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Post by Elle on Jun 21, 2011 18:08:25 GMT
Thanks to everyone for your support, I've only just got back from the vet. When I rang earlier they advised taking Harry in and the vet was initially worried that he might have a blockage caused by a piece of bone from raw chicken... apparently when the bones are not ground, it's quite a common problem that vets see. (He's not the first vet to tell me that it's better to only let them have raw when it's ground  ) He said that Harry being so skinny was actually a plus in this case, 'cos he could feel the gut more easily, and didn't find any sign of blockage, although he did hear a lot of abnormal activity in Harry's gut that he thinks is probably causing cramping and wind. That would explain H's shivering and I'd only joked to hubby earlier that Harry looked how I felt when having an IBS attack... seems maybe I wasn't far off the mark!. Anyway, the vet gave Harry an injection of Buscopan (antispasmodic) and I think it's helping already as he's definitely looking a bit brighter already and not shivering as much. He has to fast now until tomorrow morning. And as long as he eats ok tomorrow, and isn't sick at all, the vet said he should be back to normal. If he's sick, or won't eat tomorrow, then I have to take him back. All fingers crossed please!  |
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Post by brodysmom on Jun 21, 2011 18:47:46 GMT
My guess is that it was a simple case of overfeeding and he had a tummy ache. I would bet he will be right as rain by tomorrow!  As for raw chicken wings causing an obstruction, I seriously doubt it. If that were true, there would be no coyotes, feral dogs, or wolves left. Or cats either. Chicken bones are soft and they are definitely digested and passed through with no worries. The only concern I would have would be a very very bone heavy diet where a dog was fed mostly chicken backs, for example, and little meat. In that case, an impaction could happen, where the dog gets very constipated. But even then, feeding an organ meal, raw eggs, or several meat only meals in a row will get them going. Saying that a chicken wing can cause an obstruction is just nonsense IMO. I do respect vets and I think they do us all a great service. I love our vet. Having said that, they are woefully lacking in the nutrition department and are 'brainwashed' by the kibble companies. I use my vet for diagnostics, but I do my own research in the nutrition dept. Incidentally, all of the 'chicken bones cause perforations and obstruction' cases I have heard about have been just that - hearsay. It's always 'the brother of a friend's dog had that happen!' If it was a problem, there would be journal articles about it. The only thing I can find in the medical literature/journals are cases of COOKED bones causing problems. Anyway - I'm glad that Harry is feeling better. That is great news!!! |
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Post by Lucy on Jun 21, 2011 18:48:10 GMT
Oh poor Harry! Glad he seems to be feeling better and lets hope that tomorrow he can get back to normal! After the vet said he couldn't feel an obstruction, did he say what it could've been? Mine chew all their bones so I can't see that being a common problem If any of mine didn't chew enough I might bash it a little to encourage them but still, dogs enjoy chewing! |
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Post by The3DChis on Jun 21, 2011 20:46:17 GMT
Oh poor Harry and you!
Hopefully he will feel totally back to normal by tomorrow. xxx
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Post by mchis on Jun 21, 2011 22:20:39 GMT
So glad Harry is feeling better! I'd have guessed upset tummy from over feeding... Hope tomorrow he's as good as new! |
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Kelly
Smooth Coat   
Posts: 217
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Post by Kelly on Jun 21, 2011 22:52:57 GMT
Glad Harry is feeling better! You are such a good mum to get him right to the vets. Don't fret about the raw bones. My guys have swallowed a whole chicken neck, and whole chicken wings and pooped out regular poop (white, chalky bits with brown). Even my raw friendly vet tells me I shoudn't feed my cats/small dogs bones because it's no good for them. *rolls eyes* |
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Post by Elle on Jun 21, 2011 22:54:23 GMT
My guess is that it was a simple case of overfeeding and he had a tummy ache. I would bet he will be right as rain by tomorrow! 
As for raw chicken wings causing an obstruction, I seriously doubt it. If that were true, there would be no coyotes, feral dogs, or wolves left. Or cats either. Chicken bones are soft and they are definitely digested and passed through with no worries. The only concern I would have would be a very very bone heavy diet where a dog was fed mostly chicken backs, for example, and little meat. In that case, an impaction could happen, where the dog gets very constipated. But even then, feeding an organ meal, raw eggs, or several meat only meals in a row will get them going. Saying that a chicken wing can cause an obstruction is just nonsense IMO.
I do respect vets and I think they do us all a great service. I love our vet.
Having said that, they are woefully lacking in the nutrition department and are 'brainwashed' by the kibble companies. I use my vet for diagnostics, but I do my own research in the nutrition dept. Incidentally, all of the 'chicken bones cause perforations and obstruction' cases I have heard about have been just that - hearsay. It's always 'the brother of a friend's dog had that happen!' If it was a problem, there would be journal articles about it. The only thing I can find in the medical literature/journals are cases of COOKED bones causing problems.
Anyway - I'm glad that Harry is feeling better. That is great news!!! I tend to agree with you about the raw Tracy, although I have had 2 different vets tell me that they, personally, have had to perform surgery to remove pieces of bone causing blockages in small dogs. However, all my cats have been frequent rabbit and squirrel hunters and they've certainly never had such a problem. In fact the only problem I've ever encountered is where slivers of rabbit skull have got stuck between the tooth and the gum line causing the cat to rip its face badly by clawing at it. We've had several large vet bills to deal with that one over the years! But I believe raw chicken bones (especially from wings) are probably far softer than raw rabbit, and any wings I give Harry are usually quite small, so I doubt they are anything to worry about. In fact the cats have never even had the mouth problem when eating small rabbits, only when they've caught the really big ones! As you say, vets are wonderful for diagnostics and some treatments, but don't seem to know that much about nutrition. The vet had never even heard of ZiwiPeak, Orijen or Acana when I mentioned them. I'm hoping it is just a case of overeating Tracy... Harry's tummy was almost bulging when he'd finished gorging himself on Saturday and when I put him on the scales afterward he was 50g heavier! He'd never had the wet ZiwiPeak before (only the dry) and he was a real little piggy with it and ate a quarter of a can in one meal! I was so pleased he was eating it, I gave him a second portion... I was a LOT more careful yesterday about his food, and today he hardly ate anything, of course. He's had a few little moans during the evening, but I'm hoping the Buscopan will help clear his pain overnight |
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Post by Elle on Jun 21, 2011 23:19:13 GMT
Oh poor Harry! Glad he seems to be feeling better and lets hope that tomorrow he can get back to normal!
After the vet said he couldn't feel an obstruction, did he say what it could've been? Thanks Lucy The vet just said that it was probably stomach cramps and wind related to the extra food he'd eaten over the weekend. So glad Harry is feeling better! I'd have guessed upset tummy from over feeding... Hope tomorrow he's as good as new! Thanks Heather, I hope so! Oh poor Harry and you!
Hopefully he will feel totally back to normal by tomorrow. xxx Thanks Terri, fingers crossed! Glad Harry is feeling better! You are such a good mum to get him right to the vets.
Don't fret about the raw bones. My guys have swallowed a whole chicken neck, and whole chicken wings and pooped out regular poop (white, chalky bits with brown). Even my raw friendly vet tells me I shoudn't feed my cats/small dogs bones because it's no good for them. *rolls eyes*
Thanks Kelly |
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) He said that Harry being so skinny was actually a plus in this case, 'cos he could feel the gut more easily, and didn't find any sign of blockage, although he did hear a lot of abnormal activity in Harry's gut that he thinks is probably causing cramping and wind. That would explain H's shivering and I'd only joked to hubby earlier that Harry looked how I felt when having an IBS attack... seems maybe I wasn't far off the mark!.
