If your dog serially steals socks or chomps on household items, you'll want to take a vomiting dog in to get an X-ray to be safe, Watkins says. “Dogs can’t say ‘I ate a lego three days ago ...

When Prada, my 50-pound pit bull terrier, swallowed a balled-up sock, we rushed her to the emergency vet. Four hours and $350 ...

"Our advice to concerned owners is to contact their local vet for prompt treatment if their dog shows any signs of illness, such as vomiting and diarrhoea," she said.