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-   -   Help, Muffin eating foreign objects. Needed surgery! (https://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sick-injured-emergencies-talk/197791-help-muffin-eating-foreign-objects-needed-surgery.html)

broodizt 02-25-2010 12:21 PM

Help, Muffin eating foreign objects. Needed surgery!
 
Hi all,

I have a problem with Muffin, my little 4lb girl. She is going to be two this May, and I had never noticed this behavior before, of eating foreign objects. My other babies never were interested in ingesting things like wire or glass. They only wanted to eat delicious FOOD. But recently she has taken to eating anything she finds on the floor. Although I am vaccuming now every day, she still manages to hunt around and find stuff she should not be eating. Two weeks ago she had to have emergency surgery because of this new behavior. What could be happening? I follow her around the house and now become paranoid if I even see her sniffing on the floor. Has anyone experienced this proclivity in their on babies? If so, what did you do about it? Is there a way to train them not to do this. Any help would be welcomed. Just this morning I caught her munching on something in my bedroom, which she quickly swallowed when she saw me running over to her. I know the rug was vaccumed but there she was munching on something she got off the floor, I think. I don't know what it was, and she seems fine, but I am still worried. I'm tired of worrying night and day about her eating something from the floor that is non food

Thanks for your advice,
Shellie:)
Shellie

luvfla 02-25-2010 01:30 PM

Poor baby! Does she get plenty to eat? Also you may want to give her some chew toys to keep her occupied...something like a bully stick.

celstu1 02-25-2010 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvfla (Post 3017793)
Poor baby! Does she get plenty to eat? Also you may want to give her some chew toys to keep her occupied...something like a bully stick.

Thats what I'd say too, get her a bully stick, that may help her wanting to eat by having her own treat item. My Dexter is a food hound, he eats almost anything on the floor. I am always chasing him to get something away from him. He eats the bark from the logs that my boyfriend brings in when he lights the fireplace, thats just wood though. Shes a snacker mom, you just need to get her snacks of her own! :)

Ringo1 02-25-2010 01:43 PM

Two seems a little old to be eating non-food items. Try giving her some healthy snacks during the day and perhaps look into changing her food to see if that will do the trick. I agree with trying the chew toys such as bully sticks.

Not to scare you but that type of behavior can be associated with liver function issues as well - along with many other things, I'm sure.

I'd get her a good check-up including bloodwork.

Tell her she's not a puppy anymore!

Mom to Hot Rod 02-25-2010 01:49 PM

If you are able to be with her, a bully stick is fine,but if you are not able to watch her, maybe a kong with the filler piece in in.

I do not know exactly what this is, buy my friends german shepherd was though to have cushings disease when he started eating things. He was eating cardboard, paper. I do not know if this may be the case and it probably is not but this is the only thing that I have heard of like that. Good luck in finding why your baby is doing this.

broodizt 02-25-2010 11:08 PM

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to give me your input. I appreciate each and every one of you.

To answer your questions:

Lufla and Celstu1: 
Thanks, yes she gets lots to eat. She is only four lbs but really should weigh about three. She is very tiny and I cannot feel her ribs at all. She LOVES to eat (LOL)-but prefers MY food (LOL). I worry about her joints. She is also verrry picky. She has been known to walk away from even people food if she is not in the mood or it hits her the wrong way :-) She also will eat Cassie’s food and not hers when they are in the same room, because she thinks Cassie’s food is better (LOL) even though I give them the same exact thing and the same amount. My Vet told me to separate them when eating so Cassie can eat her food in peace. (Cassie is my other Yorkie baby.)

Actually, I give them people food made for canines with turkey potatoes and veggies-called Lucky Dog Cuisine. I cook organic chicken and soup and mix it in, then I put a little turkey gravy, per my Vet, along with a little dessicated liver and parmesan cheese for flavor.

Ringo1: For snacks they sometimes get apples, yogurt, cheese, chicken, cottage cheese, etc. They also get lots of supplements to keep them healthy. Bach flowers, homeopathic tinctures for bones and joints and teeth. I take them to a holistic Vet who they see a least once a month. She gives them chiropractic sessions and they have had accupuncture, energy work like Reiki, and on and on, as well as blood tests galore.

My Vet saved Muffins life a few months ago when she was the victim of vaccinosis and almost died. She is an amazing Vet, a miracle worker, really.

Muffin and Cassie have got lots to chew on like, beef tendons, per my Vet. Also Baaa Trachea, which they go wild for and also Texas toothpicks. And yes I do supervise them.

Mom to Hot Rod:
Yes, you are right about that, it is important to be around when they are doing their chewing thing, as I have the unenviable task of confiscating their chew toys when they get too small (LOL).

PS, when Muffin had surgery a couple of weeks ago, what I would have given if I had known about the Softee Cone Collar. She really would have been ever so much more comforable.

So anyway, it’s a mystery to me. I’m very confused because I have never had to deal with this before even though I have been mom to my Yorkie babies for more than 20 years.

One thing I am pretty sure of-I don’t think she is eating these things because she is hungry. I think it’s the curiosity factor. She is VERRRY smart. She is curious about everything. Everything to her is a toy. She watches TV, and understands many English words (so much so, that I actually have to spell things out instead of say things.)


This is why I am asking if there is a way to train them not to eat or play with things off of the floor. Any tips or tricks? Anybody struggle with this issue, given the information I have provided above?

Would love some ideas, tips or tricks, etc. to help keep Muffin safe.

I’m tired of being paranoid all the time everytime I see her sniffing something.

Thanks so much everyone for your time-

All answers welcome,

Shellie, Cassie, and Muffin
:)

kjc 02-26-2010 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broodizt (Post 3018554)

... This is why I am asking if there is a way to train them not to eat or play with things off of the floor. Any tips or tricks? Anybody struggle with this issue, given the information I have provided above?

Would love some ideas, tips or tricks, etc. to help keep Muffin safe.

I’m tired of being paranoid all the time everytime I see her sniffing something.

Thanks so much everyone for your time-

All answers welcome,

Shellie, Cassie, and Muffin
:)

I would first confine her to an X-pen or a safe room when she is not under your direct supervision. Teaching her the 'Leave it' command may be helpful. Have a treat in each hand. Right hand treat on the floor in front of sitting dog say 'leave it' First times show her treat in left hand. Block her from getting treat on floor with your hand if you must. As soon as she hesitates and/or backs away, reward with 'good dog' and immediately give her treat from left hand (from your hand, not the floor). Key points to remember: Never give her the treat on the floor....remove it as you give her the treat from your left hand. Never switch hands once you have started training: always reward with treat from the same hand. When she 'gets it', gradually increase the amount of time between the desired response (not going for the treat on the floor) and the reward. For your specific situation, after she's good at working with leaving the treat, use other objects that you feel she would want to eat.

You may also find the 'drop it' or 'give' command useful in getting her to spit out whatever is in her mouth. Work with a toy (non food item) to begin with, and reward with a treat.

Confine her for her own safety until she can do these commands 100%, and when you can't supervise her. I'm assuming you've discussed this behavior with your vet. I've read where adding Probiotics with enzymes to her diet may be helpful in eliminating this behavior also.

kjc 02-26-2010 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjc (Post 3018753)
I would first confine her to an X-pen or a safe room when she is not under your direct supervision. Teaching her the 'Leave it' command may be helpful. Have a treat in each hand. Right hand treat on the floor in front of sitting dog say 'leave it' First times show her treat in left hand. Block her from getting treat on floor with your hand if you must. As soon as she hesitates and/or backs away, reward with 'good dog' and immediately give her treat from left hand (from your hand, not the floor). Key points to remember: Never give her the treat on the floor....remove it as you give her the treat from your left hand. Never switch hands once you have started training: always reward with treat from the same hand. When she 'gets it', gradually increase the amount of time between the desired response (not going for the treat on the floor) and the reward. For your specific situation, after she's good at working with leaving the treat, use other objects that you feel she would want to eat.

You may also find the 'drop it' or 'give' command useful in getting her to spit out whatever is in her mouth. Work with a toy (non food item) to begin with, and reward with a treat.

Confine her for her own safety until she can do these commands 100%, and when you can't supervise her. I'm assuming you've discussed this behavior with your vet. I've read where adding Probiotics with enzymes to her diet may be helpful in eliminating this behavior also.

Wanted to add: Don't run to her to remove an item from her mouth... offer an alternative ...toy or treat ... maybe she will stop what she's doing and come to you without ingesting the item.

Nico29 02-26-2010 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjc (Post 3018762)
Wanted to add: Don't run to her to remove an item from her mouth... offer an alternative ...toy or treat ... maybe she will stop what she's doing and come to you without ingesting the item.

EXCELLENT suggestions! When he was a little puppy he ate every single thing he could find. We used to say no and run after him to retrieve it. Problem was that this became his favorite game. We quickly discovered that when he was running he could easily choke on whatever he had. "Drop it" is the best. It took a long time to teach. I found that if I didn't let on that I was upset and acted like I didn't care he became less interested in the item. So basically what I do now is 1. Breathe. 2. Turn my back and walk two steps away so he thinks I don't care. 3. In a very cheery voice I say, "drop it" and the second he does I yell good boy and walk over to get him a couple kibble. When he was really bad about eating things off the floor--even though we vacuumed every day--I sprayed bitter apple all over the carpet. Didn't ruin our carpet. This helped a great deal. Good luck to you. It's so scary.

kjc 02-26-2010 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nico29 (Post 3018787)
EXCELLENT suggestions! When he was a little puppy he ate every single thing he could find. We used to say no and run after him to retrieve it. Problem was that this became his favorite game. We quickly discovered that when he was running he could easily choke on whatever he had. "Drop it" is the best. It took a long time to teach. I found that if I didn't let on that I was upset and acted like I didn't care he became less interested in the item. So basically what I do now is 1. Breathe. 2. Turn my back and walk two steps away so he thinks I don't care. 3. In a very cheery voice I say, "drop it" and the second he does I yell good boy and walk over to get him a couple kibble. When he was really bad about eating things off the floor--even though we vacuumed every day--I sprayed bitter apple all over the carpet. Didn't ruin our carpet. This helped a great deal. Good luck to you. It's so scary.

The Drop it is great for when you're there in front of the pup, the Leave it is very important bc eventually when they do see something on the floor, their training will hopefully kick in and they will walk away without touching the object, whether you're there or not.

chattiesmom 02-26-2010 10:00 AM

You might try teaching her a couple of new commands - "LEAVE IT" AND "DROP IT". Once little Muffin learns these commands, you can expand it to the point where she will only eat when she has permission - meaning she will look to you for an OK to eat or pick up something with her mouth. To be honest I have never done this with the Yorkies, but I did with the Irish Setters I had years ago. Not only is it a safety net for little vacuum cleaners, it also helps reinforce respect.

Nico29 02-26-2010 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjc (Post 3018998)
The Drop it is great for when you're there in front of the pup, the Leave it is very important bc eventually when they do see something on the floor, their training will hopefully kick in and they will walk away without touching the object, whether you're there or not.

If someone could train him to leave it to the point that he would do it on his own.....I would be insanely impressed. It took a long time to work on drop it but now we are going to start working on your suggestion. I'm willing to devote whatever amount of time it takes to do this right. Thanks for the idea!

Zanders' mom 02-26-2010 11:16 AM

This behavior sounds very familiar. My Zander is a "goat" :rolleyes: I have to keep a good watch on him. I have trained him to drop it and leave it, this has helped a lot, at times when he hears me say drop it, he will actually spit out the item on the floor.
Wishing you much luck.

broodizt 03-08-2010 12:58 AM

Sorry it's been such a long time since i've posted. Lots going on here, but the leave it and drop it idea is GREAT and I'm going to try it. Thanks everyone.

Shellie :-)

broodizt 03-08-2010 01:00 AM

Thanks kjc, great suggestion!!!!!!!


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