Kobe the cavalier has been a very bad boy, the 10-year-old having recently eaten 30 of his owner's hair bands and requiring surgery to have them removed.

Key points: Only 3-6 per cent of all Australian pet owners are signed-up for pet insurance

Only 3-6 per cent of all Australian pet owners are signed-up for pet insurance Pets swallowing foreign objects is a common problem for many pet owners

Pets swallowing foreign objects is a common problem for many pet owners Veterinarians say pet owners should try and teach their animals to learn what is okay to eat and what is not

Jacqualiene Golino said Kobe was a repeat offender after three separate operations.

"He has eaten hair ties, socks and a hand towel," she said.

"It is really hard to limit what he eats, but at home we have limited his access. We have locked the garage.

"He's not allowed upstairs in the bathroom or the bedrooms, so he lives downstairs."

Veterinarian and internal medicine specialist Lisa Singer said it was a common problem for many pet owners.

"We see this almost daily," Dr Singer said.

The veterinarian said she had removed contraceptives, including condoms, and even a vibrator.

An x-ray of Kobe shows he swallowed 30 hair bands. ( ABC Gold Coast: Tom Forbes )

"We've removed tea towels, baby nappies, feminine hygiene products, stuffed toys, bones," she said.

"Most dogs don't know what's okay to eat and what's not okay to eat.

"Commonly they'll go after things that smell like their owner or go into the bin and have things that had food on them."

In one of her most unusual cases, the specialist recalled a married woman brought in a pet Labrador that had swallowed an object and was vomiting.

"The husband kept calling and asking, 'Do you know what it is?'"

"We came out of the operating room and had a lacey pair of bright red knickers.

"We showed them to the woman and she said 'those aren't mine'."

Low uptake of pet insurance

Ms Golino said she was thankful her dog Kobe was insured or else she would have been out of pocket thousands of dollars.

Pet insurance investigator with Choice, Uta Mihm, said only between 3 and 6 per cent of all pet owners in Australia have pet insurance.

"I was lucky enough that I do have pet insurance so it was helpful when it came to having a few thousand dollar surgeries," Ms Golino said.

"I would absolutely recommend pet insurance from the moment you get a dog."

Dr Singer said insurance is a key consideration for anyone who owns a pet dog or cat.

"[It is also] important for people to know that there is usually a 30-day wait period, so after your animal has already done this once they're not going to cover it," she said.

Dr Lisa Singer says dogs can be trained not to eat foreign objects. ( ABC Gold Coast: Tom Forbes )

Veterinarians say pet owners should try and teach their animals to learn what is okay to eat and what is not.

"It is very hard to be monitoring your pet 24 hours a day," she said.

"Dogs are really naturally curious, but the thing you can do as an owner with a new puppy, or with a newly adopted older dog, is to actually teach them to release objects to you.

"You can trade them for other high value things. You can run around with treats in your pocket and teach your animal to release things."

Timing crucial

Dr Singer said timing was critical if you think your pet has swallowed a foreign object.

"If you can safely get it out of their mouth before they swallow it, that's one option," she said.

"Some things that animals eat are actually safe for them to swallow and they'll pass naturally.

"If there is ever any doubt in your mind you should call your vet or seek the attention of a 24-hour emergency vet to help you answer these questions over the phone."