Stick Warning!!! Pls read

Ben · **Posted:** Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:26 pm

Ben my 20mth old developed bad breath on Saturday, which was followed with runny nose, sneezing, listlessness and mucus in eyes symptoms.

I took Ben to the vets tonight and when we managed to prise Ben's mouth open, there was a stick lodged width ways across the bridge of his mouth at the back.

It was lodged so firmly that it had imbedded itself in his flesh.

The vet got tweezers and said if she couldnt pull it out now, then he would need to be sedated. I said do it now.
She pulled it out, it was huge, white and rotting. His mouth was running with blood as there are now two huge open wounds on either side of his mouth. I have a 5day course on anti-biotics and advised to feed soft food only.

(Needless to say I feel like the worst owner in the world, especially as I spent ages brushing his teeth this weekend, and Ben kept putting his paw on my arm to stop me )

But this is a warning, to beware of sticks, beware of bad breath and to make sure that we all look up into the bridge not just prod around the teeth and gums )

lizzie tb · **Joined:** Sat Jan 24, 2009 6:05 pm **Posts:** 967

Poor Ben, it must have been really hurting him, thank goodness it's out now and he's recovering.
Thanks for the warning.

LakeDistrictDoodle · **Joined:** Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:27 am **Posts:** 128

Thank you for the warning!!!! I didnt let Dorcas carry or fetch sticks for that very reason, but let her carry small ones that wouldnt get knocked down into her mouth / throat, but hadn't even thought of sideways :shock:

!! That has opened my eyes and I will take a toy or ball etc now to discourage sticks!

Thank you so much for the wake up call, kind of you to share a lesson we can all learn. Hope Ben is back to 100% very soon, what a brave lad

All the best

Dave, Steph and Dorcas Doodle

Tracycooper15 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:39 pm

Poor Ben

I do hope he makes a quick recovery. Don't be too hard on yourself, it could happen to any of us, we have doodles after all :wink:

KateW · **Posted:** Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:43 pm

Thank goodness you took Ben to the vet when you did....Poor boy, hope he soon makes a full recovery. No good blaming yourself; these things happen and it sounds as though Ben is not the complaining type.

Sticks cause so many problems but are irresistible to many dogs; there have been several cases on here in the past with dogs seriously injured by sticks piercing or obstructing their throats. A beardie we know did this in the park and had to be rushed to the vet; fortunately she was ok. The other problem is that dogs who chew and eat sticks often get particles in their lungs....

I now avoid an otherwise very nice woman and her two spaniels in our woods as she insists on throwing sticks and I have spent ages training Rufus to leave them alone...He does lapse sometimes if he finds a really big branch and then is a danger to himself and the limbs of anyone who gets in his way :roll:

Katherine

Bid · **Posted:** Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:18 pm

Oh poor Ben

. Daisy ran onto something recently and tore her throat and it was obviously very sore. What seemed to soothe Daisy was a spoonful of yoghurt every now and then - perhaps worth a try with Ben. I think it was the coldness that helped. Hope he's back on form soon.

lizziesmum · **Posted:** Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:22 pm

Oh dear poor Ben,dont beat yourself up these things happen you can only do your best with them.He is brave though.Lizzie loves those plastic tubs that go around young trees there are 100,s of them on our walks(the new national forest),she smacks them into the back of your legs.Freda

Katem · **Joined:** Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:12 pm **Posts:** 4

Hope your dog recovers quickly and don't be hard on yourself. Our doodle Archie got a stick lodged in his throat last weekend, giving us a massive fright. I should know better and usually throw a frisbee, felt terrrible about it. He seemed okay until night time when he started shaking and foaming at the mouth. Assured by the vet that it was only because his throat was so sore that he didn't want to swallow. A dose of antibiotics has helped, as has someone else's idea of cold yogurt. Please don't feel bad as these things happen. I know I will never throw sticks for Archie again.

LynneL · **Posted:** Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:20 am

Poor old Ben.

Balls for us from now on. :shock:

Thanks for sharing your bad experience and hope he gets better soon.

Karen-London · **Joined:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:58 am **Posts:** 36

wish him better..

KateW · **Posted:** Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:26 pm

Hope Ben's mouth is healing well and he feels happier....

And bumping this up so as many people as possible read the thread....

Katherine

Ben · **Posted:** Wed Feb 10, 2010 7:03 pm

Hi Katherine

Ben is much better thank you.
His bad breath disappeared almost immediately and he is back to his happy, bouncy self. He's demanding walks and food, and is back to greeting me with toys in his mouth.

He is such a softy, I cant believe what a gentle giant he is with me, when I was obviously causing him pain whilst rumaging around his mouth with a toothbrush!

KateW · **Posted:** Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:46 am

That's great news, Jo

What a relief......

Katherine

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