Double post deleted on request


See below for post

Edited by Connie Sutherland (05/15/2010 10:35 AM)
Edit reason: include citation link

*** deletion done ***

Note about the red text:

"Clearly, if your dog can't get the medication down, he's too far gone and needs immediate medical attention."

Immediate medical attention is required regardless. As Joyce said on the previous page, this kind of measure is for on the way to the hospital/vet, but not "instead of." Joyce was clear about this, but since it's on the previous page, I'm afraid to let this post stand without another clear caveat.

GDV kills with terrifying speed, and home remedies (meaning remedies other than something undertaken as you leave for the vet, wasting no time) are not indicated short of the stomach tube kid, trocar, etc., for someone a long way from vet help and prepared in advance for actually performing an emergency release of gas if possible. This too is first aid, to buy time before the vet can get there or the dog transported to the vet.

IMHO, this sentence "After administering the Simethicone, I made plans to rush Merlin to the emergency vet clinic if his symptoms increased or failed to resolve within a short period of time" is completely inappropriate. If Simethicone is administered, it's on the way out the door to the vet. There is no hanging around to see if it worked. JMO.

Yes. This grinder handles large turkey legs. It did a dozen whole turkeys from the reduced for quick sale bin after thanksgiving. It goes through duck necks and chicken backs like buttah.

I checked and cannot find any "made in" label. Which probably means china.

 Quote: tracy collins

http://www.onestopjerkyshop.com/electric-meat-grinder-p-411.html

I have this grinder. Yes, it's expensive, but I have not regretted it.

My dogs teeth don't seem to have suffered any from eating ground raw. It still doesn't "stick" to teeth the way kibble does. And they have plenty of chew toys for chewing fun.

As a side note, thats the first grinder I've seen that actually says grinding bones will not void the warranty.

Thank you, Joyce. Great article. I have no intention of being adventurous here, the idea is to research different preventative measures and have a long-term care plan as well as an emergency plan. I will be discussing every new information with the vet.

Mesenteric torsion is different from GDV - the first is when the bowel twists and the second is when stomach does. There is also a 3rd kind, forgot what that is. They did do tubing several times during the surgery, but the main problem was gas in small intestine. They did not touch anything after they untwisted the bowel. The gas released on its own. X-rays taken 12 hours apart show that small intestine dilated almost twice the size. Obviously, dealing with and preventing gas would be high on the list. Any kind of gastric upset with Connie will be an emergency, according to the vet. She said a 360 MT kills within hours.

Oh, it does, Tracy? Wow. Very nice!

Ana,
I am so sorry for what you have been through with your dog. I neglected to offer you my best wishes for a good recovery.
I know I am a little late, but so glad that you caught it in time.

It sure is a reminder for us all to have an emergency plan in place should something this serious happen. You need to be to the ER in no time flat for a chance at saving their life.

My family, for the longest time used to make fun of me for my rants and hollering at them if they let the dogs out right after dinner.
My two will take every chance they get to run and chase each other, so I am militant at keeping them inside and relaxed for that period of time after.
I actually made my nephew Google GVD and after he read it, he apologized to me. He was so unaware of the dangers.

Anyhow, that is indeed a fantastic meat grinder that Tracy put up! I have been considering getting one. If I do, that one sure looks like the ideal one. Especially after what Steve said about the warranty covering grinding bones. It would seriously be good for harder bones, that I worry about maybe breaking teeth.
Do you think that it would have no problem grinding pork neck bones? Hopefully Tracy will see this and respond to let me know.

Thank you, Joyce.

According to the surgeon most dogs with MT do not make it to surgery in time. MT looks very much like any number of non-life threatening conditions and most vets usually prescribe supportive care and rest and by the time the signs are obvious to the owner it is already too late.

We took Connie to our regular vet Mon@9am, they thought it was nothing serious. Mon@11am I noticed her getting glazed look, not following me with her eyes and otherwise acting differently than I expected. Took her back to the vet Mon@12PM for x-rays. They still said it was nothing. By Mon@4PM Connie looked very bad and couldn't walk. Took her back to the vet. They tried enemas. Finally, while the vet palpated her stomach Connie vomited "very foul liquid" and the vet got suddenly scared and swiftly sent us off on our way to the full-service hospital 30 mins away. We got there Mon@8PM, took more x-rays, called their radiologist, who got alarmed, called the surgeon. The surgeon said cut and was on her way in minutes. While waiting for her they did an ultrasound. Surgery started around Mon@11PM. If we did not push for more diagnostics Connie would be dead. Got to be your own vet and know your animals.

haven't used it on pork neckbones. I've found neckbones quite variable-- sometimes they are fairly cartilagenous which the grinder would have no trouble with. The big honkin bony ones I wouldn't attempt. The thing does have an automatic shutoff so if it balks at anything (which it has done on pig snoots, which were nothing but fatty baseball mitts) it stops, allowing you to reverse and retrieve the offending object.