It took two months for it to come out

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

About two months ago, I was trying to brush Ginger's teeth and I left the tube of toothpaste within reach.  She got the tube and chewed and ate all the toothpaste.  I thought the whole tube was there, so I was not concerned that she ingested any of the tube.

This brings me to yesterday.  Ginger just got up from the floor, went outside and threw up....part of the toothpaste tube!  I was shocked!  Now I am worried that more tube is in her tummy.  Should I feed she a bunch of rice so that any remaining objects might move along the way?  Should I give her something to make she throw up?  Or just  assume things are okay.  She has been 100% fine...eating, activity levels...

Thanks for your thoughts,

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This happened to JD with a bone shard; it was in his GI tract for 3 weeks before he brought it up. I took him in to the vet with the shard and they did an X-ray, although how much they can see from that I really don't know.

I don't think a lot of rice or any other food on its own is going to make any remaining objects move along. As far as inducing vomiting, I would call and ask the vet what they think.

 

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I agree Karen, someone recommended I rush them both in for X-rays to see where the bones were. I kept trying to figure out 1. Would they all show up on X-ray anyway? 2. What would we do about it if they weren't acting sick? 3. Would the Vet try to convince me to operate to be on the "safe side" and worry me more?
I like my Vet, but working with Doctors, I know the mentality of "identify a problem and try to fix it" sometimes unnecessarily and with other unpredicted consequences. So we sit and watch and wait for bones to appear, or not? Maybe they will mostly dissolve on their own? But it's "High Alert Poopy Patrol" at Murphy and Bella's backyard.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Two months. Geez. I'm still counting the weeks since my two ate a whole chicken carcass thinking we'll be in the clear here by 3 weeks. ( next wed).
2 months is a llooonnnnggg time to sit in the gut. I never would have thought that. But I guess anything is possible. I am not doing anything different now tho. I gave rice the first 3 days, added pumpkin again since then, but only had one vomit and one have diarrhea after the" carcass caper" and no bones yet.
I figure I'm not going to force the issue coming out either way, and let their bodies do what they can. If they have a problem I will step in. Like not eating, vomiting or not pooping, difficulty pooping or acting sick. So far none of that is happening. I have learned with Bella how capable their bodies are or getting rid of waste, edible or non. I hope the rest of the tube comes out soon so you will feel better.
Maybe someone else will have advice for you, as I'm not advocating you do nothing. That is just what I do with mine. I am much more "a wait and see " mommy, both with two legged and four legged children.

[Bonnie and Kona]

carcass caper... heehee

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I made myself chuckle with that too. But then, I'm easily entertained. :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have always thought that that bone shard might be responsible for Jack's IBD. Something caused his GI tract to become ulcerated and inflamed, and his immune system to start attacking it. I think a piece of smoked hambone sitting there for three weeks could have done that, although the symptoms of the IBD took almost another year to show up. But aside from not making the horribly idiotic decision to give it to him in the first place, I don't know what could have been done to prevent it once he had ingested some of it. In retrospect, I guess I should have tried to induce vomiting as soon as I saw that the bone had splintered, but at the point the shard came up, it was too late.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

We had considered inducing vomiting as well, just wasn't sure if that would cause more damage coming back out that way or not and increase their chances of choking on big pieces. I just don't know. And as with JD, we will never know if these bones are or will be the cause of future problems. And yes, I kick myself everyday for being horribly idiotic and leaving the garbage so full and then not pushing the cabinet completely closed. But we all do the best we can and handle the rest.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So true, Sue.

[Gail+Kathleen,(Sydney+Olivia:)]

Karen, I often thought that many of Sydney's problems started soon after we were at my brother's barbeque.  Sydney was runnning after my neice for hours and she was feeding her ice cubes all afternoon.  Then we caught her eating acorns (we don't ever know how many she ingested).  Shortly after that, Sydney became violently ill, underwent all kinds of tests.  It was at that time that Sydney began having billious vomiting syndrome which lasted over a year.  After that, Sydney always had some kind of problem with digestion.  She has some symptoms of megaesophogus.  We keep her kibble moistened and have to break up her treats into small pieces.  When she has trouble swallowing, she comes up to us so that we can massage her neck which usually helps.  She needs to eat a little throughout the day and have something before bedtime.  She occassionally regurgitates her food in a cigar like form.  We have had her to a very good Vet.  The Vets recomend that we continue to do what we are doing.  But we worry that she can be suffering at times.  I understand how upset you are with Jack's condition.  Our Doodles can't tell us when something hurts them.  But their eyes do tell us lots! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sydney is very lucky to have you. :-)

[Gail+Kathleen,(Sydney+Olivia:)]

Karen, just as Jack is to have found you!  Thank you:-)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Bones will show up on an xray and given that ingested bones are in places where they shouln't be you'd be able to tell. Most tubes are plastic now so I don't think you'd see a small piece. If the tube was metal it would show too. If this were my dig I'd do watchful waiting but,  of course, you should ask your vet.