Help, my dog just swallowed a bully stick!

[Jessica and Ava]

I have my 16 week old puppy a bully stick to chew on which she did for a while when all of the sudden it was magically gone, she swallowed the thing whole! She has been kind of retching but no puking yet, I am worried that it will block her digestive system. It was about a hands length long and not to wide, should I be worried?

[Jessica and Ava]

That's why I only give her bully sticks too I don't want one of those things to end up getting stuck in her tummy! She has also swallowed large chunks of them before, just never one this long so I was worried but she has been acting normal all morning so I'll take that as a good sign!

[Jessica and Ava]

I called the vet and she said that as long as she is eating, drinking, pooping and acting normal she will be ok, which she is so phew, but that if anything changes to bring her in this afternoon. She had been chewing on it for about an hour so it wasn't at its full length but it was still almost a hands length long when she swallowed it.  She has done this before with other bully sticks but they were much shorter so I make sure to take them away once they get to that size.  Apparently I need to take them away sooner, no more bully sticks for this baby for a long while!

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

My boys also swallow the rest of the bully stick when it gets about 2 inches long. I usually try to take it away when it gets that short, but sometimes they are just faster. Just like others said, bully sticks are digestible and soften with saliva. I don't see how she could swallow a hands length. Perhaps she got it shorter than you think and it was all moist so it went down easily. Glad she is okay, though.

[Pam & Trixie]

Good to hear she seems to be fine!

For those that use bully sticks & have a Light colored Doodle....Do they stain their paws or faces??

[Gail and Bailey]

I give my doodle the low odor bully sticks and she never gets stained from them.  She even chews them on a cream colored rug and it never shows there either.  Be sure to spend a bit extra and get the low odor ones!!

[Rita and Fazzy]

Fazz has done this a few times, he gets the bully down to 3 inches or so and then it's gone.  We've not had any issues and hopefully that won't change.  I know that they are completely digestible, so, outside of choking, I don't worry too much about it.  But...since yours is so young, a check with the vet is likely a good idea if you see any "off" behaviour.  I will search out the thickest bullies I can find - our local pet supply place has free range bullies that are probably 15" long and really thick...and yes, I pay $11 per bully for those - but, they last quite a bit longer than the others.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I bought an antler for Quincy for Christmas.  He was not very interested after awhile.  I give him low odor bully sticks that I buy online at www.bestbullysticks.com in bulk and they are much cheaper (not cheap, just cheaper LOL).  Petflow just had a big sale too- they were not as fat, but really cheap at 1.99 for a very long buffalo stick.  He does not swallow them, I throw them out when they get below 3 inches or so.  Stick with the low odor or the smell will knock you out!  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Tons of info and discussions on antlers in The Food Group. 

[Jessica and Ava]

I usually give her a bully stick when she comes in the living room as she loooves to chew on the rug so it keeps her occupied, with the antler she only stays distracted for a couple minutes then its back to the rug chewing haha.

[Lynette Main]

Good luck,and see the vet. Wow that list is a great one to have.Thanks Jane.

[Star and Goldie]

Another DK member recently went through a Bully Stick scare. Their post led to several people sharing their bully stick experiences

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness/forum/topics/bully-s...