Pets have a tendency to eat all sorts of strange things. And vet charity PDSA has seen it all – from dogs that have eaten socks and slippers, toys and even dentures to cats who’ve swallowed a needle and thread or eaten a metal clasp and plastic packaging.

But why do they do this?

PDSA Vet Lynne James said: “It’s very common for pets to eat things they shouldn’t. As owners we need to make sure the toys and chews they have access to are undamaged, can’t be swallowed and don’t pose a danger if eaten.

“Our pets are intelligent and they like to fill their quiet time by playing with toys. If they’re not given pet-safe toys, they’ll find something else in the home to play with instead, but this can cause problems as it leaves them vulnerable to swallowing something accidentally, potentially causing a blockage or even choking.”

“Another way that our pets may eat things they shouldn’t is down to their tendency to explore with their mouths; they may accidentally swallow the things they pick up.”

Pet owners can help reduce the chances of their pet eating something they shouldn’t by:

Training: Train your dog to understand simple commands like ‘leave’ and ‘drop’.

Thinking safety: Keeping risky items safely out of reach – you might even need to keep them in a locked cupboard.

Stimulation: Keep your pets entertained with healthy treats, toys, entertaining games and, for cats, activity centres such as scratching posts.

Using a muzzle: If your dog hasn’t learnt the ‘drop’ or ‘leave’ command yet, you can use a basket muzzle. This should stop them from wolfing down anything hazardous.

Diet: Make sure they’re fed a high quality, complete life stage appropriate pet food.