Teddy swallowed who knows what
 

We just can't seem to catch a break lately. I took Teddy to my school office for five minutes. Scanned the room before putting him on the ground and sat down at my desk. He lied down on the floor next to my feet and I heard a loud "crunch." I grabbed him, stuck my finger in his mouth to shove it out, but I was too late and he swallowed it.

I have no idea what it was. Sounded plastic-like by the crunch...but it couldn't have been too big if I didn't see it...and he swallowed it too fast. I'm taking him to the vet first thing tomorrow morning for an x-ray because as of right now he's drinking/eating water/breathing correctly so I don't think he needs to be seen by an emergency vet. I'm just incredibly frustrated b/c Teddy was three days off his metronidozzle (sorry don't know how to spell it) and he threw up this morning so the vet gave him more...and now this. Now, not only do I have to worry about a foreign object, but the fact that Teddy keeps vomiting and I have no idea why. What makes matters worse is that I start school on Monday so I cannot watch Teddy 24 hours like I've been doing and I'm afraid to leave him alone even if it is only twice a week.

Rant over.:(:(

Poor Teddy and poor you.:( Is it possible that it was actually food? I hope he'll be ok.

aww Teddy. praying for some quick results and a better tummy really quick!

Do we need to get Steve back so he can lecture all our naughty yorkies to stay fit?

I'm sorry Teddy found some foreign yummy on the floor. I hope it was a bug or something that won't make her sick. Bugs are still icky, but I think it's less harmful than a piece of plastic.

I have to deal with this and my Cooper. She manages to find anything to put in her mouth. She will just stroll into the room and look like shes chewing gum. 99 percent of the time it is nothing.

I hope it was nothing to cause a problem for Teddy.

If you think it was plastic, could possibly have sharp edges- feed some bread.

Ugh, sorry. :( Jackson is ridiculous with putting things in his mouth. He will find the littlest piece of plastic somewhere on the floor and start chewing it. Luckily, he usually brings it over to me, almost as if he's like "Look Ma! Got something in my mouth! You gonna come get it from me?" and I snap my fingers and tell him drop it, and he does with the saddest look on his face. He finds pen caps, Barbie dolls, and whatever else happens to be on the floor.

I hope it's no big deal. Feel better Teddy. :)

Hope it is nothing to worry about. Hard to believe how they can find something so quick. If we were that close to the floor, say Yorkie size maybe we would see every thing they do. You are a good Mommy, sometimes stuff just happens. Up date us.

Thanks everyone. I wish it was only food...but I don't want to get my hopes up. There was someone in that office before me and I have no idea what they may have left behind...and office supplies are extremely dangerous. Regardless, I wanted to add that I went ahead and signed up for CareCredit just in case. I'm really scared right now and just having it makes me feel more at ease. Literally took me five minutes to complete...not sure why people don't try CareCredit more often.

Armaniman....thank you for the suggestion I am going to go buy bread right now.

Britster...I am going to hire you to help me with the drop command. Whenever Teddy has something in his mouth he likes to start running away with it b/c he thinks it's a game. Of course it's my fault because I start running frantically after him b/c I panic and stop thinking:rolleyes:

I know I'm probably being paranoid...but I would just rather be safe than sorry...

Anyone know how many slices of bread I should feed Teddy?

Not slices. Probably less than 1/2 slice..

Rylee does that kind of thing all the time. Unless I know it was toxic, I do nothing unless he gets symptons from it and he never has. Dogs eat plastic all the time. Usually won't hurt a thing.

The reason I'm concerned is because Teddy has been throwing up (for an unknown reason) and he is on metronodizole (don't know how to spell) and so I'm concerned that the symptoms he might show (vomiting) might be suppressed b/c of the medicine?

If he gets fully obstructed, a little Metro won't stop all of the symptoms. Not saying to skip a vet visit. That is something you have to decide.

How long has he been throwing up? How much? What has been ruled out? What tests have been done?

He vomited twice and went on metro for a duration of a week and a half I think? Today was the third day since the last metro was taken and he vomited grass this morning after I dropped him off at daycare (this morning). The vet said just to give him more metro for five more days and that is what he's on now. He has not had any tests except an x-ray before he got prescribed metro b/c I just wanted to make sure he didn't swallow anything while I wasn't looking. The vet didn't think he needed bloodwork b/c he wasn't exhibiting any signs of pancreatitis other than the vomiting. I don't want to tell the vet what to do...but I've stated prior that I don't really have a vet that I can trust so if you can give me some suggestions as to what tests I should ask my vet to run (if any) I would greatly appreciate some direction

If I went to the vet every time my foster Sunny D ate some foreign object, his vet bills would be more than any pup I have ever had. He eats EVERYTHING...even mulch. Drives me crazy and I seriously have done everything to stop him. The drop command sometimes works IF he thinks I will give him a treat. Other times he takes off and swallows whatever it is before I can get to him. I just make sure he is always having regular bm's and have stopped worrying myself sick over it.

I am so sorry about Teddy. You really have been through a lot with him lately. Why are they giving metronidazole for vomiting? That is an antibiotic...I guess they think it is some kind of bug. Did they give you anything to stop the vomiting?

I don't want to tell you to ignore this, but I don't know if I would take him to a vet without any symptoms of a problem.

No diarrhea?
No new treats, chews, or an ingredient change in his food?

Sometimes they eat grass and then throw up. That just happens. I don't call the vet unless the vomiting continues. They get upset tummies just like we do.
How was he all day at day care?

I am so glad to hear that it isnt just at my house! My sewing room door was closed, Mina was right at my feet in the kitchen,,,crunch,crunch pulled a straight pen out of her mouth!!! Sense it was from my daughters sewing area in the den, I was pretty sure that we were going to have one less child in the house and I dont mean the dog. The latest list has been straight pen, plastic (no idea what it was),tensil from package (after vaccuming),tissue paper,thread,oh ya and a spool of DMC embroidery thread. This would be YESTERDAY and me standing next to her. Im not blind and I scan each room as we walk into it. WTH!! Where does she find this stuff? Even my kids didnt' pick this much stuff up!

I gave him peanut butter yesterday for him to try. It was literally the size of my fingernail...because I know better than to just give him a lot of something new since anything new might upset his tummy. I introduced sweet potato treats about a week ago while on the metro. While on metro he has not vomited or had diareah at all...today was the first day he vomited...apparently after I dropped him off at daycare. Everyone said that he acted like his usual self after vomiting...but he's never lethargic when sick only when he gets heartworm medicine/k9 advantix once a month he's a little slower than usual but it doesn't last very long.

Yeah...it drives me INSANE when he swallows something because that means I have to inspect his poop thoroughly to make sure whatever he ate is out. I don't know what it is but it's just that the CRUNCH he made scared the crap out of me.

I don't want to run to the vet for every little thing but I just don't want to confuse the symptoms for obstruction for something else...especially since he vomited this morning and a couple times a week ago.

Poor baby! And poor momma. It stinks when they don't feel good. Prayers and hugs that Teddy pulls out of this quickly!

Just my thoughts.

Ten days of Metro may be okay for two episodes of vomiting, but it seems extreme. The xray was a good idea, but with just two piles of vomit..not something I'd rush into. Xrays do help rule out obstruction, but barium is needed too for the best look. If there is a pattern of throwing up, then it is time for bloodwork. However, I wouldn't yet call this a pattern unless it happens again.

That said, he had demodex and you said he gets a bit lethargic after taking his heartworm and flea drugs. That's not normal. So IMO blood should be done even if he wasn't vomiting. The drugs may also need to be changed. I'd be doing a blood panel with CBC just to see what is going on in there if one hasn't been done in the last few months.

No treats or edible chews right now. I'd do one food and water only for a few weeks. Adding extras in will just complicate the process trying to figure out what is causing the problem. It's normal to throw up after eating grass, but a lot of dogs eat it in the first place because they are nauseated. Depnds on the dog.

The foreign object thing - you just have to go with your comfort level.

Okay, thank you....I'm sorry I should probably clarify. The heartworm medicine is not causing the lethargy...Teddy did have demodex but he did fine on the ivectermin. What causes the lethargy is the k9 advantix. He vomited the first time he took it, but since then he has not vomited. I should also probably specify that I define lethargy in Teddy when he takes longer naps. He's usually extremely alert/takes short naps but wakes easily but when he takes the advantix his naps are a little longer....but other than that when he's awake he's playing/eating/the usual. I told the vet when he first vomited from the k9 advantix...he said that that's normal and to see how he reacts the next month and to discontinue if he vomits after applying...he didn't so I'm still using it.

Okay, I will give him water and food only. Poor guy...he loves his bullysticks :( Teddy doesn't usually eat grass, which is why I thought he had an upset stomach in the first place. I've never done bloodwork so I don't understand what cbc means...but can any vet correctly analyze bloodwork? I have no problem getting bloodwork done but I'm concerned about the results not being read properly/misinterpreted etc. Again, since I've never done it before/understand it is the reason why I'm concerned about the results. If the metro is extreme should I discontinue it?

No, I wouldn't discontinue it. It shouldn't hurt a darn thing (generally). But if there is still a problem after this round, I'd refuse to give it again without getting to the bottom of the problem.

CBC = complete blood count. It checks platelets, blood cells, etc. The chemistry checks liver, kidneys, etc. If he has never had bloodwork, then it is way overdue. All vets can read the results. There is skill to interpreting it. They should have learned how in vet school. If they can't read blood results, they wouldn't touch my pups..

Unless there is a tick problem there, Advantix is not needed.

Yes, pull the bullies for now at least. They can be full of bacteria and aren't going to do his tummy any favors. I'd consider discontinuing them for good. They are far from a great snack and can cause some nasty GI issues (clostrium most notably).

My advice is to Google these terms bully sticks and vomiting

You might have a solution to Teddy's problem right there.

Okay, just wanted to say thank you again. I didn't know that Teddy needed bloodwork...how often should I get it checked? The vet has never recommended it to me even though it's come up (I've been going to the same vet for 5 months). There's definitely a tick problem here which is why I started using it. Pulled 5 ticks off Teddy one time...and one remained hidden for about 2 days and it was engorged :( Don't want to go through it again. I've been giving Teddy bullysticks and freeze dried liver treats since he was 16 weeks. He's going to be a year old on the 13th of September...do you think I may have caused him too much damage? :( I guess I'll try and start looking for other treats for him.

Ah...why did I not know that! I thought bully sticks were a popular treat here:confused:

They should have bloodwork "at least" once yearly and preferably twice when they reach about age 6. However, that is really pushing it. Really they should have it 1-2 times yearly at this age too. My dogs gets yearly bloodwork and usually a U/A. Should have been done before his neuter..

No. I doubt you have damaged him for life. And it's a bit hard to decide what they can and can't have when internet forums are full of bully stick praises. I'd discontinue the bullies, the liver treats, the peanut butter, the sweet potato treats, and anything else that is not his one and only dog food. See what you get. Then if there isn't a problem for a few weeks, start adding things back in (although I'd still skip the bullies).

Okay thank you. I will do just that. Should I wait to do his bloodwork? Can he get bloodwork done while on the metro or does that not matter? If the metro will not stop the symptoms of an obstruction I guess I can wait on the x-rays or barium like you suggested.

They are popular. Doesn't make them good though. There are a lot of things that are recommended on YT that don't come near my dogs.

Go to articles and research by licensed veterinarians when considering new chews, diets, and the like. There is a write up from Royal Canin online. They had a little write up about bully sticks written by a board certified veterinary nutritionist. This person had some very unfavorable things to say. And you can Google "bully sticks clostrium". That's a good one to look at.

You can do it anytime.

My dog is on Metro and is getting blood drawn tomorrow if that makes you feel any better.