PLEASE Pray for Mickey -at ER vet in surgery

[Perrella]

Just saw this and my heart was skipping a beat for you...how scary for you and your little one. Then I read on, what a relief the surgery went well. Your quick response likely saved his life....you are such a good mommie, he's so lucky to have you

Sending prayers for a speedy recovery.

[ladyjane]

Thank God Mickey is ok!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Scared me reading this. So glad your sweet baby is going to be okay and that mommie got him there to help ASAP! Good mommie! You should get a gold star for getting help for what must have really, really hurt and probably could have killed him in a short time had that thing poked through! Wow! What a close call. Aren't our vets that help our babies in these situations just WONDERFUL????

Don't beat yourself up. You were giving your baby what he liked - something to chew on. So many of them just LOVE to chew and it is always hard to know what in the world we can give them safely that won't potentially hurt them. My Jilly nearly choked to death on a piece of chewie stuck in her esophagus so I know how you feel! But the only reason they have anything to chew on is because we are trying to fulfill a basic desire of our dogs - that of chewing. I am so scared every time I give Tibbe something to chew on I watch him like a hawk as he's one of those that loves to swallow as soon as possible - whatever the size still may be! So with these little babies and the big things out there for chewing - it is hard to feel safe. But you were just trying to give your Mickey what he wanted, a satisfactory chewing experience.

I hope he gets well quickly and his future chewing fun is less scary!!!

[rubymoon2072]

so glad all went good for mickey. very scary...mine love bully sticks. you are a very good mommy and did all you should have done. hope he recovers fast. hugs to you and mickey.

[ladyjane]

This is why I will never use bully sticks. They remind me of the greenies fad many years ago...one of my pups choked on one and I was lucky with him. That was the end of them for me. It was later on that more and more people had issues with them.

I give my pups Nylabones. They don't see them as something to eat and they love chewing on them! I only use the Dura Hard ones...actually Nylabone also makes soft ones that can be ingested. There is a risk with their teeth, but personally I will take that risk over obstruction.

I don't believe that digestible chews are safe...nor do I think the pups are using them for chewing. They look at them as a food source! So, yes, they are chewing but they actually are trying to eat them. If they get them to a size that they think they can swallow, that is what they will do.

[TxVicki]

I am so glad to hear that Mickey's surgery went well and he will be able to come home this morning. I know how scary this can be. Thank heavens you got him to the ER Vet fast.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

This is why I will never use bully sticks. They remind me of the greenies fad many years ago...one of my pups choked on one and I was lucky with him. That was the end of them for me. It was later on that more and more people had issues with them.

I give my pups Nylabones. They don't see them as something to eat and they love chewing on them! I only use the Dura Hard ones...actually Nylabone also makes soft ones that can be ingested. There is a risk with their teeth, but personally I will take that risk over obstruction.

I don't believe that digestible chews are safe...nor do I think the pups are using them for chewing. They look at them as a food source! So, yes, they are chewing but they actually are trying to eat them. If they get them to a size that they think they can swallow, that is what they will do.

I agree there really is nothing out there that is safe for small dogs especially to chew except Nylabones. But my Jilly nor Tibbe will even touch them! I've smeared everything on them from peanut butter to dog food and tried to make a game of it, to get them sort of aggressive and wanting to bite something jerking it around in front of them - anything to try to get them to get their teeth in and realize here is something to chew on. Just won't do it.

How did you get your babies to start to chew on Nylabones? I'm just out of ideas with Tibbe and give in and let him chew on chewies and stuff while in my lap or on the couch with me and I sit there and watch him with my heart in my throat and take it away and trade for a squeaky or treat if he acts like he is going to swallow. It's not a good situation but he does love to chew and I want him to "clean" his teeth a bit that way and get a good chewing fun experience - but it is awful to me as worried as I am during it. Going through that with Jilly(she was so close to death) and reading about all the near-misses on YT, it's scary. Any thoughts of how I can get Tibbe to go for Nylabones. Do you get any special kind of just that regular plastic-looking ones?

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

I agree there really is nothing out there that is safe for small dogs especially to chew except Nylabones. But my Jilly nor Tibbe will even touch them! I've smeared everything on them from peanut butter to dog food and tried to make a game of it, to get them sort of aggressive and wanting to bite something jerking it around in front of them - anything to try to get them to get their teeth in and realize here is something to chew on. Just won't do it.

How did you get your babies to start to chew on Nylabones? I'm just out of ideas with Tibbe and give in and let him chew on chewies and stuff while in my lap or on the couch with me and I sit there and watch him with my heart in my throat and take it away and trade for a squeaky or treat if he acts like he is going to swallow. It's not a good situation but he does love to chew and I want him to "clean" his teeth a bit that way and get a good chewing fun experience - but it is awful to me as worried as I am during it. Going through that with Jilly(she was so close to death) and reading about all the near-misses on YT, it's scary. Any thoughts of how I can get Tibbe to go for Nylabones. Do you get any special kind of just that regular plastic-looking ones?

If he indeed loved to chew, he would chew on a Nylabone. Pups that love to chew will chew on anything, including furniture and baseboards! He loves to eat the other things you are giving him when you feel he must chew. Perhaps if you did not give in to your feelings about his needs, he might chew on one! He is waiting for that treat that he knows you will give him! As for his teeth....nothing he chews will prevent gingivitis if he is prone to it. I have pups who chew, chew and chew and they still need dentals!

[_Chrissy_]

Mickey is home
Tired but half way himself.
Thank you so much for all the support. It really has been a comfort to have you all here.
We had him to the ER Vet within 40 min of swallowing the bully stick. It is about a 20-25 min drive from here.
I want to tell every one thatMickey did not have any of the classic symptoms of having a blockage. He was just panting and shaking like scared.
We just knew something was not right and left for the vet on that gut feeling.
The vet did not feel the bully stick. If it were not for the x-ray...
It could have been so much worse.
I am going to get some of the nylabones today.
Vet says no more bully sticks.
Thank you again. It is such a comfort knowing you all were here.
-Chrissy & Mickey

LadyJane- Which size do you get? Small or regular? Are there different strengths?

[ladyjane]

SO glad your little Mickey is home and fine!! When you get the Nylabones, make sure they are the Dura Hard ones or you could be in the same situation with one of them. Some of them are very soft and edible.
Thank God you followed your instincts and got him in quickly. Who knows what might have happened...punctured esophagus or something?

[kjc]

So glad he's home!

[chachi]

Im glad Micky is home and all went well. Your story is scary because so many of us have given bully sticks and we feel safe with them but we really need to be cautious with any kind of chew. The only time mine get them is a special treat at christmas. But I give dentasticks all the time and really the same thing could happen with them but I give them for teeth health so I probably will continue just make sure Im there to watch them with it.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by _Chrissy_

Mickey is home
Tired but half way himself.
Thank you so much for all the support. It really has been a comfort to have you all here.
We had him to the ER Vet within 40 min of swallowing the bully stick. It is about a 20-25 min drive from here.
I want to tell every one that Mickey did not have any of the classic symptoms of having a blockage. He was just panting and shaking like scared.
We just knew something was not right and left for the vet on that gut feeling.
The vet did not feel the bully stick. If it were not for the x-ray...
It could have been so much worse.
I am going to get some of the nylabones today.
Vet says no more bully sticks.
Thank you again. It is such a comfort knowing you all were here.
-Chrissy & Mickey

This is a very good point.

I'm so glad you trusted your instincts and brought Mickey into the ER, and I am very happy to hear he is back home and doing so well!

[yorkietalkjilly]

So glad the little one is home and going to be safe. I don't think Tibbe is a big chewer but he does go nuts over his occasional chew-stick. I'm going to see if I can get him interested in the Nylabone again. Tibbe does enjoy his "chew" but only occasionally. My Jilly would chew all day - until I would take her chewies away - except on Nylabones. She absolutely destroyed all her toys chewing them. Ate all her chewbones right up and never left one like Tibbe does. Tibbe will chew up to an hour but after that, will leave his chewie. Both Jilly in her day and Tibbe, however, got/get regular daily brushing and 6 month dental checks w/cleaning when recommended as far as their dentition is concerned but I do love to see a dog enjoying a good "chew" plus they say it is good for their teeth so anything extra I can do for that, I will try. Guess I will withhold all chewies except the Nylabone and see if that will work.

[Sammy Mommy]

I'm glad that Mickey is home. Sending get well hugs and prayers!