Dangerous Dog Toys: An Urgent Warning To Dog Owners!!!

If you read my last post, you know that our beloved dog, Remy,  is recovering from surgery. On Wednesday, from something completely unrelated, I thought she may die. Remy and my daughter were visiting at a neighbor's house when I got a call saying she swallowed 2 squeakers from a dog toy.

Choking hazard due to the flatness, silky smooth faux fur and squeakers located in the head and tail. This toy was purchased at Harris Teeter, which is where I went to take this photo,  but likely available at other retailers.

I rushed her to the vet and the x-ray showed a mass, which was thought to be food and/or shredded and chewed parts of the toy and the 2 squeakers.  After 2 failed attempts to induce vomiting to bring up whatever was in her stomach, I was told she could be sedated and have a tube and camera inserted down her throat to try and locate/remove what was in it, but depending on what else was in the stomach there was no guarantee of success.

My dogs stomach with mystery mass and 2 squeakers.

The recommendation of our vet after consulting 2 other vets and a specialist was to take her home, monitor her breathing and bring her back first thing Thursday morning to see if a new x-ray yielded any change before admitting her to surgery to open her stomach and remove the objects.

Needless to say it was a sleepless night and thank god, because sometime after 2am I heard her vomiting. The pile left on the laundry room floor was so large, it could have been elephant dropping.

Warning: the next two pictures are incredibly gross.

I really had no idea what I was looking at or if the squeakers were in this- no choice but to put on gloves and and go through the mess.

The contents of my dogs stomach.

I was in complete shock when I realized my dog had swallowed the toy whole and it was the length of a cookie sheet!

The whole toy and some carrots.

The vet was equally surprised when I showed up with the contents in a bag- there was clapping and cheering literally from everyone on duty the night before. She said we truly dodged a bullet because rarely will a dog vomit 6 hours later with no food or  injection administered. This toy would be the human equivalent of mixing chewing gum and spaghetti together and giving it to a child!

Lady Remington, aka Remy, exhausted, but on the mend. 

I share all of this with you so that others can avoid going through such a scary ordeal. Our vets office is also posting warnings in their office.

I'm hoping February brings a whole lot of this:

Weekend Plans?

We'll just be hanging out with friends and family. Both the annoying and the crazy. Typical.

Have a great weekend!