Post by Juana Cookie on Aug 19, 2006 10:27:19 GMT -5
As some of you already know, last night, we had a "close call" with a pig's ear. I sent out an e-mail to my contact list, about what happened, and got several replies back about similar situations. So I offer the following caution:
NEVER LEAVE YOUR DOG UNATTENDED WITH A TREAT!!!
Fortunately, I was in the room with Beau, at the time, and realized that something was "wrong", and was able to remedy the situation quickly and easily. I hesitate to think what MIGHT have happened had I not been.
Beau gets a nightly treat of a Pig's Ear. He loves them, and is allowed ONE every night. Last night, I was on the computer, and I gave him the pig's ear, and he was on the floor behind me. Usually he "crunches" on it for several minutes, before it is gone. Last night he only "crunched" for a moment, then got up, and started pacing the floor, and whimpering. I called him over to me, and he ducked his head so I couldn't get to his face (I knew then that there was something in his mouth, as the only time he does this is when he thinks I'm going to take something away from him, like when he has a ball, or has gone "shopping" in the trash basket). I finally managed to get hold of his head, and could see the half-eaten pig's ear protruding from his mouth, I got hold of it, and pulled...and got it dislodged. Part of the pig's ear was in his mouth, the other part (that sort of had a natural curl to it), was wedged OUTSIDE his mouth, under his jaw, so that it was STUCK, and he couldn't move his mouth.
When I sent out this warning to my e-mail contacts, I was told this is not as uncommon as one would think (in 12 years, and 2 dogs, this was the first time I had had a problem!) I was related incidences where dogs have choked on either pig's ears, or rawhide chewies. So be careful of what you give your dog, and BE SURE that you are able to be with them the ENTIRE TIME that they are eating it, because it only takes a moment for something horrible to happen.
Thankfully, Beau is fine (I think it shook me up, more than it did him!), but I think that this is something that dog owners should be aware of.
NEVER LEAVE YOUR DOG UNATTENDED WITH A TREAT!!!
Fortunately, I was in the room with Beau, at the time, and realized that something was "wrong", and was able to remedy the situation quickly and easily. I hesitate to think what MIGHT have happened had I not been.
Beau gets a nightly treat of a Pig's Ear. He loves them, and is allowed ONE every night. Last night, I was on the computer, and I gave him the pig's ear, and he was on the floor behind me. Usually he "crunches" on it for several minutes, before it is gone. Last night he only "crunched" for a moment, then got up, and started pacing the floor, and whimpering. I called him over to me, and he ducked his head so I couldn't get to his face (I knew then that there was something in his mouth, as the only time he does this is when he thinks I'm going to take something away from him, like when he has a ball, or has gone "shopping" in the trash basket). I finally managed to get hold of his head, and could see the half-eaten pig's ear protruding from his mouth, I got hold of it, and pulled...and got it dislodged. Part of the pig's ear was in his mouth, the other part (that sort of had a natural curl to it), was wedged OUTSIDE his mouth, under his jaw, so that it was STUCK, and he couldn't move his mouth.
When I sent out this warning to my e-mail contacts, I was told this is not as uncommon as one would think (in 12 years, and 2 dogs, this was the first time I had had a problem!) I was related incidences where dogs have choked on either pig's ears, or rawhide chewies. So be careful of what you give your dog, and BE SURE that you are able to be with them the ENTIRE TIME that they are eating it, because it only takes a moment for something horrible to happen.
Thankfully, Beau is fine (I think it shook me up, more than it did him!), but I think that this is something that dog owners should be aware of.
He was fine within moments of my dislodging the pig's ear from his jar. I think I'm the one that is going to be scarred for life! 