First puppy crisis!

[maddie80]

After 2 days of puppy love, we have our first crisis! I am so upset, I don''t know what to do....

I took our 10 week old puppy to visit dog friends. They are show dogs and get fed a "BARF" (bones and raw food) diet, including pieces of cut-up raw chicken backs. I understand that some people believe this is better for the dogs and that they can digest the bones as well. However, I have always learned that puppies especially can either choke on raw bones or it can create a dangerous bowel obstruction or perforate their inner organs.

Anyway, even though I told my friend that I was NOT going to feed our puppy raw food, as soon as the puppy came in, she offered it 2 pieces of chicken backs, which our puppy, of course, gobbled right up. I am not only furious, but absolutely terrified now that the bones will hurt her! I have called our vet and she recommended that we wait it out and watch for any signs like vomiting, or other distress, but that hopefully she will just pass the bone right on through. If not, we will have to have a barium test and radiograph done.

Anyone else have any advice for waiting through this scary period? I am so frightened that our puppy will be hurt because of something stupid and absolutely avoidable.

 

[larussel03]

Dont get too worried, while it's not the best thing for a pup to eat, if the dog seems fine after 24 hours then I'd think he's fine. It takes less time than that for food to clear the digestive system. I cant tell you how many times my dog accidentially grabbed bones or other things he shouldnt have when he was a pup--just keep an eye out and dont worry too much, he'll likely be a-ok

I would however, mention something to your friend about this. You asked her to not feed him raw food and she did anyways, that's pretty disrespectful to you.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 4/12/2006 7:39:50 PM
Author: *~Sweetpea~*
I would however, mention something to your friend about this. You asked her to not feed him raw food and she did anyways, that''s pretty disrespectful to you.

This is the point I wanted to make as well - that is NOT cool. She can feed her dogs whatever she wants, but MUST respect your wishes regarding YOUR own dog. Not cool at ALL.

 

[firebirdgold]

Don''t worry too much. Just keep an eye on the puppy. As long as she is eating and pooping she should be just fine.
When I first got my doggy I was always dragging him into the emergency vet on the weekends for digestive issues and such. It''s very normal to be a bit, er, anxious over your new puppy''s health. I recently saw all of my dog''s chart and there''s an ''anxious owner'' note at the start of it.

 

[indecisive]

That is very wrong that your friend did that without your permission. I wouldn''t worry too much if the bones were raw though. The bones are only dangerous if they have been cooked or smoked. Raw bones are much more spongy and they should come out ok. If his poop is white and chalky don''t be concerned, it is just the bones being passed. I don''t feed raw either but I know a lot that do and have no problem. Good luck and do you have any pictures of your pup?

 

[icekid]

holy crap, I would be mad too

Though it sounds like your puppy will be fine, just watch closely!

 

[monarch64]

Wow

, how would your friend like it if you shoved some bony chicken down HER throat?

That''s just rude that she did that after you told her specifically you weren''t doing the "barf" thing with your new puppy. I hope everything turns out ok. He''ll probably be fine--try not to worry too much.

 

[Kaleigh]

Yikes, that doesn't sound very good for your puppy. Wonder why your friend went against your wishes. Hopefully all will be well. Just keep a close eye on her. Can't be good for her digestive system. Take her outside a lot too. Good luck!!!

 

[Mara]

raw chicken bones are nothing like cooked which can splinter and puncture the dogs bellies or intestines etc etc...raw are much more flexible and it should pass through just fine....i wouldn''t worry about it.

that said, your friend totally should NOT have fed your dog like that after you said not to. totally disrespectful and i''d be PISSED that she did that. she may believe in it but you don''t. i hate when people think it''s their right to do whatever they want with your dog (or kids!) even after you tell them something totally opposite. my mother totally overfeeds our dog treats and table food when she visits and it drives me nuts that she doesn''t listen to me about what i know is best for Portia.

 

[maddie80]

Thanks for the support! I keep watching her, and she still seems to be her normal self. A little tired, but I think that''s to be expected given that she played with 3 other puppies for a couple of hours today.

As to my friend, I am still mad.... I know she meant well, but I will spend the next couple of days worried that my darling new puppy might need surgery and watching her like a hawk! I should have said something then, but I was reluctant because we work together. Before I see them again, though, I think I will have to. I have been almost in tears all afternoon. I know, "anxious pet owner."

 

[diamondfan]

I just recently got a puppy as did a couple of my friends. MANY breeders believe in the BARF diet, because they feel that dogs in nature do not eat cooked food. While this makes sense, a house pet is not a dog in the wild and so it is not only very expensive and not practical, it poses a risk to the humans in the house (salmonella, etc). That said, your dog should pass it since many dogs do live on the raw food diet and do fine. I had a breeder almost insist upon it to me, but while many breeders say it is healthier overall, few practicing vets agree with it or think it is necessary for a healthy dog! What type of puppy is it? What did you name the dog? It is so much work, I had forgotten, but once they are out of extreme puppydom it gets easier!! I am sure your pup will be just fine. The fact that your friend did that though is a different issue!!!

 

[gailrmv]

Hi Madeleine! Remember me, your X prong ring twin? I''m glad to "see" you around on the boards! Too bad PM is gone

Anyways just wanted to say hi and congrats on your new puppy! I''m sure we would all love to see some pics! I have 2 shelter mix breeds, and we''ve been very lucky not to have health crises (yet), but I was really nervous in the beginning too. But you''ll be a pro in no time! If you haven''t already, I''d recommend getting a book about dogs - especially if you can find one about their behavior and pack dynamics and stuff. It helped me understand some of the goofy stuff my dogs do!

 

[movie zombie]

personally, i''d be so pissed that this ''friend'' would know i had serious doubts that she really is a friend.

movie zombie

 

[Madam Bijoux]

I hope your puppy is OK. I''d send the vet bills to your "friend" if I were you.

 

[tiger007g]

Hi Madeline!

Don''t worry too much about your puppy - everything is going to be fine. If I were in your position, I''d be

...

Everyone has given good advice. Puppies are tougher than we give them credit for. My little guy swallowed a push pin (yes, a thumb tack with the plastic part on the non-pointy end) when he was a pup and it sent me hysterically to the emergency room (he was being dog-sat by a good friend). We took x-rays and ended up only having to feed him frequently with very fibrous foods to cushion it. It passed uneventfully a couple of days later.

We considered feeding our dog a raw diet to help with his allergies and talked to a lot of people about it before ultimately deciding against it.

The bones should be soft enough that you won''t have a problem. What really worried me about the raw meat idea was the potential for bacteria etc.

If your puppy has looser stools than normal for a couple of days (and by that, I mean mushy poop as opposed to violent diarrhea), don''t get freaked out!! Sorry to be graphic, but I don''t want you to be unneccesarily stressed if it happens. We were told that it was a common side effect to be expected if your dog eats raw meat and it''s body is not used to it.

You''re just being a concerned dog-parent. Things will be fine!

 

[maddie80]

Phew! My FI just got back from the vet with our puppy and she does not seem to have a chicken bone stuck anywhere in her little body! (He''s the greatest - he waited there all morning without an appointment to make sure she would be seen as soon as possible while I went to class.) I am so relieved. I would have been furious - with both my friend and myself - if she were hurt. We''ve had her for three nights without any accidents, but during the night last night she developed diarrhea (sorry, too much info, I know) and had several accidents in our room even though I got up every two hours to let her out. I was sure that this was the result of some kind of problem, and not just normal puppy behavior!

My instincts were right. Even though the vet did not find a bone, she had a bad bacterial infection that was making her sick and she was becoming dehydrated. Since the dog only became ill last night, the vet suspects that the bacteria in the "oh so healthy" raw chicken she had eaten made her sick. Because the chicken had been frozen, dethawed in the microwave, and then left out, it was not very healthy... So we have some medicine for her and in a couple days she should be better again.

Thanks for all the help in calming my fears about the newest member of our family, I really appreciate it!