lilli_star Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 Slightly long winded story. My Labrador puppy is almost 12 weeks old. Last night about 2am I woke up suddenly and it sounded like she was trying to throw up. I got up and went over to her (her crate is in my bedroom), but couldn't see anything and she seemed okay. I went back to bed, but lay awake for awhile just in case she was sick. Anyway, at some stage she fell asleep again and so did I. When I got up this morning, I think I had forgotten it had happened/thought it was a dream, and took her out to go to the toilet (wee), then fed her her breakfast. She ate all of it, and I took her out again for a toilet break (wee and a poo) before I put her in the backyard and went out for the morning. When I came home a couple of hours later, she was fine. It wasn't until an hour or so later when I was hanging out her bedding that I had washed that I noticed that one of her polar fleece blankets had a chunk (about 5cm at the widest point) missing from the side of it. Needless to say I was confused, and couldn't remember it being like that the other day when I had washed it, then I suddenly remembered what had happened during the night. I went outside to check on her, and she was fine. She had a couple of pieces of lamb flaps while I was cleaning up in her yard, and was racing around with a toy. I texted my sister who is a vet about what had happened and she said Ruby (my puppy) should be fine, and it should pass through. Just to keep an eye on her and make sure she isn't vomitting or off her food. Considering I think she swallowed it during the night, and has eaten since then, I'm hoping she should be okay. I stayed with Ruby outside for a bit over an hour, and like I said before, she seemed normal- bouncy and racing around doing zoomies. I brought her inside to keep an eye on her and after zoomies and barking at the cat, she is now sleeping in her crate. Do you think she'll be okay? Sorry about the quality of the pics. I took them with my phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilli_star Posted August 1, 2010 Author Share Posted August 1, 2010 Another pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 If it blocks- you probably won't see symptoms for a day or two It may be too large to fit thru the stomach opening into the intestine..... in which case, she may vomit it up later on. I am afraid if she were mine I would have made her throw up , just in case ! *fingers crossed all will be well* :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilli_star Posted August 1, 2010 Author Share Posted August 1, 2010 If it blocks- you probably won't see symptoms for a day or two It may be too large to fit thru the stomach opening into the intestine..... in which case, she may vomit it up later on. I am afraid if she were mine I would have made her throw up , just in case ! *fingers crossed all will be well* Persephone, I didn't know at the time what had happened- only realised around lunchtime today. I was disoriented from waking up suddenly too. No symptoms for a day or 2? Really??? Should I take her to the vet tomorrow? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 The vet cannot really 'do anything' - because the blanket probably won't show up on an xray .. and they can't feel it very well by external exam. Symptoms can take a while, because stomach contents move thru the gut- and depending where/if something gets stuck , and what discomfort it causes, like stopping movement of food through- is when you see symptoms :D Often if a dog eats a chunk of bone which the actual stomach can't digest, and which will not pass along into the intestine, they will vomit it up soon, or maybe 24 hrs later (in my experience) it rattles around until the stomach is irritated enough to expel it . By all means talk to a vet and let them explain it to you, so it puts your mind at ease She will hopefully be fine ! Maybe bed her on newspaper if she is a chewer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 Your sisters advice sounds good. It doesn't look like a huge chunk and it should pass through If she were mine I would be keeping a super close eye on her over the next few days and check her poop! Try not to stress though. It wont help either of you. I'm sure she'll be absolutely fine though :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordogs Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 (edited) Had a puppy a couple of years ago that was ripping her blankets up and one day she did a poo that was completely enclosed by a piece of blanket it must have been 1 1/2 inches wide and about 7 inches long after that day all she had in her crate to lay on was a piece of particle board until she stopped chewing. Sounds rather harsh I know but it was better than surgery to remove a piece of blanket. Compared to that I am sure your puppy will be fine but I would just keep an eye on her for the next day or so. Edited August 1, 2010 by Fordogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilli_star Posted August 1, 2010 Author Share Posted August 1, 2010 (edited) Thank you for your help. I'm really, really hoping it does just pass through. She's still sleeping (upside down!) in her crate. Glad I brought her inside when I did because the weather has since turned foul. I will definitely be taking some gloves and perhaps a little bag outside with me when I toilet her tonight, but of course with tomorrow being Monday, I have to go to work :D I work in the town where I live, so I'm only 5 mins away, but the problem with being a teacher is it's not always possible to drop home during the day due to playground duties etc. I rang the vet a little while ago, and the answering machine message said to call another number for emergencies after 5pm today. After reading what Persephone explained about it not showing up on xray, or external examination, then there doesn't seem much point at this stage ringing that number, does there? ETA She hasn't done anything like this before as far as I know, although I did notice when observing her poo from this morning a few hours ago that the one next to it had bits of charcoal in it- the previous owners of my house had a wood heater and used to tip out the ashes up the side of the house. Guess Ruby thought it looked tasty. Edited August 1, 2010 by lilli_star Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 Gloves sound good- tho you will see it pretty easily one day she did a poo that was completely enclosed by a piece of blanket That net which some roasts are wrapped in provides for interesting poo packaging! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilli_star Posted August 1, 2010 Author Share Posted August 1, 2010 Gloves sound good- tho you will see it pretty easily one day she did a poo that was completely enclosed by a piece of blanket That net which some roasts are wrapped in provides for interesting poo packaging! Yikes! I had a sheep once who ate a surgical glove (my sister used them to pick up her horse's poo in the stable) not once but twice about 12 months apart! Lambchop was a bit confused- thought he was a dog and would eat dog biscuits, but then his mother thought she was a horse! :D Should I feed Ruby her normal dinner tonight (biscuits with a splash of puppy milk and some meat)? Or should I cook some rice or something? I have a little bit of a chicken leg left that I bought her yesterday to use as training treats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordogs Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 Charcoal is good for the digestion so she must know that already and she is trying to help move it along smart puppy. My dogs will also eat charcoal from the fire when we have put it in the holes they dig, it won't hurt them. Yes a bag or some gloves might be a good idea for you to check what she deposits for the next 24 hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 Gloves sound good- tho you will see it pretty easily one day she did a poo that was completely enclosed by a piece of blanket That net which some roasts are wrapped in provides for interesting poo packaging! :D Those meat nets are very dangerous. I have heard of extensive surgery to remove them. Lots of dogs eat blankets and unless it is long thin strips it is fairly harmless. With a Lab puppy be prepared for her to eat lots of not food items over the next couple of years. They are one of the most destructive breeds as puppies, but thankfully seem to have pretty much cast iron stomachs. Even if you don't notice that she has eaten a foreign object always be on the lookout for symptoms of a bowel obstruction, just in case. The list of "objects" injested by the Labrador breed would be very extensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black magic Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 If it blocks- you probably won't see symptoms for a day or two It may be too large to fit thru the stomach opening into the intestine..... in which case, she may vomit it up later on. I am afraid if she were mine I would have made her throw up , just in case ! *fingers crossed all will be well* :D First time dog owner here How do you make them throw up? (want to file it in my mind incase I ever need to know how) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mas1981 Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 Mason has eaten insulation tape and some polar fleece off a tug toy, all of it has passed through with no hassles, hopefully Ruby will be just fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilli_star Posted August 1, 2010 Author Share Posted August 1, 2010 (edited) Completely TMI, and I really do apologise, but Ruby just did a poo and while it had some bits of grass/roots in it, no sign of blanket yet. I can't believe I gave you an update on that. And I also can't believe I am looking through my puppy's poo! I usually have the weakest stomach ever! She's eaten some of her dinner, which is normal- she eats half, sleeps, then goes back later to finish it off. Edited August 1, 2010 by lilli_star Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 Imo you'd have to be really unlucky for that to cause an obstruction, but of course it is possible. A long thin stip could be worse because those sort of linear objects can cause intussusception which is very serious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koalathebear Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 I can't believe I gave you an update on that. And I also can't believe I am looking through my puppy's poo! I usually have the weakest stomach ever! It's a bit bizarre isn't it? Whenever Elbie gets runny poo, my husband and I feed him rice, accompany him outside for his toileting and then report back to each other on colour and consistency How did our lives come to this? All the best with Ruby ... hopefully the blanket emerges soon. My friend's shiba inu swallowed a squeaker from a toy and freaked out and was on Poo Watch for several days. Weirdly enough it went through her dog's system faster than expected so she had go wading through several days worth of excreta to find it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydoo Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 I can't believe I gave you an update on that. And I also can't believe I am looking through my puppy's poo! I usually have the weakest stomach ever! It's a bit bizarre isn't it? Whenever Elbie gets runny poo, my husband and I feed him rice, accompany him outside for his toileting and then report back to each other on colour and consistency :p How did our lives come to this? All the best with Ruby ... hopefully the blanket emerges soon. My friend's shiba inu swallowed a squeaker from a toy and freaked out and was on Poo Watch for several days. Weirdly enough it went through her dog's system faster than expected so she had go wading through several days worth of excreta to find it :p Haha good to know OH and I are not the only ones. We are used to it now but after the lightbulb incident I was texting my boss with an update after every poo (on his request)...whole new level of workplace relations. Fingers crossed Ruby is ok and passes the blanket quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koalathebear Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 (edited) Haha good to know OH and I are not the only ones. Definitely not ... At the risk of sounding like a total loser, when we first got Elbie, my husband and I kept a log of times when Elbie toileted in a vain effort to predict how long after each meal/drink he needed to be taken out to eliminate We had a notepad that had stuff on it like: "3pm - big wee; 4pm big poo - a bit runny" :p We gave up after a few days because Elbie's movements were totally unpredictable *hugs* to Ruby. Edited August 1, 2010 by koalathebear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilli_star Posted August 1, 2010 Author Share Posted August 1, 2010 (edited) I can't believe I gave you an update on that. And I also can't believe I am looking through my puppy's poo! I usually have the weakest stomach ever! It's a bit bizarre isn't it? Whenever Elbie gets runny poo, my husband and I feed him rice, accompany him outside for his toileting and then report back to each other on colour and consistency How did our lives come to this? :p All the best with Ruby ... hopefully the blanket emerges soon. My friend's shiba inu swallowed a squeaker from a toy and freaked out and was on Poo Watch for several days. Weirdly enough it went through her dog's system faster than expected so she had go wading through several days worth of excreta to find it Haha good to know OH and I are not the only ones. We are used to it now but after the lightbulb incident I was texting my boss with an update after every poo (on his request)...whole new level of workplace relations. Fingers crossed Ruby is ok and passes the blanket quickly. Lightbulb incident? That doesn't sound good... :p Toileted again- no sign yet of blanket pieces. Ruby finished her dinner (no idea why she eats it in two sessions) and is now trying to destroy a cardboard box. ETA- koalathebear your 'log' made me laugh. I've actually got a mini one on a Post-it next to me of Ruby's food/toileting today with times, just in case. Lol. Edited August 1, 2010 by lilli_star Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now