No more fetch with a stick!!

[Kyoko]

Charlie LOVES to play fetch more than anything in the whole wide world. She can play fetch for over and over and over for a long time until she is truly exhausted... We go to the local county park and play fetch every day.... But today, when she caught the stick, it broke in pieces. I saw Charlie cough and hacked, then she came to me distressed. I thought the piece of stick got stuck in her throat or something!!! She looked as she was ready to go home. I did the quick check on her and we got ready to go back home. At the water fountain, she did not drink the water as she normally do. I again examined he mouth and saw a little cut on her tongue, and small patch of blood in the back of her throat... :-(

After we got home, she looked like she wanted to drink her water, but she didn't. so I gave her some milk and she drunk that. When I fed Pinot, she came and ate her food... But then, she went inside of Pinot's puppy pen to rest... :-( never done this before...

If she does not acting right within  a couple of hours, we are going to the emergency vet...

I should have known better than playing fetch with a stick!!

Update

We just got back from the emergency vet. Small laceration in the throat is no longer bleeding, and the fact she drunk milk and ate food is a good thing, and she kept them down is a good thing. So the doctor did not feel a need to sedate her to do the x ray or further examinations. She was scared to death at the emergency vet, tighten up so much and she was shaking like a leaf.....:-( 

So, I am just going to observe her and make sure she does not cough, hack vomit or refuse eating, etc...  Thank you all for the support!! I really appreciated them... It was just so scary... I just never thought something like this would happen, even though I knew it can...

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Glad Charlie is doing better!  

[Lynda Kamrath]

First of all, what a gorgeous photo of your dog playing chase with a stick.  I'm sure she loves the play time with you so you just need to select some other items to retrieve.  Most sticks would probably be fine, but make sure they are stable sticks.  No tennis balls please.  You want something stable enough that you can throw it some distance.  Many dogs love frisbees or boom-er-angs.  Check out the things you can use and maybe try a selection until you get just the right item for her to chase.

[Kyoko]

Why not tennis balls? I never tried Frisbees, nd I am not sure if she knows how to catch it?

[Adina P]

She might LOVE frisbee!  I have looked up some info on teaching dogs to catch frisbees before.  I think you start by rolling them on the ground and then tossing them and so on until they catch on to catching them in the air.

[Kyoko]

I have to try that! WE do have dog Frisbees that I used for "target" for agility. She does have great jump, and loves to jump up to catch the object.... I will look for the tips in youtube. Thanks!!

 

[Kyoko]

I found the article below in regard to the tennis balls...

 

The problem is that dogs have strong jaws capable of compressing a tennis ball. If that compressed ball pops open in the back of the throat, it can cut off a dog's air supply. Most notably, one of Oprah Winfrey’s beloved dogs was a tennis ball victim, but there have been many others. The chewed bits of a tennis ball also aren't something you want inside your dog.

You don't have to throw away all your tennis balls, but you do need to use them in a way that reduces the risk of choking. Tennis balls should always be put out of reach after a game of fetch, and no dog should ever be allowed to use them as a chew toy. In supervised play, insist that your dog fetch, return and immediately release the ball — no games of keep away while the dog works the ball in her mouth. And have only one ball in play at a time, to minimize the risk of having your dog pick up more than one and get the furthermost ball lodged back in her throat. Keep the game of fetch fast and lively to keep the focus on the chase and the next throw.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Oh no, Luca loves to do all these things with balls and I don't think I can take away another thing from him.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Just came in to find out how she was today and saw your update.  I suppose a good ChuckIt Ball might be best from now on.... who would think a stick could cause so much damage but this isn't the first time I have read that it can

But even ChuckIt Balls can be swallowed by some dogs. 

Glad she is okay and hoping she stays that way!   Have a good day, Kyoko

[Kyoko]

I was thinking the same thing... I thought Chuck it ball is king of small, especially if it comes with some speed....

I have to look around and find good alternatives.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

The ChuckIt has a launcher which not only enables one to throw for a good distance but also keeps dog slobber off hands. : ) I use a Chuck It ball an a Kong Rocket (launcher). My DH can throw the ball 60 - 70 feet with this system, me not so far.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

The Chuckit ball come in a large ultra 3" which is the size Haley has - he is a standard doodle.

[Kyoko]

Oh, OK. I will try that!