okay,please somebody talk me down...

[MonaD]

(I've cross posted this from "food and recipes" to this probably more appropriate forum)

Hi,
I don't know if I'm going to get flamed for being an irresponsible dog owner or simply over-reacting or what, but I am sort of freaking right now. So please can someone offer some words of advice...
My pup Murphie is currently eating Innova. I've done quite a bit of research on raw food (here and elsewhere) and I thought I'd start slipping a little into her diet and see how it goes.
Well today I gave her a raw chicken wing (chicken wings were recommended on a website with sample diets as a good place to start coz of the small size etc), drumstick part only and she just gulped the whole thing down! One bite, one swallow! I thought she chew the thing a bit, gnaw on the bone etc.
She now has a moderatley sized chicken wing bone in her stomach and I'm a bit freaked. There is no way she can digest that thing. And she is a good sized pup, but I don't like to think about that thing trying to work its way through her system and come out the other end.
I called my vet clinic, just to ask (no I did not consult the vet about raw food prior to this) and they helped to instill the current panic I am in.
Does anyone else think this is worth panicing over? Or should I just chill and let her little doggie system deal with it?
Thanks to all that respond,
Mona

 

[bubbatd]

What did you vet tell you ??? If she didn't chew and splinter the bone, chances are there won't be a puncture. I'd watch her very carefully. If she tries to throw it back up it might get stuck . (You can do a hymlyck (sp) on a dog ). Watch the stool carefully for blood. You might want to give her some bread to help it bulk. Let us know !!!!

 

[MonaD]

I'm going to google "dog hiemlich" just in case.
Vet talked about blockages, punctures, salmonella. He was concerned, but it was clear he is not a raw food fan.
Bread hey? Will that sort of coat the bone do you think? Help it get through her? I don't even know if I should feed her her regular dinner/breakfast till this thing is outta there, by what ever means.
My bf is not concerned at all "dogs eat way WAY worse than that". Which is true I guess. I work in the woods and I've found complete (though small) deer hooves in coyote and wolf scat.

 

[bubbatd]

good...glad you got the spelling right! I know my goldens in the past have gotten into neighbor's garbabe and probably had their share of chicken bones....never any problems, Scares the s**t out of us Mommys though.

 

[Doberluv]

Don't do the heimlich if the dog is breathing. That is only if it's blocking the trachea. If he throws up, chances are that it will be coming up through his esophogus and not get lodged in his trachea or pharynx.

I wrote you a reply right after I read your post and it didn't seem to get there. I asked what the vet said and if you should bring the dog in. There is a chance that the bone can turn sideways in the intestines and cause a blockage. There is a chance of perforation. But there's also a chance that it will pass or get broken down enough with digestion. But I would keep in close contact with your vet. Do you live near to a vet? My thoughts are with you and hope your pup will be all right. Let us know.

 

[MonaD]

Phew,
I've crossposted and now having trouble keeping up!
Doberluv, the vet said to watch for diarhea, constipation, vomitting etc. He said yes, I could bring her in right away if I wanted and he would get the bone out (surgery?), but also said I could just monitor her and see just see how things go. I live close, he's on call today and tomorrow, so that is good. He did say to continue feeding her but I don't know.
I'm hanging tight and keeping my fingers crossed.
I appreciate everyone's suggestions and support. I feel like such a horse's arse about this...one, because I'm such a newbie about this kind of thing and if something goes wrong I will never forgive myself and two (I'm voting for two) this is not that big of a deal, she'll pass a semi-digested bone and next time I'll be waaaaay more careful. Well, she's fine right now, its hot here so we are off to the river to play.
I'll be checking back and keep you posted
Thanks to all.
Mona and Murph