Drooling dog - throat injury? URGENT!

[doglover]

Whilst out walking this morning, one of our Labs seemed to choke on a stick - well, he yelped and whined which is most unlike him. There was nothing to be seen in his mouth - blood, stick etc. Since we've been home, he is constantly drooling out of one side of his mouth and occasionally retching. Any suggestions? TIA

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Have you checked the roof of his mouth? Last time mine did this she had a bit of bone wedged right up in the rood of her mouth and could not dislodge it. At first glance there was nothing to be seen, but she let me investigate and there it was.

If not call the emergency vets and see what they say.

[doglover]

Many thanks for the reply. Good idea. He's lying quietly at the moment so will check as soon as he wakes. Thanks again.

[CollieEye]

My dog chomped on a stick when she was a pup and it snapped, lodged across the roof of her mouth. She went a bit mental trying to loosen it. The vet got it without any problems.

A few years later she ran open mouthed onto a stick my BIL threw for her. It went straight down her neck like a sword swallower. She drooled like mad and allowed me to put my hand into her mouth but I could barely touch the tip of it. A visit to the vets & we had a doped up dog and a removed stick. It was longer than her head. The vet whipped out his phone and took a photo of her and the stick, he was impressed that she had managed to swallow it without any severe damage. A slight graze. She was lucky. Don't throw sticks for dogs. Ever.

Dog doesn't realise we will never throw sticks again and always picks them up and spits them at your feet.. it's been 5 years and she still tries to tempt us.

[doglover]

Dog is in the vets having a GA to investigate his throat. Poor boy :(( Many thanks for your replies ................ will update on here later.

[doglover]

Still waiting for the call .............................. :((

[mumofthemonsters808]

We have a lab who got a stick lodged in this throat, for the life of us we could not see it to remove it.He was rushed to the vet put under GA and the stick was removed and put in a testube for us to see the size of.As he came round rapidly from the GA he was allowed home a few hours later, he came in the house looking very sad.The next day he run to the nearest stick and proceeded to chew it, with me looking horrified.

I've never forgotten how scared I was watching him cope, I was crying, the kids were bawling, it was madness, but all ended well (minus £100 vet bill)and I'm sure it will for your dog. When I see people throwing sticks for their dog I cringe,but our boy just finds them himself.

[doglover]

Yes, MOTM808, that sounds familiar! The vet has literally just phoned with good news - kind of!! He's come round from the anaesthetic (the dog, that is!) and has had a large bit of stick removed from the back of his tongue leaving a very deep hole. I need to phone later to see if he's ok to come home. Phewwwwwwwwwwwww!

[doglover]

Our baby is home! Very sore, very sorry for himself but alive! Thanks for all your support. x

[mumofthemonsters808]

So glad to hear this DOGLOVER, I've been thinking about how he was going on,there is never a dull moment with Labs and kids.

[doglover]

Our other lab is so ancient that I don't think she even noticed his absence! We're mightily relieved to have him home. x

[moosemama]

I've only just seen this thread.

I'm so glad he's ok.

Our collie cross got multiple fragments of a chewed up stick stuck in her throat a couple of years ago. We had no idea, as we don't throw sticks for her, so she must've chewed up a stick she found in the garden.

She didn't show any sign of a problem until it was almost too late. The fragments had travelled through her neck and caused multiple pockets of infection. Her tongue had developed adhesions that were tying it down making it impossible for her to extend it to drink and that was the first sign of a problem. Oddly, she'd been eating and drinking fine right up until then, the only clue looking back was that she kept making a lot of mess around her water bowl with spills and splashes.

Fortunately she had a successful op to remove the pieces, followed by a course of strong antibiotics and she made a full and speedy recovery. She was seeking out sticks on the beach as soon as her stitches were out - daft dog.

[doglover]

Thanks, MM. I didn't want to over-react but am so relieved that we acted speedily. You just never know .....................

We had a pretty disturbed night - lots of whining - but he's eaten this morning so must be on the mend!!

[moosemama]

Aw poor dog, but as you say, if he's eating he must be feeling a bit better.

Hope he makes a speedy recovery.

mumofthemonsters you got off lightly, our old girls op cost £500! I then had to spend another £50 buying pet adhesive dressings and cohesive bandages because she had the op a few days before we were due to go on holiday, so all the dressing changes etc were down to me. Luckily I have studied canine first aid, so was capable of dealing with it myself.

We then had to see a vet in Ireland for follow up care and stitch removal. Fortunately they were absolutely lovely and didn't charge us a penny and she was healed well enough to enjoy charging about on the beach by the second week.