Why the object itself is the whole story
Vets triage swallowed objects on three details: what it is, how big it is relative to your dog, and when it went down. A small, smooth item in a large dog may travel through without drama. A sock is a different proposition: fabric absorbs fluid, bunches, and can wedge at the narrow points of the intestine, and a sock pulled partly apart can unravel into string, which is among the most dangerous things a dog can swallow because it can saw at the gut wall as the intestine moves. Squeakers, toy stuffing, corn cobs, and chewed plastic with sharp edges each carry their own pattern of risk, which is why 'he ate something' needs turning into a precise description on the first call.
The first call, and what not to do at home
Phone your veterinarian as soon as you realise, even if your dog is wagging and asking for dinner, because the window for the simplest solutions is early — sometimes the vet will want to see him while the object is still in the stomach. Tell them the item, its approximate size, whether any of it was chewed or is still missing, and the time. Do not try to make your dog vomit unless the vet instructs you for this specific object: a fabric mass or sharp fragment coming back up can obstruct or tear on the way, and a string anchored somewhere should never be pulled from either end. If you can see string at his mouth or rear, leave it exactly as it is and say so on the phone.
Watching at home, when the vet advises it
Sometimes the plan is a monitored wait: feeding normally or as directed, checking every stool for the item, and keeping exercise gentle. Take that plan seriously rather than casually — the item is not 'through' until you have seen it out or the vet calls the watch off. Keep a simple log of meals, stools, and appetite, because 'he seemed a bit off yesterday' becomes much more useful as dated notes. During the watch, block access to laundry baskets, children's bedrooms, and toy boxes so a second swallow does not join the first.
The obstruction signs that end the waiting
Go in immediately, day or night, if your dog vomits repeatedly or retches without bringing anything up, drools, stops eating, becomes quiet or restless, develops a swollen, tight, or painful belly, or strains to pass a stool and produces nothing. Those are the signs of a gut that is blocked or struggling, and obstruction is a condition where hours matter: the blood supply to a trapped section of intestine can be compromised, turning a straightforward surgery into a much harder one. Do not let a dog who seemed fine at breakfast talk you out of acting on a miserable evening — deterioration in these cases is often sudden.
Prevention for determined swallowers
Some dogs, especially young Labradors and terriers, treat socks as a food group, so manage the environment like it: lidded laundry baskets, bedroom doors shut, children's small toys in closed boxes, and dog toys chosen in one piece, sized so they cannot fit wholly into his mouth, and binned the moment they start to break apart. Teach a trade for high-value finds — a calm swap for a treat beats a grab, which teaches a dog to swallow faster. KinsLe's Pet Passport keeps his records together in one portable packet, so size, weight, and past incidents are ready for the vet the next time something disappears down him.