CalamitysHuckleberry

Lets just say that my SO and I have two different schools of thoughts on the proper supervision of Dobermans, especially puppies. I am the more disciplinarian/safety officer resulting in me being the bad guy. She is the more laid back, soft voice "stop that" or "isn't that cute",very non-attentive, dogs will be dogs. One would think that after losing many many pairs of shoes because she won't "dog-proof" her stuff that she would learn.

Luckily I am stay at home primary caretaker and long story short while cleaning dishes the other night I noticed that a plastic spatula was missing a piece. I thought maybe it broke off. Imagine my surprise when I walked into the living room and noticed clear vomitus with a little piece of plastic in it and yes it matched perfectly to the spatula. Calamity was laying where I left her but Huckleberry had obviously moved and being as if he is the bored eight month old, I'm thinking he is the culprit.

But here lies the rub. Last night on a very rare occasion I left her alone with the dogs, when I got home, all was asleep, however I found a chewed up piece of plastic handle from the pitcher we fill the water bowl up with. It was laying up on the kitchen counter - it took a lot of work to chew it off. I wonder how much of it is sitting in his stomach since now we know he does swallow plastic?

Should I let things be and hope for the best? He is acting fine, pooping fine, and eating fine. He eats grain free Pure Vita Bison and Sweet Potato, should I give him some can pumpkin to supplement just in case?


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

falnfenix

i'd keep an eye on him...and i'd chew the hell out of your SO for allowing it to happen. remind her that dogs die from eating things they shouldn't.

CalamitysHuckleberry

Ohhh I have chewed her out for over a year now, since Calamity was a puppy.
I think she just feels that I'm overly reactionary because I was a paramedic for years and always assumes the worse. Drives me batty!

One thing I wasn't clear on in my original post. This has obviously sat in his stomach for several days if not a week, is that normal?

Thanks for responding Falnfenix!


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

Patches Mom

Ask her if she has $3,000.00 or $5,000.00 to spend on a vet bill to try and save a dogs life because some one was careless. Dogs die all the time from eating stuff they should not ask her if she knows the nickname of Doberman Dobergoat. Does not matter if you are a doctor,nurse or paramedic common sense belongs to everyone.Ask how many dogs have died on Doberman Talk or had to have surgery think it would be a good thing to have as a reference. I'm not computer smart enough to do it.

hbwright

I hate to bring this up as the wound is still fresh but a breeder here just lost one of her previous pups to a sock. The dog didn't recover from the surgery. I myself have a dobergoat and it requires diligence every single day bordering on paranoia and he still gets into stuff. He literally had about a $3,000 poop as I was prepping to bring him to the ER and pooped out a rubber ball that had obstructed his colon. We got lucky that time. Have your SO search for obstruction on here and see what you could be looking forward too. A doberman house has to be a tidy house. Everything is a possible swallow risk. It is very much like having a toddler running around.

Amelia_

I was also going to ask you to show her some of the theads on here regarding obstruction where dogs have had to have surgery or have sadly passed away.

Sometimes my other half has the same 'nonchalant' attitude it sounds yours does, I work around it by sitting him down for a serious talk and talk about how we're going to resolve it. Perhaps you could just start by puppy proofing one room (such as the kitchen) and baby gaing it off so he's in there when you cant watch him?

__________________

falnfenix

ooh, good call. if he ends up going to the vet for this, make sure she's the one paying for it.

MaxsMom

Been there - done that, except Max chewed a Black Kong toy. Try $6,000 when said and done! I keep a clean house, keep everything out of reach and only gave him dog toys.
Who knew dobes were such strong chewers. When I noticed what he had done, it was too late. One day your dog will chew something plastic and you might no be so lucky.

__________________

zorianak

This is why I decided to pay for a dog playpen for Jaina. Yah, she definitely still takes supervision - she can escape it pretty easily - but with diligence that hasn't been as much of a problem. Plus, if I turn my back for just FIVE seconds, it'll take her at least 6 to get into something she shouldn't - which has saved her life (for example, went to bathroom, came back to find that she'd SOMEHOW managed to get my spotcleaner's vacuum tubing into her playpen. Moved it away, and she went back to her toys).

I have thrown out renters (well, encouraged them to leave) for leaving garbage and things out. I had one who insisted on having his own garbage in the kitchen... I told him to get rid of it if it isn't closed, or at least stop putting food items in it - I didn't even realize it was being used until J pulled out a half-eaten chili dog. I can't imagine how devastated I would have been had she finished it - the amount of onion would have been enough to be lethal to a pup her size (she was ~5 months at the time). The other "great" part was when my partner stopped moving the garbage cans into their normal spot, and one of our room mates left a few bags of trash there to be put in when they were put away (my fault - I told her that it was OK, as long as she puts them in the can when they were brought up later that evening). Scariest day of my life was when J puked up a piece of stuffed animal that had been in one of the bags of trash - it could well have killed her - needless to say, vet visit! (she was fine)

She does still puke things up that scare the crap out of me from time to time, but my vet showed me how they check for obstructions/bloat (outside of xrays). Any time I feel paranoid, I'll check her out and I do it often enough that I feel confident that I'd be able to tell if something were wrong (I can definitely tell when she's holding in a poop!) I'd definitely talk to your SO about it, and maybe look into a pet playpen for when you're away? It might help at least - even if these guys are great escapers. I think J's cost me a total of $80, and I'm considering getting a second one to make a "bigger" pen for her now that she's almost full grown.

__________________
Things you don't ever want to talk about to live in a drama-free world:

Religion
Republicans
Democrats
Kimbertal
Ear Cropping/Tail Docking
Euro vs. 'Murican
The existence of Santa Clause
Your ex girlfriend's cat

CalamitysHuckleberry

Her and I had the talk again last night and if it does happen she will be paying for the surgery because she is the bread winner in the family now that I'm disabled. But her eyes lit up when I told her that she would be the one to stay home and take care of him. Just keeping him and Calamity from playing is a feat within itself. But the big kicker for her is the chances of him surviving a surgery of that magnitude, especially considering he may have a clotting disorder. I think she gets it now, she really is a good person.

He has chewed up a kong before too, he has a massive head and is really setting his teeth.

Attachment 19856

Attachment 19854



He is crated when left alone and we tried a play pen for him but he quickly out grew it. Now we just broke it apart and use it to block off parts of the house or things we don't want him into.

Attachment 19855


But back to my original question; should I give some pumpkin prophylactically and is it common for the plastic to sit in the gut for a week?

Also other than constipation and vomiting can someone give me the signs and symptoms of an impending blockage?

Thanks everyone!!


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

CalamitysHuckleberry

These pictures didn't load, grrr

Massive head





Play pen




Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

falnfenix

1 - no, give in food.
2 - possibly? this would be something to ask the vet.
3 - if the dog is drinking and eating and passing urine and stool, he's passing everything. if you're truly concerned, though, a trip to the vet cannot hurt anything but your SO's wallet.