Rawhide stick swallowed whole?

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

Okay I'm not for sure but I'm now having second thoughts.  Last saturday we attended a Howl-o-ween costume contest and trick or treating for canines (local groomer / organic pet store).  One of the trick or treat booths was handing out what I thought was a jerky treat but came to find out was actually a long skinny rawhide! 

So here's what happened; as I sat and waited for the judges to tally their scores the humans were treated to pizza so while sitting there my baby girl Sassparilla started gasping and jerking her head around I immediately discovered the rawhide wedged down her throat and caught behind her front teeth!  While trying to remove it my other dog began to wander off so I stopped just long enough to grab her leash and when I put my hand back in her mouth the rawhide was gone?  I immediately was concerned she had swallowed the whole thing then when looking around I found one fairly close by and assumed it was hers?  Most of the other dogs were small things and I didn't really see anyone else chewing on one but then I really wasn't paying attention to them?

Now here it is a week later my baby girl is randomly throwing up?  There is usually nothing in it other than water and maybe a white substance (almost like watered down white bread).  I'm not sure if I should panic and take her in for full eval or chill.  The rawhide was about 6 inches long and an inch wide, dark brown in color?  I know it would have no problem going down the esophagus but what happens when it hits the tummy, is there enough acid in a dogs stomach to dissolve a rawhide? 

There is NO change in her personality and daily habits, she is eating fine and playing as usual.  I've been giving them randomly treats from their goodie bags and most are organic so I'm not sure if that might be whats upsetting her tummy?  My biggest fear is I fly out of town for five days and grandma (at 88) will be watching them and well she's not as smittened and alert as I am.  My daughter will be home after three of those days, but again it's those three that have me concerned. 

Has anyone ever had an issue with rawhides - I usually don't like them and it honestly looked like a jerky treat.

Thanks in advance, my poor baby girls has had it rough so I hate to assume everything is okay.  Up till now she has separation anxiety from me, a heart murmur, pneumonia and now this! 

BTW they took third in best costume, I was the bug catcher and they were the butterflies.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

As a minimum I would contact the Vet and ask their opinion.  At least that is what I do here.  The Vet usually says wait a day or two, or come on in.  Has she been pooing normally as well?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would get her to the vet or the ER for X-rays now. Many a rawhide has caused an obstruction in the GI tract, and there have also been cases where it just sat there absorbing liquid and expanding in size. Bloat, which is a life=threatening emergency, can follow.
"...rawhide may cause severe medical problems when consumed by your dog. Your dog’s gastric juices cannot break down rawhide. And worse, rawhide can absorb the liquids in your dog’s gastric juices and saliva and expand in size. The indigestible parts and even swollen rawhide may get stuck in your dog’s stomach, intestines, or esophagus requiring surgical removal. Even if the rawhide does not get stuck within your dog, it can scrape your dog’s throat or esophagus and may irritate the gastrointestinal tract causing vomiting and diarrhea."  http://www.doggedhealth.com/component/content/article/49-safe-dog-a...

I really doubt the organic treats from the goodie bag are the cause of the vomiting. Yes, you may end up with a big ER bill for nothing, but I personally would not take a chance with this.

 

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

Thanks I did leave a message for the vet after sending this.  In the future I'll make sure everything goes through my hands first before it goes into their mouthes. 

I haven't been out to see what the poop looks like I leave before the sun rises and it's dark when I get home (I have the time change), I will defiinitely check it out when I pick up Saturday morning.  I've seen her go but not up close!  Oh the things we do for our kids.  Last night on the drive home from taking my daughter back to school she threw up IN my purse after drinking water so that threw up the red flag!  I checked her tummy as soon as I got home, I didn't feel anything and she didn't react?  Oh I pray it's nothing.

My vet knows how anal I am about her so he'll guide me in the right direction. 

Thank you Ü

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You're probably not going to feel a softened piece of rawhide in the GI tract from the outside. I hope it's nothing, too, but unexplained vomiting coupled with the possibility of her having ingested a large hunk of rawhide is a cause for caution. I hope you hear back from your vet soon.

 

 

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

We went to the vet on Saturday.  He did EVERYTHING but an xray and insisted it wasn't necessary so I hope she's okay.  He recommended a soft food diet (chicken and rice) so we'll see if that does the trick, he said the rawhide may have irritated her throat lining? She just recovered from pneumonia so maybe all this outside activities upset her system?  She's was on house arrest for over eight weeks, good news she's put on five more pounds since she was sick so she's finally gained ALL her weight back plus some.  We had no episodes this weekend and she's been plenty busy in the backyard considering what I picked up Saturday morning/Sunday afternoon.  Thank you for the information and guidance.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I hope she continues to do well and this issue resolves itself.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Me too.

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

Hello everyone I just wanted to send an update.  I was a wrecked the whole time I was away from her but came home and she's as crazy and playful as she can be and we've had no more bouts with vomiting.  No idea what set off the incident but she looks good and and is acting like the crazy nut she is.  We now have a third dog in the mix (cousin dog visiting) and the two of them are playing 24/7, poor Josie is feeling left out.