats are good vomits but he hasn't vomited.  That happened Monday night.  It is now Wednesday evening.  He has been pooping, but it hasn't come through his poo yet either.  The vet said to watch his behavior.  If he starts to get a hurt abdomen or stops eating, bring him in.  But he is eating just fine, pooping just fine, running around playing like never before, and in no pain.  But I don't know what else to do.  She said something about 72 hours, and possible surgery, but that probably wont happen because he is so young.  Then she said we could take him to a emergency hospital and they could stick a scope up his rear end and pull it out that way.  But I am honestly beginning to wonder if he actually swallowed the darn nipple.  I can't find it anywhere, but he isn't pooping it out, he hasn't vomited it out, and he is acting normal.  Would you please over me some advice?  What should I do?  Please get back to me A.S.A.P!!!

Thanks in advance.

Alicia  

If you can handle the cost I would get him scoped and have it removed as it is better than the possibility of losing him if that is what you fear. Maybe call around a bit tomorrow and see if any regular vets offices have this equipment as they usually charge a quarter of what those awful emergency and specialty animal hospitals do.

 Hi, try not to worry too much about it, if your kitten is still eating, drinking and other wise acting normal, that's great! It's possible that he didn't ingest it. If he starts spitting up foam or acting unusual, call your vet immediately! I hope this helps, good luck!

Thanks so much.  I am not really worried about it anymore, because if it was going to cause him problems, it would have caused him problems already.  But I still keep my eye on his poo just to make sure he hasn't pooped it up yet.  Then again, it is possible he went poo and it came out, and I just didn't catch it.  I am not home 24'7 due to appointments, so who knows.  But he is acting normal and a happy little 8 week old kitten.  Thanks for the advice both of you!

Your very welcome, happy he's doing well!

Ok, I posted a couple days ago about my kitten Tigger.  He swallowed half of a nipple?  Well, It has been over 72 hours, and he is acting normal, very playful, eating, actually his appetite has picked up, and I don't know however if he passed the nipple or not!  I try to look at his poo when he goes, but I don't always catch him going either.  So I was wondering if I should do anything?  Then again, it is always possible he didn't swallow it.  But I looked everywhere and can't find it so I believe he did.  Should I do anything since he is acting normal?

I went back and looked at the other thread. Have you called your vet back for advice yet? If not I would. 

It is a good sign that he doesn't seem to be acting ill at all but I would still worry that it's in there somewhere. I wonder if they could do an ultrasound and see if it shows up? If that's an option I probably would just for peace of mind. Otherwise, this may carry on for awhile with you constantly worrying about whether he is okay or not. I have heard of cats swallowing things and showing no symptoms until years later when all of a sudden it becomes a life threatening thing. 

If you haven't cleaned his box yet you can always throw on some rubber gloves and get down and dirty and be certain he didn't pass it. Otherwise you may never know the truth!

So, my advice is get him an ultrasound. It's always better to be safe than sorry! 

 Vibes that he remains active, happy, and healthy!

(NOTE: I am going to ask a Mod to merge your two threads so that people wanting to respond have the backstory).

Hi, I'm so happy to hear that your little one is doing great. I agree with the other comment, if you are still concerned you should take him in to see the vet. Just for peace of mind. Good luck!

I can't get ahold of Tigger's vet until tomorrow because it is after hours.  But I will call tomorrow as soon as they open up.  It may be possible he didn't swallow it, and I just can't find it, but like you said, rather be safe than sorry.  And every time I catch Tigger going poo, I do put gloves on and sift threw it and crush it to see if it shows up.  So far he hasn't as far as I know.  But I don't catch it every time he goes. 

Alright so two days ago you said you would call... Hoping for the best here. Did you decide to do an ultrasound or xray? Did you find it in his poo or elsewere?

I haven't taken him to the vet yet.  Unfortunally due to a unexpected bill this month I don't have the funds to do so.  But the vet did say since he is acting and eating just fine, chances are he passed it, or didn't swallow it in the first place.  Next month when I have the money I am taking him in for an x-ray if it isn't to late.  But I believe he will be just fine. He is a fighter, a survivor. 

Sparta did the exact same thing and when I called the vet frantically. They asked me how she was she breathing? she was fine and began eating from a small bowl. she was 4 weeks old at the time.  I called the vet the next Morning and I told them she was still doing great no gas or nothing. The vet told me she was alright that people that make those nipples know that they could be bitten off and they make them so they will break down in the kittens system and pass them out of them. If she starts having problems breathing or wheezing to bring her in. Well Sparta passed the tip of the nipple that evening no problems. I was one happy Momma 

Hey i wanted to post my experience since a lot of people have been posting about swallowed nipples but no final outcome.

So my kitten was 4 weeks old when she swallowed the nipple. I just took her to the vet days before and everything was fine. I ended up have to pay almost $600 for deworming (just in case she had some) as well as other meds. I recently got laid off from my job, so it was hard to spend the $600 i had but i did for this little angle.

I was feeding her and she bit the nipple off, I was so scared i called the vet right away she said to bring her in it would cost 170$  for just seeing her and more for X-rays and induce vomiting. Unfortunately i did not have the money.

I read many things online and they were all bad.  Take to the vet right away. surgery, stuck in intestines. I was on the verge of tears. 

It happened Tuesday November 23 2015

First thing i did was start giving her wet kitten food, i read it helps her poop it out. second i started giving her coconut oil. This will help with digestion as well. I have been feeling around her tummy to see if i feel anything and all so far is good.

First day she seemed great playing around and eating like normal. All was good.

Third day around the 3rd day her butt started swelling up. I was so worried, i had been using baby wipes to clean her bottom which apparently is not good at all. 

Fourth Day: Thanksgiving Day Her butt starting bleeding a little. I was so scared i started crying. I took her to a friend of mine who was a vet and she said she was fine, just a rash on her butt. I started butting coconut oil on her bottom every time she went to the bathroom.

Today its  Nov  28 its been 5 days and she has been playing amazingly she's five weeks now. She had a lot of watery poop before all this and now she pooping perfectly. I have read a few people who have had experience say it takes weeks to pass.

I have been saving money so that hopefully in a day i can take her to the vet. 

Looks like the coconut oil and loved helped a lot, today she did poop out the nipple. A friend of mine said to me. Don't worry to much the people who make these bottles know this could happen so they do keep that in mind when making the nipples. Although it did not break down in little Riley tummy but she did poop it out.

mabelyn said:

Looks like the coconut oil and loved helped a lot, today she did poop out the nipple. A friend of mine said to me. Don't worry to much the people who make these bottles know this could happen so they do keep that in mind when making the nipples. Although it did not break down in little Riley tummy but she did poop it out.

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Hi, my kitten just did this same thing! It is a significant portion of the nipple, at least half an inch. How much did your kitten swallow and was he ok after pooping it out??