Hi there,

We have had a very poorly pup. Will try to keep this as short as possible...

Last Wednesday morning she ate a plastic plug out of the wall. Fairly small but with a corkscrew end on it. Kept a good eye on her, was eating normally and pooing normally, but didn't see the plug come out.

Thursday evening she was violently sick - vomited a large amount of food, then brown liquid twice; so we brought her to emergency vet who felt her tummy and didn't think there was anything in there. But said she was extremely lethargic so gave her an antacid and also an anti sickness jab.

Next day, bright enough in morning but quickly lethargic again, so we brought her to our vet, who kept her until today. 2 xrays done, first one showed big pocket of gas in intestine and a bunching effect on the intestine. Was going to operate but she took an allergic reaction to the IV antibiotic so they left her. Yesterday they gave her a muscle relaxent and re xrayed - gas spread out in the intestine and no bunching. They felt that if blockage was there, relaxent would not have eased it. She is eating small amounts of her food often and has also had a poo today which was ok, just a vv small amount of blood at one end I think from straining - she hadn't had a poo since friday morning.

She is brighter - having a bit of a play with a ball at the moment. I guess I just want to know what I should be looking for and how we should be treating her in terms of activity levels etc. Vet thinks she had a very bad stomach upset that didn't show up in the bloods, but also that if the screw has not passed, it is likely in her stomach. They hope it will just pass through. She is still on anti biotics and zantac.

Also, we have bought a muzzle for her today as she is a curious collie and a gobbling lab who eats everything she can as quick as lightniing! What do you think of this - it's one that she can drink through?

All thoughts about any of above welcome.
Gavs

I'd suggest crating during the day when you're not in, Tau used to be a horror for chewing stuff that was possibly harmful, she even chomped through a lightbulb at one point without managing to cut herself!

Fingers crossed the anti biotics work, and she's back to her normal self before you know it

xx

Most defiantly agree with sleepinglion, if she is crate trained she wont need the muzzle and will stay safe, my harvey attemted to chew scapel blades once

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Thanks guys,

Believe it or not, it isn't when she is on her own that the problem arises

When we aren't in, she is in the kitchen with her crate open and there's nothing in there she can get - it's when we are with her, particularly if she is out on a walk in the hills, or when something unexpected falls into our back yard.

We were thinking of just muzzling her when out off lead on the hills. Otherwise she has a good response to "leave it" if we get to her quick enough.... "Drop it" is a whole different story and we really need to work on that.

Gavs.

Is she food orientated or toy orientated? Drop it can then be worked on as you have something way better than she has in her mouth. For instants she picks something up and doesnt want to drop so you swap it for her fave toy or a tasty titbit

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Hi,

Yip we try that and it works usually. But when she takes something she really wants or knows we want off her she guards, so you need to be quick and leave a trail of treats - she's more food than toy oriented.

We need to work on drop it from the beginning as we didn't do this well when she was very young. When she is better we will start in earnest.

Thanks
Gavs

what a nightmare
sounds like you hve it all in hand and she is getting better
i would just be looking out for signs of her going down hill and feeling uncomfotable again and then be straight to the vets
best of luck

Vicki

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Hi,

Thanks for all your replies. Reba seems brighter today, though still very sleepy. Had a bit of a run about the park (20 mins) but she is definitely quicker to tire. Also we are feeding her mostly wet food - vv small amounts - 4/5 times daily. She was really hungry yesterday but not so today; isn't even finishing what's in her bowl.

No more vomiting and poos mostly normal. Could the events of the weekend, all the sedation, and the antibiotics account for her tiredness and lack of appetite?

Gavs

Goodness me, you have had a bit of a time of it

Sorry, dont know what to suggest about her tiring more. It could well be the last few days have taken it out of her but I would keep a close I (as you are) just in case.

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"Life is mostly froth and bubble, Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another’s trouble, Courage in your own”

Aren't they a complete nightmare?

My Mals have all eaten things and luckily vomited them back up. Kali was making a hell of a mess with her drinking water, dribbling all over the place every time she drank. She was just normal and eating her raw food, chicken wings etc fine, happy as Larry then around four days later she vomited up a squeaky tennis ball. Marty vomited up a squeaky cow and Flynn a sock, cat ball, tennis ball felt (whole) and a bandage - out the other end. Each time I didn't know they had swallowed anything apart from the bandage but couldn't get it in time. I was very lucky not to lose them as obstruction is the second biggest killer in Mals and I know of two who haven't been so lucky with a sock!

I would watch for trying to go to the toilet and not being able to, with arching of the back when walking, just in case the plug has made it's way past the stomach and is in the intestine. It's always a worry when it doesn't come out in poo or vomit and you wonder where it's gone. She may be fine but any strange behaviour or posture and I'd have her straight back at the vet.

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Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"