A bit of a fright

[Rosie's Family]

Rosie, gave me a bit of a fright last night. We were hanging out in the family room, Rosie was chewing on her birthday rawhide.  I decided to go into the kitchen to work on dishes. 

When I was emptying the dishwasher I looked over and Rosie was sitting at the edge of the family room (that is still her space, we don't let her roam the whole house), staring at me in a way that just gave me a shiver, while licking her nose excessively. 

I am a large guy and a 50 pound dog shouldn't startle me, but I admit I was hesitant to go near her. I walked over and she started spazing out, for lack of a better term, I think she was sensing my hesitation. Once I started to pet her she ran to the door. She is a good girl normally when I open the door she waits until I release her to walk out the door. The second I opened the door she tried to jump out the door, but i had the screened closed since I had left the door open earlier for ventilation, so she just bounced off the screen.

When I opened the screen she started running frantically tearing up grass to eat it. After a few minutes of that she started making some retching sounds. After a few minutes she seemed just fine again.

We think she may have got some rawhide lodged in her throat and wanted to use the grass to help dislodge it. We can't really find anything out side today.

My wife asked me to describe the look, because she doesn't understand how I could have been frightened by her for a moment. I can't describe it, it was just an unnerving look. 

I am glad all is ok now. 

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

So glad to hear Rosie is ok! But, PLEASE, PLEASE, toss the rawhide! It is one of the absolute worse chews you can give your dog. I have had two friends who loss their dogs to chocking on rawhide. It swells with the moisture of the salavia of the dog and will easily choke your them. There are so many other better chew toys for your dog. I'm sure " her look" was of pure panic.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I totally agree with Ro! NO rawhide! There are many more options for them to chew on that are natural and not dangerous. http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/rawhide-dangerous-for-dogs/

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Rawhide is not good for dogs.  You are lucky to have seen Rosie  and recognized the 'look.'  Great save!

[Rosie's Family]

Thanks all, I will discuss this with my wife. I am not 100% it is rawhide, knowing my wife it is some kind of organic rawhide substitute. But after the incident we did take it away.