Is $248.00 Worth Peace of Mind?

[shelly]

You bet it is to me! Well let me preface this by saying last night my husband and I went out to dinner to celebrate our 27th anniversary. We left two "responsible" boys, ages 17 and almost 13 home with our very over protective, 'no more puppy'... "Tori-girl" (my in-laws have an apartment attached to our home - and they were home too -just in case). After a very nice dinner, we came home and the boys proceeded to tell us that Tori got in the garbage - (which my son was told to take out before we left), and got a hold of a corn cob! "We tried to get it away but she was seriously growling at us" was one of the many answers to the 'questions' I fired at them.

Now, because I am a devoted reader on this wonderful site, I remember reading about 'someone' who's dog ate a corn cob and had to have it surgically removed. Of course, it's now after 9:00pm - you see where this is going....Called the ER vet and they said the ever so familiar words to us... "You better bring her in". So off we go, romantic mood shot to hell by now. This being one of those times that I "raised" my voice at the boys...and in my poor puppy-girl runs into her crate, coaxed her out - And then off we went!

They say they'll do an x-ray to be sure it hasn't "moved into her intestines yet" - (GREAT!)....not in the intestines 'as far as we could see' . they induced vomiting and noticed that she chewed most of it up except one piece about as round as a quarter - which he brought out to show me. We left, brought her home, and I'm still hoping all is well!

We got off cheap - I'm thinking! Only $248.00 for this visit. So for my anniversary I got a beautiful dinner, and a piece of a (how do I say this politely???) "up-chucked" corn cob. I'm thinkin' I may get it bronzed and strung on a necklace with that screw she mysteriously swallowed back in November!

[shelly]

Thanks Sue and Karen!
You know... I had dogs all my life as a kid. They were let out and allowed to roam the neighborood. God only knows WHAT they did or got into and they lived to a ripe old age... hardly ever even going to the vet AT ALL - not even for UTD vaccines. Now, I treat tori like she's another baby of mine, and....

Karen.. believe it or not... we DO have one of those metal step on garbages... and what do you think "Little Miss Tori" discovered??? YUP... she too can step on the little metal piece on the bottom.... usually - well it''s supposed to be emptied before anything gets too high and it is turned to face the wall so she can not get it... she hasn't even bothered the garbage in months. Just goes to show you that her "puppiness" is not gone yet! Huh... gotta' love her!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sorry your anniversary was spoiled, but I have to agree that peace of mind is worth much more than $248, especially with what you've already been through with Tori.
Shelly, couldn't you get one of those metal step-on cans with a lid so she can't get into the garbage even when the boys forget to empty it? I have one that is absolutely dog proof in the mudroom adjoining my kitchen, and anything remorely edible goes in there until the bags are taken out to the garbage in the garage. I had a foster here who chewed up everything in sight, and even he couldn't get into that can.
Anyway, Happy Anniversary, and I hope Tori is none the worse for her garbage picking! Hugs to you both.