My dog has been on raw for about 2 months and seemes to be doing fine. Last week I got a good deal on pork, so have been giving him more of that. I noticed loose stools, but wasn't overly worried as I know this can happen with new protien sources. Then last night he started acting very odd, head hanging, no interest in food or water, lethargic. No vomiting though. We took him to the E-vet. They did a blood work up and x-rays. The blood work up showed he was slightly dehydrated but all else normal. The x-rays show some cloth or something in his gut. The vet said it appears to be in the colon, so she does not think it is obstucted, and should pass. He has a history of puking up socks in the past, three times. The last time it was three socks at once. That was about 5 months ago. He also has a history of "enteritis" a couple of months ago.

I did not feed him last night, and not yet today. The vet wants me to give him bland chicken with rice and pumpkin until he passes it. I want to know, in this instance, with no vomiting, is this appropriate? Is there a better way? Should I just give plain breast meat for a while? or ground turkey? Feed him normally, but smaller portions?

He had two poops today, both runny, the first one with some grass in it. No sign of any cloth or foreign object.

He has drank some baited water this morning.

Not to say I don't trust my vet (I don't) but she just got done lecturing me, again, on the dangers of raw meat and how unsafe it can be, bacterial contamination, yadda, yadda....

I am looking for a new vet, but in the mean time, this is what I got...

Thanks,

Shody

I'd probably be waiting a bit for it to pass, too, with mushy rice, etc., before turning to surgery.

I'd be making a plan to avoid this recurring problem, too, with a tether so you can correct for sock-eating, with "drop it" and "leave it" commands, and with careful rounding up of socks throughout the house. You have a disaster in the making on your hands.

The baited water was a good step.

All JMO.

Gee, I don't know about giving rice to a dog that has a wad of fabric inside them. Since rice is used to firm up the stools during bouts of diarrhea, I would think it would make passing the fabric harder. Did your vet say the rice would help push the fabric out?

Edited to add: the rice may very well do that, it just sounds strange. Maybe the vet is just trying to stop the diarrhea?

Where's Connie?

I know. I usually keep him tethered to me, but sometimes he is home with the kids. I try to keep him crated, but they will let him out to potty. I don't know how close they watch him.

He is pretty good with "leave it", "drop it" is getting better. I haven't seen him with anything like a sock in a long time, so was surprised.

Right now it's a watch and wait. I didn't know if pumpkin would help. Someone sugested mineral oil. I've dealt with tummy issues before, but not sure about helping him to pass something. This is a first for me.

Thanks.

 Quote: sandy moore

Gee, I don't know about giving rice to a dog that has a wad of fabric inside them.

Hmmmm.

I see what you mean.

I don't know. I'd better look up "feeding with a colon obstruction."

Mineral oil is usually not recommended as a lubricant nowadays because it depletes several vitamins and, even worse, has a history of sometimes triggering lung trouble via aspiration. I've read that olive oil is the better choice.

Did the vet advise oil?

I know rice is used to help push small fish bones out of throats but Ive never heard of using it in the colon to pass things along.

On emergency vets the other day the doctor fed a Ferret pumpkin to help it pass an eraser....Not exactly expert advice I know lol.

She said I could try it if I want, but to mix it with something to give it flavor first. She said the aspiration risk comes from it being flavorless, so the dog doesn't know it is in it's mouth (when using a syringe) and may aspirte it.

How about a good dose of salmon oil or canola oil, just let the dog lick it up. No reason to use a syringe that I can see.

Connie, you think either salmon or canola oils would help lubricate the fabric and colon enough so it slides out?

Or Olive oil as well?

The only thing I would worry about, would be giving him too much causing undo strain while trying to go to the bathroom and bunching that fabric up so that it does get stuck? Which is where mushy rice may come in? Mixed with the pumpkin or oil, it may help as a "gentle" laxative rather than causing sudden urges to really have to go and push hard.

Just a thought.......