Help with tummy problems

[merickson1131]

The other day Austin was having tummy problems and threw up in his Kennel. Then he threw up on the carpet. Well, I thought that it was nothing when the next day he was fine. That was until two nights ago. For the last two nights Austin has been waking up at about 5:00 with an upset tummy. Usually I hear him gagging and I rush him outside. I believe that the problem is his chews. It seems that when he has eaten about three-fourths of his chews he will then swallow them!! :o This is not good because from what I can tell they then sit in his stomach until he throws them back up. I hate to stop giving him the chews but I also don’t want him to choke on one or continue throwing up. :( Do any of you have a suggestion on what I should substitute for a chew or possible a way that I can prevent him from eating them whole?

[rotten_two]

from my experience dogs typically have this type of problem with rawhides, pig ears, those flavored nasty bones, greenies, etc. for this reason i don't recommend these types of treats and even moreso (or is it less so? :hmmmm:) if you can't supervise pup.

there are lots of safe chew toys out there. rubber is probably your best bet. things like kong, rhino bones, any of the interactive toys that you can put food into work well. if your pup is not a power chewer you could give galileo bones or sterilized bones (these can wreck teeth tho so be careful).

[Sharpeigirl]

Try a stuffed kong instead of a chew..

[merickson1131]

I give him Kongs and I have about three round rubber items that he can chew but he gets tried of these and will stop chewing on them after a few min. When I try to give them to him again at a later date, he does not want them. I usually give him the denta-bone broken in pieces but he just swallows thoses so I stopped and I guess I will have to stop giving him the beefy chews also.

[merickson1131]

It doesn't seem to be the thing I give him, it seems to be the fact that he can swallow them once he eats most of it.

[merickson1131]

you know that is probably the simplest explenation and yet for some reason that didn't even come into mind. I guess the blonde is working overtime. :D I will have to try grabbing it from him once he has reached swallowing point. Hes not food or treat aggressive so it wont be a big deal. I guess when I have enough ends I could find a way to put them together or something.

[rotten_two]

since dogs aren't born with the innate knowlege that they should chew rubber toys you have to condition them to chew appropriate items. this is why toys that use food work better to encourage chewing. have you tried these?





you can actually put that poultry flavored tooth paste in the grooves on these to encourage chewing and discourage plaque and tartar :)


or how bout these . . .





you can purchase these and many more at www.jefferspet.com hmmm suddenly i feel like vanna white

[merickson1131]

I have tried all of them. The kong kept his attention the longest but he really likes things that he can eat and isn't patient enough to wait for the treats to come out. If I change up the stuff I put in the kong he will eat it once but after that he wont. Also, he will only eat about half of what is stuff in it because I guess he is too lazy to try and get the rest out.

[rotten_two]

jess that is too bad cause treat toys are way fun. i will share a couple stories. we used to leave gaia in her crate with a meticulously stuffed kong. we purposely tried to make it hard so it would last longer for her. one day i was home and i stuck her in the crate with her kong. then i hear this metal clashing sound. that little smarty had figured out that if she put her kong in her water dish it would get all soggy and she could get things more easily. then she learned how to drop the kong down the stairs. to this day she does it. sometimes we come home and there is peanut butter on the walls or ceiling haha.

aspen takes more the shotput method. he put the whole toy in his mouth and shakes his head up and down 3 times while gripping with his jaws then on the 3rd time he lets it go and it bounces all over. always 3 times! it is hysterical.

[Crystal]

I bet your house is peanut butter color. I can just see that. I love the water dish idea. Who says dogs aren't smart?

[DogPaddle]

It may be that your dog prefers destructable toys and eating them at the end is just part of it. My boys love a toy they can rip to peices, it is the best thing in the world for them. I have resorted to toilet papaer rolls and dollar store stuffed toys. I have to watch them, less than at first but I still have to watch. I'm not as worried about the toilet paper rolls but the stuffing I have to watch. Either way I have to clean up when they are done playing or when I decide they are done playing.

[mouseatthebusstop]

I would withdraw those chews- try a kong