My retreiver/lab mix is acting strangely. Friday night I believe he swallowed the better part of one of those pig hooves that you can buy at the pet store. Today, he vomited his breakfast and hasn’t eaten since. He’s been pacing around the backyard (like he’s wanting to go to the bathroom) and just sitting in the grass (he never goes outside for more than a few minutes to go to the bathroom) and doesn’t seem to be comfortable sitting still. He’s acting like he doesn’t feel well (he’s just not his happy self). I’m fearing an intestinal obstruction. At what point do I take him into the Vet? Should I give it a day to see if it works itself out (assuming he doesn’t start exhibiting more serious symptoms such as projectile vomiting)? He’s had (at least) one small BM so far today. Drinking lots of water and eating grass.
He’s probably your best friend. Unconditional love. He never lies to you, cheats or steals from you either.
He’s sincerely glad to see you when you get home each day. When that SOB boss of yours makes your life miserable at work, who’s wagging their tale when you walk in the door.
On a serious note, it’s not much money to get these things checked out. Don’t wait and regret it if you are seriously very concerned
I have read that a number of these pigs ears/hooves come from China and have been known to upset a pooch’s stomach. I had been advised to only buy those made in the US.
Lastly, don’t dogs eat grass to make themselves vomit???
Good luck w/ him & let us know how things turn out.
When my dog swallowed a piece of rawhide that was too big, she ate grass until she made herself throw up. I took her to the vet immediately. She actually threw up in the car. She was definitely uncomfortable for 12 hours or so, but she was breathing fine. The vet gave her some pain pills to alleviate the discomfort and that was it. No more rawhide for her though.
From what I’ve learned eating lots of grass is a dogs way of making themselves throw up.
I could be wrong. But if it really is an obstuction you need to get him to the Vet NOW. This is pet ER thing. If it is an obstruction your dog can die from this, the trainer we used had one of his dogs die this way. We have two labs and I cannot imagine going through the loss of one or both of them.
Just got back from the Pet ER. They’re not too concerned, yet. Said that if it was an obstruction that he’d likely be vomitting every 20 minutes or so. Did blood work, gave him some anti-biotics and anti-vomit medication. We’ll see what happens (not planning on getting much sleep tonight).
Justin, my vet carries rawhide bones that have been treated with some sort of malt solution to make them less sticky inside their G.I tracts. Seems to work for vicious killer police dog Molly.
J
P.S. Man, I love that photo of the dog. That just breaks me up.
One of the few problems with Labs, is that they eat ANYTHING. They simplly loose their minds around anything that they think is food. This is the one thing, I have found that you need to be very vigilant about with the breed, throughout their lives - you need to watch what goes in their mouths, ALL the time.
I hope that you have gone to your vet and get things checked out.
I realize this is after-the-fact advice, but I don’t give my Lab any of those large chewy things. Early on, I saw that he would chew them a bit and then inhale them and have really bad indigestion for a few days.
