The roller coaster takes another dip.

[Andrea, Belle and Honey]

More adventures of Belle the labradoodle (it's a good thing she's so cute).  This afternoon a friend visited with her brand new granddaughter.  The baby was adorable, and Belle was very gentle with her during their brief introduction to one another.  As my friend and I admired the baby and chatted, Belle lay on her mat chewing on a bully stick.  Shortly after my friend left, I discovered that the bully stick had morphed into a tiny, pee-soaked diaper.  Apparently my friend had left one in the bathroom trash container, and forgot to replace the gate that keeps Belle out of the bathroom, so, of course, Belle quietly went in and helped herself.  By the time I realized what had happened, the diaper was completely shredded and from the looks of her beard, Belle had ingested some of the squishy filling.  I had to put her in her crate to stop her from fighting to eat more while I was trying to clean it up.  She really, really liked the pee-soaked stuff (yuk). I called the vet, and was told that I had to ask the microchip company, Home Again, how much hydrogen peroxide to give Belle so she would throw up. I don't exactly understand why I had to seek medical advice from a microchip company, but I did it. A very nice lady told me to give Belle 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide that hissed when the bottle was opened and bubbled when I threw it on the metal drain in the sink.  My newly opened bottle neither hissed nor bubbled, so I left Belle in her crate and ran out to buy more.  The nearest drug store went out of business while I wasn't looking.  Next stop, the convenience store that had bandaids and neosporin but no hydrogen peroxide.  Twenty minutes later, I was back at the Rite Aid where my parked car was smashed last week by a hit and run F150 (story for another day).  They only had the giant economy size left, but I lugged it home.  The nice lady had said to mix the hydrogen peroxide with a little yogurt to disguise the taste.  Yeah, right.  After ten minutes I finally got about half a teaspoon full down Belle's throat, and she threw up in my lap. Then she threw up on the floor.  Then she threw up in the cats' water dish.  Then she ran in circles and tried to bite me in the leg.  I called back the microchip people, as instructed, and was told to give Belle a little bit of water over the next 45 minutes, and if she kept it down for another half-hour, she could have her regular dinner with one teaspoon of canned pumpkin, which I happened to buy the other day because someone (was it on this list?) said the pumpkin crop had failed due to the wet weather and canned pumpkin would be scarce this year. She is to have a teaspoon of pumpkin on her food once each day for the next 2 days to help push out any remaining diaper stuff.  For the next 3 days I am to watch for symptoms of blockage, such as vomiting and refusal to eat. OMD, what next?

[Whitney & Brisco]

I'm sure my Brisco would eat a diaper too since he loves gto find the bathroom door opened and heads straight for the trash can. We've had to just be extremely diligent about keeping it closed I also put a reminder on the door bc we have two young boys that need a little extra reminding sometimes! But I agree with everyone on the vet thing, I would actually talk to my vet about it bc it might have been a receptionist that was giving mis information?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree with DJ, find another vet. I'm sorry you had this mess but I think Belle will be fine.

[DJ & Chance]

I don't get it--why would a vet have you call a microchip company for this kind of advice.  FIND ANOTHER VET.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I'm glad that Belle seems to be on her way to mending. What concerns me is that your vet advised you to call someone else. If I were you I would call them and ask them why they did that and then I would find another vet. Doesn't make any sense since the microchip company has no medical training and no vested interest if they gave you incorrect advice.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Call Home again? This part totally baffles me---is that some clause in the Home Again contract that says you can call when there are emergencies? I am sure your pup will be fine, but wow--what a weird thing the vet did--how long would it take them to tell you to give the pup Hydrogen Peroxide? 

You might want to reinforce the issue with the diaper disposed of in the bathroom by getting a small garbage can that has a lid that comes down--then you don't have to worry.

[Becka]

I am very confused by your vet telling you to call Home Again. I hope that Belle is OK! 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned will eat diapers if an opportunity arises - and has successfully done so.  We try to be diligent, but accidents happen.  Now that you are aware, you can ask your guests to dispose of the diapers in a more secure place - our kitchen trash is behind a pantry door. We also seal the diapers in ziploc bags - don't know if it helps curb dogs' sharp sense of smell, but it does ours! When Ned gets the occasional diaper, we watch him closely but there hasn't ever been a problem - thank goodness.