Socks and stuff

[Carol Horner]

I can't decide which group this discussion should be classified in.  We adopted Elmo Joe in April of 2011 from the DRC.  His estimated birth date is 1/05/07.  We are an empty-nest couple who have a clean organized house and Elmo Joe fits in well on our farm along with a Sheltie and a Golden (both of whom are rescue dogs). He seem to have no behavioral problems except this one.....  he loves to eat fabric.  When little people visit us and they tire of playing with Elmo Joe he takes them by the shirt and doesn't want to let them go until we tell him to" leave it".  He is presently recovering from his second surgery for ingesting foreign objects like socks.  That's two thousand dollars in vet care and of course, much discomfort on Elmo Joe's part.  We are scratching our heads to determine where he found that sock the vet saw in the X-ray pictures.  He has been to obedience classes and was just hours away from passing his therapy pet evaluation for Love on a Leash.  I would welcome any suggestions concerning this issue.

• is it his personal obsession 
• is he deficient in some nutrient
• is it a behavioral problem
• does he need more exercise
• could this have been why his original family surrendered him

It has been only 6 months between his two surgeries and that can't be good for any dog.  We also can't spend that kind of money more times.  As you all know grooming is expensive along with obedience classes, and good non-grain food.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I am so sorry.  I remember Elmo!   My dog, Spud constantly has socks in his mouth, although he does not eat them.  As we speak there are 4 of my husband's shirts and 10 socks in the living room. All from today.  As soon as our bedroom door opens he just loves to carry around laundry.   Very rarely has he ingested strange cloth objects. Rarely, but he has. Not recently, knock on wood.  Most of the time he just likes cloth.

Spud also has very worn teeth from always having things in his mouth.  My vet says, " Well, yeah.  He is a retriever"

Don't know if this helps. I don't think he is missing nutrients, has a behavioral problem, or is abnormally obsessed.   Of course, all dogs need lots of exercise.  I am constantly picking up laundry and securing it in baskets with lids.

Can you give him a ball for his mouth or another chew toy like?  I know, that is probably difficult with other dogs around.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Love this picture of Spud : )

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Thanks Nicky.  I put it here just to show her a lot of our retriever- like breeds always have things in the mouth.. but I am sure this is no comfort  :(  Poor Elmo.  So sad to hear this

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Ben does this too!  there will be a pile of clothes on the living room rug and its because ben constantly goes back to either our room or the bathroom laundry basket to bring out clothes.  Sometimes he even brings the bathroom rug!  It's really annoying but kind of funny.  why do their teeth get ruined from cloth?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I think Ben and Spud are brothers from a different mother  :)  Love the rug  ::)  It has been awhile for rug dragging.  I think he likes the smaller things.  But, yes  he has drug a rug

Spud's teeth are severely worn and mainly it is because of things always in his mouth.  Not all dogs teeth wear but Spud's are pretty extreme for a three-year old dog

Another reason, Tennis balls wear on the teeth.  We no longer use tennis balls--only Chuck It balls.

Question--does Ben take laundry down to the washer too?  Spud insists on going with laundry in his mouth

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Oh I wish he took laundry to the washer, pushed buttons, then put in the dryer and then folded them all!!!  If he did that I swear I will never ever complain about him and his barking issues ever again!!!

and thank you for the info on tennis balls and cloth!  I never knew that!

[Carol Horner]

Sud is so handsome.  Elmo doesn't carry anything around.  Our Golden, Oliver, won't allow Elmo to have tennis ball.  Oliver usually has two tennis balls.  This has happened when we are not present in the room evidently.

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Elmo Joe looks so soft and cuddly!  I am so sorry you are having this problem.  I hope that Elmo gets better soon.

Ben and Zoe will run around with socks when I do the laundry but have never ate one.  I do have a friend that has a doberman that eats her kids socks.  SHe poops them out and she's never been through surgery for this reason.  I hope it all works out soon.  

[Carol Horner]

Evidently Elmo's digestive tract is narrow and/or very long such that the normal process can't push it on out.  Poor guy.  He just get the connection between eating socks and the surgery because it may be 2-3 or more days before he starts the vomiting.  If we were just aware we could induce vomiting right away and not have it lodged in the intestines.

[Carol Horner]

Thanks everyone for your support and helpful ideas.  Elmo is healing well and is acting happy again.  He will see Dr. Bricker Friday for the post-op.  Elmo Joe has been resting on his doggy bed and on a quilt on our older couch with pillows around him.  No hint of wanting to chew or"eat" any of those fabrics.  I love him even though he is goofy.  I will try your suggestions soon.  For right now, I'm not taking my eyes off of him.  Thanks again.

[Dot, Maggie and KoKo]

KoKo loves socks.  I live alone with two doodles and do a pretty good job of making sure I don't leave anything around.  But when my grandkids are here they don't always remember to pick up everything.  KoKo has passed all the  socks she has swallowed, luckily.  A couple of weeks ago KoKo grabbed a sock my granddaughter had left on the floor and immediately ran under my bed.  I had Haley go after her to retrieve her sock and she found KoKo's stash of socks.  Seems she has been stealing socks and it has gone unnoticed.  I am resigned to the fact that KoKo has to be watched at all times but how can I train the grandkids.