WARNING....Very LONG Post!!

Last Monday night about 11pm DH had just finished eating a peach and was heading for the trash to throw it away. My 9 yr old (15lb) Shih Tzu was sitting on the edge of the bed when DH walked by. DH held the peach pit and let my dog lick the extra peach off it...well he suddenly grabbed the pit out of DH's hand. Acting quickly, DH picked him up b/c anytime you pick him up when he has something in his mouth then he ALWAYS drops it...I didn't know what happened...I thought it was just a piece of peach and that by picking him up he was going to startle him and make him choke. WELL...my freaking out made it worse and he suddenly swallowed the pit!!

He acted fine the rest of the night. I called the vet the next day and they said he will probably pass it on his own just to watch him and examine his poop. They said I could give him some canned pumpkin with his food to act as a laxative but to bring him in for an xray if he started vomitting or having diarrhea or if he wasn't eating/pooping.

Well it has been a whole week and I've been giving him the pumpkin every couple of days...it definitely helps to loosen his stools. So far he has only "spit up" about three times and it was just a small puddle of foamy stuff. He still has his normal appetite and is still having bowel movements after he eats like normal. There have been a couple of times when DH let him out and forgot to watch him so we don't know if he passed it then or not.

I noticed that last night after he ate he strained a couple of times but couldn't poop. Then when I got up this morning there was a big pile in the living room. I was late for work and just had time to scoop it up and flush it...didn't have time to examine it. DH said he did it a couple more times in the house today.

I called the vet to check on how much it would cost for an xray and surgery if necessary. They said $72 if one film was used, $92 if two were needed, and so on. The vet would have to qoute me a price for any surgery that may be necessary.

My fear is that this will turn into a several hundred dollar ordeal and we do NOT have that kind of extra money right now. DH is working side jobs right now just to have enough $$ for our vacation next week. I've tried to research on the web and have found a few other Shih Tzus that were able to pass peach pits with the help of a laxative. But I have also read that peach pits are toxic to dogs and contain cyanide.

Do any of you have any experience with this? I feel like such a bad mom to my furbaby He isn't acting like he is in pain though and he still has an appetite and is still having bowel movements so my gut feeling is to wait it out and watch him closely before taking him to the vet and racking up a bill I can't pay just to find out he already passed it when I wasn't looking.

I guess I just need some peace of mind right now. Sorry so long.

__________________

When our cat got sick, that ended being several thousand dollars and wiped out what we had saved for IVF if we needed it, so I understand the not having the money. I hope your dog passed it and you guys just didn't see it. If he is in pain I would see about an x-ray. Can you call around to other vets in the area and get a quote?

Best wishes and I hope he's okay.

__________________
Oven Seeking Bun: Wombmate(s) Wanted For Next 9 Months


TTC#1 since Feb. 07 w/ PCOS, Endometriosis and MFI
Feb 07 - May 08 - TTC Naturally. BFN
June 2008 - DX PCOS. 1000mg Metformin. BFN.
July 2008 - 100mg Clomid. 1000mg Metformin. BFN
Aug. 25, 2008 - IUI#1 - 100mg Clomid


[/center]

Is there a city vet as opposed to the private vet? We have that here, and the city vet charges much less for their services.......kind of like going to the clinic vs. your own GP.

Is there something that you could give him that would act more as a laxative and relax the dog's muscles rather than just soften the stool? Maybe that would help it out if it's still in there?

good luck.

__________________
Susie~ 37, mom to 2 boys, wife of 10 years!
Due Date: March 12, 2009

If it comes down to requiring a vet visit then I think I will call around to get some price quotes. I believe the pumpkin is supposed to act as a laxative. I am going to research a little more and see if it is or to see if there is something else. Also...I have only been giving him a couple of table spoons of the pumpkin at a time so maybe I'll give him a little more than that.

__________________

Stephany,

Wow...hmmmm. My dogs have eaten several things and then passed or thrown them up-taco bell sauce packet, rocks, mulch, Rita has swallowed Libby's collar whole and then threw the whole thing back up, things they find in the house, etc. I hope your Shih Tzu has passed it. I know dogs are very sensitive to human foods so maybe the pumpkin is making him go more often, I wouldn't recommend feeding your dog that for too long as it may upset his stomach instead of help him.

I know vets are expensive-wish we would have gotten pet insurance when Rita and Libby were little. We spent over $2,000-3 years ago when Libby got bit by a rattlesnake, thankfully she made it through and we have spent about $1,500 since November on emergency vets (she got sick when in-laws were sitting them) and just general stuff. I tend to take them in when they get sick and it always ends up costing a bundle, but they really are sick so I am glad I take them in.

As far as X-rays, they aren't too expensive, but still run around $100. Libby had x-rays in January to check her heart murmer (spelling). It was about $75. But if you are that concerned about your dog I would definitely take him in and have him checked. The worst they could say is he is fine-know what I mean?

Hope everything turns out ok. Let us know!! Our pets are our babies too!!!

__________________

My family has raised many kinds of dogs including shih tzu's and they have eaten everything, including stuff like chocolate which is supposed to be deadly and we have had no troubles. Vets can be very expensive, trust me I know with trying to save every little injured animal I can until I broke me... Anyways, I would watch him and see if he has any pain like symptoms, or terrible trouble pooping, (sometimes there bottom will bleed a bit if they are straining, or trying to get something large and hard out) which is normal, but NOT normal if there is a huge ammount of blood in the stool. If anything like that happens I would look into the xray. Honestly the xray price sounds pretty reasonable but you could look around, and even ask if they would be kind enough to take a down payment and then make payments until its paid off. Good luck!

__________________

Proud Parents to Riley

Sorry to hear that Stephany.

I hope your dog is okay!

__________________

Oh no Stephany, I'm so sorry

I am not sure about this but I thought pumpkin was given to dogs to ease diahhrea. Our vet once told us about it when Zach was a puppy and had it all the time. If that is the case it might have the opposite affect.

The biggest thing to watch for is if he stops pooping and eating. That is the 1st sign of a blockage. Also make sure that you don't "force" him to eat.

Our dog Gero had to have stomach surgery in Aug 2007, it was $6,000. And it happened in the middle of the night so we didn't even get to take him to his regular vet. We had to pay 1/2 that night and then 1/2 the next day when we were to come back and get him. Unfortunately Gero did not make it through the surgery, we still had to pay the other half but they allowed us to mail it in so we woudln't have to go back there.

My best advise would be (for your peice of mind) to at least have the x-rays done. That will tell you if your dog is hurting and needs help. Zach got a stomach bug (again, on a Sunday so back to the ER we go) and had to have 2 xrays and tons of tests, it was about $700 BUT I think the xrays were only $200 of that. I'll see if I can find the bill.



Please keep us posted!!!!

__________________

Stephany, try going here...

Shih Tzu Chatter Two

It is a message board just for Shih Tzu owners! I joined a message board just for golden retrievers when we got Zach and those people are LIFE SAVERS!!! They know so much about the bread. This board in particular looks really active too. Lots of posts from today. That link is for the health concerns board.

HTH!!

__________________

I'm really sorry Stephany!
My doggie is like my baby so I totally understand why you're so worried. I hope everything turns out okay. Please KUP on your furbaby's progress.

__________________

I'll check that link out Mandy...thanks! I am still watching him...he didn't have much of an appetite when I first got home last night but after a couple of hours he was acting normal again. I've read that the pumpkin can act both ways (not sure how)...to promote a bowel movement and to help with diarrhea. I am calling another vet today for a price quote. I am still watching for signs that he is in pain...so far I haven't seen any. He is still having bowel movements so I don't think there is a blockage at this time. Oh...I am sorry about your dog That was terrible!

__________________

Good Luck Stephany! I hope your little one is back to normal soon!

__________________

Sorry you are having trouble. I am a vet tech and maybe can help a bit? The pumpkin is for fiber, it is supposed to help move the peach pit through. After this much time I would bite the bullet and get the x-ray done. Hopefully it will show that everything has passed and he is fine. If it is still in there you will have probably need to decide a new plan of action from there with your vet. Waiting it out too long can get your little guy into deeper trouble and more expense if the pit is still in there causing problems.

Lots of good thoughts for you and your pooch.

__________________

I totally agree.

If your dog is still acting even a little abnormal then I think it's time for an x-ray. I would say it will cost less than $200. And it may save you a lot more money, and heart ache in the end.

__________________

Just thought I'd share the beautiful sight I discovered behind a table in my living room last night....................



It was just laying there in the remains of some dried up puke (sorry if TMI)! I bet he threw it up shortly after swallowing it and I am just now finding it! Talk about a feeling of RELIEF!!!

__________________

I am so happy-thank goodness. I bet your poor guy never wants to eat Pumpkin again. Glad all is well!!

__________________

I second that. Poor thing, I hope he is feeling better now!

__________________