Fishing Line and Pets: Entanglement and Ingestion Safety

Fishing line is easy to overlook because it weighs almost nothing.

For pets, it can be one of the most dangerous pieces of fishing gear.

Risks include:

• Entanglement
• Cuts
• Constriction
• Swallowing
• Intestinal injury

Monofilament, Fluorocarbon and Braid

All common fishing lines can cause problems.

Braid is especially thin and strong.

It can cut deeply into:

• Skin
• Paws
• Tongue

when pulled tight.

If Line Wraps Around a Limb

Remove tension as quickly and gently as possible.

Check for:

• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Deep groove
• Cold paw
• Discoloration
• Pain

If the line has cut into tissue or circulation seems affected, seek veterinary care.

If Line Is Around the Neck

Treat this as an emergency.

Release tension immediately.

If the dog has:

• Trouble breathing
• Collapse
• Blue or pale gums

go to emergency veterinary care.

If the Dog Swallows Fishing Line

Do not pull line from the mouth or rectum.

Fishing line can act as a linear foreign body.

It may become anchored while the intestines continue moving, creating serious internal injury.

Contact a veterinarian promptly.

Do Not Play Tug-of-War With Line

If line is visible in the mouth:

• Keep dog calm
• Prevent chewing
• Do not yank

Line Attached to a Hook

If you suspect a hook is attached:

Do not pull the line.

See our Fish Hooks and Dogs: Emergency Guide.

Symptoms of Foreign-Body Trouble

VCA lists possible signs including:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Reduced appetite
• Straining
• Lethargy

These require veterinary evaluation.

Beach Hazards

Discarded line can be hidden in:

• Seaweed
• Sand
• Around piers
• Fish-cleaning areas

Keep dogs from nosing through fishing debris.

Pier Hazards

Piers concentrate:

• Cut line
• Rigs
• Hooks
• Bait

Use a short leash and keep dog beside you.

Boat Decks

Do not leave loose line on deck.

A dog can become tangled during:

• Fish landing
• Rod change
• Wind gust
• Sudden movement

Dispose of Line Properly

Use:

• Monofilament recycling bin
• Closed trash container
• Dedicated line container

Never throw line into:

• Water
• Beach
• Grass

Wildlife Benefit

Proper disposal protects not only pets but also:

• Pelicans
• Herons
• Shorebirds
• Sea turtles
• Marine mammals

Carry Line Cutters

Keep line cutters where you can reach them quickly.

Do not bury them under the rest of the tackle.

Best Fishing-Line Safety Checklist

• Keep loose line off ground
• Cut and dispose immediately
• Keep dog on short leash
• Do not pull swallowed line
• Check limbs after entanglement
• Seek vet help for deep cuts or ingestion

Related Guides

• Fish Hooks and Dogs: Emergency Guide
• Florida Birds Dogs Should Never Chase
• Sea Turtles and Dogs on Florida Beaches
• Fishing With Your Dog in Florida

Fishing line is cheap.

The injuries it causes are not.

Treat every loose strand as something worth picking up.

Sources

• VCA Animal Hospitals — Ingestion of Foreign Bodies in Dogs: vcahospitals.com