Stomach ache after bone?

[Shianne Mack]

So I got my dogs these dogs bones from the grocery store and first everything was fine. It is now about a week later and they are getting diarrhea and my golden doodle puppy threw up three times last night. They were pretty big bones so they would chew them a little and leave them alone, but after a week of doing this they finally started to eat them. When my golden doodle pup threw up there was some undigested kibble in there and some pieces of the bone that he didn't chew all the way. this morning when he woke up he went out to use the restroom and his poop was almost like water. He is acting completely normal and he is running around with me and playing. This morning he ate most of his food, but did leave some behind (which he never does. He usually eats every single bit and licks the bowl). Do you think this could be because of the bone? or do you think there is something else going on? My other dog who has been eating the bone didn't throw up but does have runny stool, but not as runny as my golden doodle. Oh and my puppy is 5 months old now.. Thank you! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Exactly what kind of bones were they? 

[Shianne Mack]

They were these American rawhide retriever rolls. They were brown, not white.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, the stomach issues are due to the rawhide bones, and the puppy should be seen by a vet ASAP. Your other dog should really be seen too, but that can probably wait until your regular vet's office is open. Rawhide can be very dangerous for dogs, American or not. It can cause an obstruction and other serious GI issues. Your pup may have some rawhide sitting undigested in his gut, which can be very serious. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here is some information about the dangers of giving rawhide of any kind to dogs: 

Rawhide is extremely dangerous. It is so dangerous, that I am stunned they can still sell it. In fact, the Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA both discourage rawhide consumption and list it among the dangerous household products for pets (next to pesticides and cleaning chemicals). If you still use rawhide, read on to find out more about why you should stop - and what chewing alternatives are out there.

What Is Rawhide, Anyway?

It’s the inner layer of cow or horse hides that has been cleaned and stripped of hair. In order to remove the hair from this layer, the hide must be soaked in chemicals, primarily sodium sulfide. It’s as toxic as it sounds. It’s then washed and whitened with hydrogen peroxide, dried, and pressed into the treats you see in the stores (sometimes they add flavorings or coatings to make them appetizing for dogs). Other toxins, such as trace amounts of arsenic and formaldehyde have been detected in rawhide treats as well. Rawhide is classified neither as a human food nor pet food, so there are no regulations over its production.

Dangers of Rawhide

Choking - Probably the biggest danger of them all is the risk of choking. If you’ve ever watched a dog chew on a rawhide, you know how stringy, soft, and long it can become. At some point, a dog will have worked at it long enough that he’s chewed off pieces small enough to fit into his mouth and even into his esophagus, but that’s often where the buck stops. The rawhide can quickly and easily become lodged in his throat, blocking his airway and potentially tearing his esophagus’ lining as it tries to work its way down. This is a life-threatening emergency and without immediate vet attention, the dog could perish. Here are signs that a piece might be lodged in his throat:

• Drooling
• Panicking
• Pawing at his mouth
• Not being able to swallow food or water

Contamination - Because it is made from animal skins and material, salmonella is a huge concern. Both you and your pet can contract salmonella from his rawhide! It’s fairly common for a standard rawhide bone to be laced with this bacteria. In fact, between 2008 and 2011, there were 6 major FDA recalls of rawhide due to salmonella.

Digestive Distress and Intestinal Blockage – If your dog does successfully swallow a piece, what happens next can be just as dangerous. The rawhide swells up in the intestine or stomach, causing severe GI distress. This can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and pancreatitis. Rawhide is not digestible, so your dog has to pass it as he ingests it. If he does not, a blockage occurs, and surgery is required.

- See more at: http://www.embracepetinsurance.com/pet-care/dangers-of-rawhide#stha...

[Shianne Mack]

Wow! Thank you so much for all the info on this.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

How are your dogs doing? 

[Shianne Mack]

they are doing a lot better! The next day after i wrote this post, my GD pup went to the restroom and it was already a lot more solid! So I was happy about that. No more throwing up which is good too. My other dog is about 12 years old and I have been watching here stool and it isn't super solid yet, but more than it was. They are both acting completely normal and seem to be fine. I am monitoring both of them though and if I see anymore red flags I already talked to my vet and he said bring them in. I threw away the remains of the bone though! I will never be getting those again. Thank you so much.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad to hear they're doing better.

There are really no safe chews or treats sold in most grocery stores. Ditto, big box stores like Walmart, Target, Costco, etc. We have a list of safe treat brands in The Food Group. 

For chews, some good choices are antlers, bully sticks, Himalayan chews, beef tendons (very much like rawhide, but they are digestible), and beef tracheas. We have info on all of these as well as sources, in TFG. Whatever you choose MUST be sourced and made in North America, and the labels can sometimes fool you. Buy them only from pet supply stores that do not sell products made/sourced in China, or order on-line from our recommended sources.