When your dog, cat, or lab puppy ingests a household item, it can be very costly. And in many cases, it will require very expensive surgery. Most likely, by the time that you and your vet realize the cause of your pet’s digestive problem, it’s too late for a cheap solution.

Veterinary Pet Insurance is the United States’ largest and oldest provider of pet health insurance. Veterinary Pet Insurance has compiled a list of the most common items that have been surgically removed from pets’ gastrointestinal tracts.

Most Common Surgically Removed Items

1. Socks
Perhaps because they smell so bad and Rex the labrador retriever loves smelly socks so much, I bet that the socks that are removed are always dirty and haven’t come out of the laundry recently.

2. Underwear
Underwear is most likely also on the top of the list because it’s been taken off and just left on the floor for the dog to get ahold of. Or maybe it’s on the floor because of a particularly heated moment last night? Whatever the case, I’m sure that it’s that horrible smell that drew Fido to that pair of smelly underwear.

3. Panty Hose
Why are dogs so fascinated with panty hose? I’m not sure, but perhaps again it’s the smell.

4. Rocks
Perhaps rocks make for some interesting chewing, or perhaps some of the rocks are the size of a tennis ball. My seven year old son particularly likes to pick up and throw rocks for our dogs; there’s one labrador retriever we have that will retrieve just about anything, even a rock.

5. Balls
Our labrador retrievers love to chase tennis balls. They could run after them for hours on end. Unfortunately, some tennis balls aren’t made that well–and a dog can easily swallow parts of a tennis ball if they’re able to “pop” it or skin it. This study doesn’t indicate whether or not it was entire balls that were surgically removed, but I would guess that it’s most likely parts of balls. Or maybe they were smaller than tennis balls. I couldn’t imaging a dog swallowing a tennis ball. Could you?

6. Chew Toys
Sure, that makes sense. The pet chews on a chew toy all day long…and is going to have an accident and swallow it every so often.

7. Corn Cobs
Even though a corn cob is organic, you’d think a dog or pet could digest it. I don’t make it a habbit of giving my dogs corn cobs; perhaps because I’m giving them to our chickens instead.

8. Bones
Again, like chew toys, this is probably a no-brainer. Dog chews on bone. Dog chews most of it up. Dog swallows pieces of bone.

9. Hair Ties and Ribbons
I have a feeling pets are swallowing them because they’re just left around or they fall out of little Sally’s hair. And since they smell so nice the family cat or dog chews on it and swallows it.

10. Sticks
I personally would have thought that this would be higher up on the list. But again, dogs tend to chew sticks up quite nicely..and then there are a lot of them that just like to chew and don’t end up actually swallowing the stick.

According to Veterinary Pet Insurance, this list of things that pets swallow only scratches the surface of their list of things that pets ingest. While the most common items are our own personal belongings, other frequently ingested objects include nails, sewing needles, and nipples from baby bottles.

Veterinary Pet Insurance’s claims adjusters have received medical records for pets that have swallowed pagers, hearing aids, pieces of drywall, snail bait, batteries, rubber bands, toy cars, and sand with bacon grease poured on it.

The best thing that you can do to prevent having a costly vet bill because of something that your pet ingested is to keep a clean living space. Make sure that your personal items are not left on the floor or within easy reach of your pet. Stay aware of your pet’s chewing habits and what they like to chew on. Certain things appeal more to some dogs or cats than others. Knowledge of your pet’s tastes and tendencies can help you be cautious when letting your dog near things that could be accidentally swallowed.

Table scraps might contain excessive grease, bones, or other things that they can’t easily digest.

Veterinary Pet Insurance Co./DVM Insurance Agency is the nation’s oldest and largest pet health insurance company. Providing pet owners with peace of mind since 1982, the company is committed to being the trusted choice of America’s pet lovers and an advocate of pet health education. VPI Pet Insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Optional Pet WellCare Protection(SM) for routine care is also available.

More than 1,600 companies nationwide offer VPI Pet Insurance as an employee benefit. Policies are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and in all other states by National Casualty Company, an A+15 rated company in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information about VPI Pet Insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or go to petinsurance.com.