My Dog Ate What?

With a Labrador in your house, you have to be beyond careful about leaving any food around…anywhere.

Who Me?

While we try–counters are kept clear, garbage cans have air-tight lids, and food is never left lying around–our Lab Ranger has the uncanny ability to swoop at the precise moments when we have let down our guard.

In the almost-three years that we’ve had him, here are a few of the highlights of Rangers “hunting” spoils:

4 lbs of Hershey Chocolate Chips- found in a visiting relative’s suitcase. 

A pack of Sugar Free Gum- found in the couch cushions.

1 Bag of Ricola Cough Drops- swiped from the back of my desk.

and

A WHOLE Gym Sock- who knew he’d eat a whole sock!

I’m sure Ranger has eaten countless other things that I am either blocking out or unaware of and yet he is still alive.  The only items that required stomach pumping were the Sugar Free Gum–Xylitol, the key ingredient in sugar-free gum is highly toxic– and the Large Gym Sock which had the potential to bind up his intestines…yum.

You’re probably thinking what about the the chocolate; isn’t that extremely toxic? Yes you’re right, chocolate is highly poisonous to dogs, but thankfully the chips were of the milk chocolate variety and moreover most Hershey Chocolate Chips are relatively low in actual chocolate content. Had the chips been something gourmet or of a higher cocoa content, we’d have been in trouble.

The vet advised us to watch for any lethargy or shaking. He showed neither and in fact was scheming for more food.  So while not a pretty site (read heaps of chocolate poop and vomit) Ranger survived without a trip to a vet. NOTE: if your dog eats chocolate do not take my word on this one…CONTACT YOUR VET ASAP because every situation is different.

Stomach pumping or not it’s always scary when your dog eats something foreign. So how do you know if what you’re dog has eaten is dangerous??

Here are two great resources…

1. Download, print out and keep on hand this very helpful Toxic Food Guide.

or

2. Contact the Pet Poison Helpline 1-800-213-6680. There is a 35 dollar charge per call–there isn’t any public funding for something like this–but that a small price to pay for your dog’s safety and your piece of mind.

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