The other day when I did the post on Litter bugs and I talked about all the litter that is on the side of the road, I left out the fact that there is also a ton of rocks.
Leroy has a tendency to pick the rocks up and swallow them.
It’s hard to tell when I am walking with him if he is sniffing the ground or swallowing rocks.
We have had this issue in the past with him.
He use to eat the rocks in our backyard, until we removed them.
Last Friday he gave me a pretty big scare.
I had come home on Thursday evening and he had vomited 4 rocks and bile in his cage.
I knew that wasn’t a good sign.
I fed him dinner and told my husband that if he vomited up his food overnight then I was going to have to take him to the vet in the morning.
Sure enough, I woke up in the morning and he vomited up undigested food and 2 more rocks. He wasn’t acting right, panting heavy and drooling more than normal.
I immediately took him into the vet’s in tears.
Being a vet assistant, you see the worst, so you think the worst. You know the signs and panic. You are a vet’s worst nightmare. You ask a million questions, and you think you know the answers.
So while I am waiting to take the x-rays I am already preparing myself for his surgery to remove the rocks that are stuck. I am a hot mess in no makeup, my pajamas, and choking on my tears.
We finally take the x-rays and there they are, my worst fear, the rocks.
Plain as day, 1 rock, 2 rocks, 3 rocks, four.
This is a lateral view of Leroy’s stomach.
And this is a VD, which shows that while the rocks are there, they are in the colon, which means they have already passed through the intestines and should pass easily out. (which they have)
Whew!!!!
Leroy has escaped surgery once again.
This is the third time I have had to take x-rays of him due to rock consumption.
One of these days we will not be so lucky.
So in order to lessen the chances of a repeat consumption, I have decided that Leroy will now need to wear a basket muzzle on our walks to prevent him from eating rocks.
I honestly do not like the idea, but it is for his own good.
The alternative is just unbearable to me.
KB
Saturday 2nd of April 2011
I'm glad that those rocks are going to go through Leroy. I've seen xrays like that of 2 of my dogs - but in both cases, they had bones in their intestines (animal bones that they'd found in the woods).We use basket muzzles for some of the year. I hat them because people are afraid of my dogs when they wear muzzles. But, it keeps them safe so it's the best thing to do. I'm glad that you're going to do it for Leroy.
dogsmom
Thursday 24th of March 2011
Glad to hear no surgery was needed. My thoughts are to maybe try to retrain him to carry something on your walks, so his mouth is busy and he can not pick up other things, as well as aversion training to rocks. If he even sniffs at one to use an air horn or loud noise to make it something to avoid. Hopefully the muzzle is a short term necessity.
Kris
Thursday 24th of March 2011
oh another prospect for the rock-coholics anonymous or prospect student of rockology XD
FiveSibesMom
Thursday 24th of March 2011
Oh, poor Leroy and Mom! So glad he does not need surgery. How scary. One of our Huskies likes to chew on rocks and is always bringing them up on the deck and we're always praying she does not swallow them. It's such a strange habit...Leroy, no more rocks and no more scaring Mom!
Lori @ According to Gus
Thursday 24th of March 2011
Oh my goodness...how scary! I was literally holding my breath as I read through your post. I'm so relieved that everything came out (pun intended) okay. What a scare!Please give him a tummy rub for us...I'm sure he was scared too!