Okay, here’s my blog post about whether a dog can swallow a tennis ball, written in the style of a personal experience:
So, the other day, I was tossing a tennis ball around with my golden retriever, Max. He’s a big goofball, and he LOVES chasing anything that moves. We were having a blast, and then… I saw it. He got this weird look on his face, like he was trying to cough something up, but nothing was coming out. My heart immediately started racing.
The Panic Sets In
I ran over to him, and he seemed a little distressed, but not totally freaking out. Still, I was worried. Could he have… swallowed the tennis ball? It seemed impossible, those things are pretty big! But Max is a pretty big dog, and he’s got a surprisingly big mouth.
First, I tried to open his mouth and look inside. It was tough because I could see the fear of the unknown, and he kept trying to pull away. I didn’t want to hurt him, so I didn’t force it. I couldn’t see anything obvious blocking his airway, which was good, but it didn’t exactly ease my mind.
The Frantic Search
I started googling like crazy, “can a dog swallow a tennis ball?” “dog choking on tennis ball.” My hands were shaking so bad I could barely type. The internet, as usual, was a mix of horror stories and reassuring advice. Some people said it was absolutely possible, others said it was highly unlikely. Great, super helpful, internet!
The Realization
I looked at my phone looking for the answer. I scrolled and scrolled to confirm if this was even possible. It was a mixed answer. But then it hit me, I was looking at the ground, looking for the bright neon yellow ball!
- I checked around the yard, retracing our steps. No ball.
- I looked under bushes, behind trees… nothing.
- I even checked inside, thinking maybe he’d somehow carried it in. Still no ball.
The “Aha!” Moment
Then, as I was about to give up and rush him to the vet, I saw it. Tucked away in the corner of the yard, behind his favorite napping spot, was the tennis ball. It was covered in dirt and slobber, but it was there. I felt a wave of relief wash over me, followed by a healthy dose of embarrassment.
Turns out, Max hadn’t swallowed the ball at all. He’d probably just gotten a bit of dirt or something in his throat, which caused the coughing. He was perfectly fine, happily wagging his tail and looking at me like I was crazy (which, to be fair, I probably was for a few minutes there).
The Lesson Learned
So, can a dog swallow a tennis ball? The internet will give you mixed answers. But based on my highly scientific, one-dog study, the answer is… maybe? But it’s also possible they just hid it really well and you’re having a mini-panic attack for no reason. Always best to be cautious, but don’t jump to the worst-case scenario right away. And maybe invest in some smaller, less swallow-able toys, just in case.
