Dogs who eat things they’re not supposed to…and the owners who love them

by Dr. Melissa Claus, DVM, DACVECC

Do you have a dog that eats anything and everything that’s not bolted to the ground? Does your dog eat moldy trash for breakfast, stuffed chew toys for lunch, and cat poop for dinner? If so, you may be wondering if this behavior is dangerous.

Eating inappropriate things is something we vets call “dietary indiscretion”. If your dog ate something that was gross, but completely digestible, he may never have any signs of illness. Some dogs will develop mild gastrointestinal signs, like vomiting once or twice and a day or two of diarrhea. Some dogs will have more severe vomiting, a poor appetite, lethargic behavior, and maybe even bloody diarrhea. If your dog is showing more severe signs, and especially if he is unable to hold down any water he drinks, you should visit your veterinarian immediately, as he is at risk for becoming dehydrated. If your dog seems otherwise normal – normal activity and appetite – you can monitor him at home. It would be best to not offer him any food until it has been a full 12 hours since his last vomiting episode. Always have water or Pedialyte available for him to drink. When you start to feed him, give him small meals of something that is easily digested, like boiled chicken breast or cottage cheese and boiled white rice. Slowly transition him back on to his normal food after 24 hours as long as he is doing well. If he continues to vomit beyond 24 hours, he should be seen by your veterinarian.

Some dogs eat things that are not digestible, like toys, laundry, rocks, corn cobs, and tampons. These dogs are at a much higher risk for requiring emergency veterinary intervention as these non-digestible items are likely to cause an intestinal obstruction. Signs of intestinal blockage often include lethargy, frequent vomiting, absent bowel movements, and poor appetite. If your dog is showing these signs, he should be taken to your veterinarian for evaluation. Rarely, a foreign body can be palpated within the intestinal loops during a physical examination. More often, imaging of the abdomen is required. Radiographs of the abdomen are usually the first test performed to look for changes in the size of the intestinal loops. Loops that are obstructed will become dilated with fluid and gas. Sometimes the dog is fed barium, a liquid that shows up bright white on radiographs. Taking multiple radiographs after barium is fed will allow us to determine if the barium is moving through the intestines or if it is prevented from moving through due to an obstruction. Another method of imaging is an abdominal ultrasound. This method can be very useful to look for dilated intestinal loops and foreign objects. If your dog is determined to have an obstructing foreign body, emergency exploratory surgery will need to be performed to remove the foreign body and relieve the obstruction.

Remember: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! If your dog is a chow hound who has a tendency to eat everything in sight, it is ideal for you to dog-proof your house and yard as thoroughly as possible. Keep laundry, garbage, and easily destroyed toys far away from your eating machine to provide him the best chance of enjoying an exploratory surgery-free life!

Running with Your Dog

With the beautiful weather this time of year, I know I am more inclined to take my dogs running with me. I do take some precautions when I run with my pups and I thought I would pass along some tips to help prevent your need to visit the emergency department here at CCVSS.

As with us, it is a good idea to make sure that your dog can tolerate the stress of running. So a general wellness examination is a good starting point. If your dog has a problem that can or will be exasperated by strenuous activity it is better to catch this before making a preexisting condition worse. Furthermore, if you notice them starting to limp or struggle during the run, STOP! If the lameness persists or gets worse then get your dog checked out by a veterinarian. Don’t treat the lameness with an over the counter medication (or any medication) without the direction of a veterinarian.

Run with your dog restrained by a leash or harness. We don’t want them getting into traffic or tearing off after another animal during your run. You may need to train your dog to run effectively on a leash or attend an obedience class to help with the training.

Gradually ease them into running just as we need to progressively increase our mileage. Usually limiting a well-conditioned dog to no more then 4-5 miles is a sound idea. You will also need to build up their tolerance for running on surfaces such as asphalt. Frequent examination of their footpads is also a good idea since foot pad injuries are common in dogs that run.

Proper feeding and hydration is essential for our canine running companions. Your dog needs to be well hydrated before, during, and after running. Bringing water for you and your dog during a run is a good idea. Some type of water receptacle for your dog to drink out of is handy. As far as timing of meals, feeding a large meal prior to a run is a bad idea. If your dog needs to be fed before a run either skip taking your dog with you on this run or just postpone feeding until afterwards.

Age is another factor to consider. Don’t run with your puppy. Wait until your dog is an adult (9-12 months for smaller breeds; 18 months for giant breeds) so their musculoskeletal system is fully developed. This allows them to better tolerate the stresses of exercise. An older dog will also not likely tolerate a new running routine very well. When introducing your dog to a running program start slowly and gradually build their mileage up as their tolerance allows. Again, regardless of their age, limiting them to no more than 4-5 miles per run is prudent.

Overheating is a potential life-threatening problem associated with running with your dog. Our canine running companions need to be monitored for signs of heat stress and overheating during and after a run. These signs can include weakness, lethargy, collapse, seizures, vomiting, or diarrhea. If you are concerned that your dog is suffering from heat stress, contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. They will likely recommend you wet your dog with water and head to their clinic or local emergency clinic as soon as possible.

Some dog breeds are better suited to be a running companion. You can go for a short jog with most dogs but if you’re looking for a running companion, a bulldog is certainly not the breed to consider. Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds and those breeds with abnormally shaped legs (chondrodystrophic) do not make good endurance athletes because of breed associated abnormalities. Go for a Border Collie, a greyhound, or maybe a healthy Labrador retriever or better yet, find a long legged stray at the shelter in need of a permanent running partner. The shelters have tons of hearty so-called "Florida Brown Dogs" that are full of energy and stamina.

With these points in mind, running with your dog can be safe, fun and good for the health and well-being of both you and your canine companion.

Dr. Tim Schneider

Practice Limited to Surgery