I just had a very depressing week with my little dog. Thank heavens she will be okay. But it didn't look like that on Monday. Last Friday she started in on what looked like Pancreatitis, or colitis or gastritis -one of the itis'. (Again! She had it last year). Very odd behavior but nonetheless, doctor was a phone call and visit away. The vet and I decided to wait and see if it was only garbage gut. Said to give pepto bismol and no food/water, then water slowly. Okay -no prob. Only, as most of you may know, liquid pepto isn't the swiftest thing to give a dog. Sooooooo, I got the chewables. Only my dog doesn't take pills or objects well. I managed to get one down here - in fact, 3 over a course of 3 days, but of course they were either whole or cracked in half. I should have gotten the capsules or tried over and over to the liquid in her. Damn!! To make a long story short, one of the chewables, NEVER dissolved, and got lodged in her pyloric cavivity. Unsure what the medical term of that area is but it's right by the exit and there is a little dip there. Ended up with edoscopy then full blown surgery. UUUUUGGGHH. So, the lesson learned here boys and girls -do not give chewables to dogs unless crushed (but then she was on a no food diet!). Or, just skip it all together. I wonder if this is the same with humans? I have it here and it is still whole - days later. I may mention something to the chemical company that makes it. The vet did say it was a freak situation and it was 'one for the books'. Vet said it was the oddest thing they have ever recovered. Hoy boy - I wonder if I have picture rights if she ends up in some journal somewhere?

Anyone else here have that situation? Or how about, what other objects have been found in dogs tummys?

My Std. Poodle ate a sewing needle and thread. The vet force fed her "cotton" balls soaked in a gelatinous solutions with the idea it would surround the needle and protect the bowel. We were sent home to examine her "end products". At the time my daughter was a baby and Tootsie was big into eating her baby socks. We were outside waiting for the big arrival of the cotton balls package when out came a sock followed by the needle and thread. No surgery necessary! You can't tell me poodles are wussy dogs!

I don’t have any stories – yet . . . I’m sure I will sometime soon. This dog we adopted in September eats EVERYTHING. I’ve never seen a dog that when given the choice of a full bowl of dog food and a sippy cup will eat the sippy cup every time. Last week some one made the mistake of leaving the red pepper flakes (the kind you sprinkle on pizza) out on the table. I come back and she’s eaten the plastic top and about half the bottle, but left the actual pepper all over the floor. Apparently the flakes were too spicy for her highness. Geesh.

How is the dog doing with shoes, Mamattorney? When our black lab got to the Stuart Weitzmans, the stunning blond finally locked up her shoes.

Ron -

I hate seeing shoes everywhere (even pre-dog), so we have a bench near the front door that has a lift up seat where you can put your every day shoes. As a result, all of my shoes are fine. The kids, who can be lazy, have each lost a croc (the dog has an affinity for plastic) and their slippers - which looked like dog toys, so I couldn't get too mad. Luckily, we were at the end of croc season anyway and Santa brings the kids new pjs and slippers every Christmas. So, no real harm done.

Do these items actually go into the stomach and intestines? That's one thing about my old dog -she's a glutton with food but that's about it. That's why this situation is so shocking to me. A simple little 'medicine' did not dissolve. WTF?

Lupe -

I'm surprised the medicine did not dissolve; that's what it's designed to do, after all!

But, so far, everything Gracie has eaten (she just eats part, not the whole thing!) has visually come out the other end - particularly interesting were the pieces of bright pink croc. It only took about 24 - 36 hours from stem to stern.

BTW - I'm so sorry for the stress you had with your dog. I can only imagine having to go through surgery over something like that. It must have been VERY scary.