If you’ve been following along with us on our Facebook Page, then you know that Titan and I have been back to the vet…… but not for his lingering nail issue.
Sunday evening Titan and I were playing with one of his Kong Wubba’s. This was the Snugga Wubba that I can two for such a great deal. NOW I am not so happy with the deal I got. Not because of the Wubba, but because I FAILED my boy.
Titan LOVES to tear up fuzzy things. I supervise him with every toy and every bone or treat he eats.
YES, I am THAT kind of overprotective Momma. However, my boy got the best of me on Sunday. Yes, I FAILED him and myself.
We were playing with said Wubba pictured below:
He managed to chew off one of the legs. So I grabbed the piece that easily slid onto my pointer finger (about 2″ long) and was teasing him with it.
FAULT #1
Then he grabbed it from my finger and ran. I chased and got it back. (At this point, I should have thrown it out)
FAULT #2
I continued to tease him and he snatched it again and ran across the room. I hollered for him to “Leave It”, in which he didn’t, then he chomp chomp chomp ….. gulp! Ugh!
By the time I got to him, it was already out of his throat.
FAULT #3
I failed my boy.
Since then, I’ve gotten super paranoid because Titan has not pooped it out yet. He’s pooped. He’s peed. He’s still as active as usual. He’s appetite has not changed. However, Monday and Tuesday, while I was at work, he threw up.
Mind you, he could have thrown up from the Rimadyl we’ve been given him sporadically for his nail.
But the throw up was a bad sign of a potential obstruction, even though he had no other symptoms. Wednesday, it bothered me enough I called my vet about it. Today, we went to the vet to get checked out. Because he at breakfast this morning, they said the xray would have been useless.
He passed the touching the stomach test with flying colors. He showed no signs of pain and acted his normal self. We took blood work today and a pee test because at our annual last week, somehow, we forgot to do it.
I came home today and no throw up. Good sign, right! Titan was to eat a bland diet tonight (chicken and rice) and nothing after 8 pm just in case we wanted to go to the vet in the a.m. for xrays. I’m still torn if we should go or not especially being my vet said, the xrays still may or may not be conclusive.
Great 
I fogib u momma
So what do I do?
Well, I’m kind of playing it by ear tonight to see how he is. So far, he’s normal…. well other than being pretty made about a bland dinner and not Hardee’s that the hubs and I had. I’m hoping shortly he’ll go out and pooped so I can have “piece of mind” once again.
Only I’ll know if I take him to the vet in the a.m. If I wake up and I’m unsettled about it, I’ll take him. Or maybe I’ll just watch him over the weekend and take him Monday a.m. It’s all up to me and I truly don’t like it. One bad decision on my part, could be devastating for my boy.
I will say this, the past several weeks have been very trying for me, Titan, and the hubs. The nail issue and soaking every night. Of course Titan doesn’t want to cooperate long for the soaking. The hubs isn’t happy about it either. Me? I just want my normal son back. Now the eating of his toy, which I assume total responsibility for and am kicking myself ever since! I’m always the one being over-cautious about playing, walking, eating, toys, you name it! I slipped just this once and am now paying for it.
I feel helpless again. I can’t fix what I’ve done. I can only hope to not slip again.
What do you do when you feel like this? Do you beat yourself up? Or do you chalk it up as a slip and move on?
About Bren
Don’t beat yourself up over it, Bren. (Easy for me to say, and yes, I’ve been in the same position and didn’t heed that advice either. Brooded a LOT, in fact.) How were you to know that Titan would eat the toy, especially if there was no history of such behaviour? Honestly, these things happen to EVERY pet parent. There was no sign of abdominal distress and he didn’t throw up today, so, that’s good! Hopefully, Titan is on the mend and the toy did pass through his system. P.S. Love that photo of him!
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Thanks Debbie. I honestly didn’t think he’d eat it. He’s never eaten a toy in the 2 plus years we’ve had him, however, now that I know, he isn’t getting anymore fuzzy toys. Ugh… yes it was good that he had no pain when the vet grabbed around his belly. I was joking with my hubs and told Titan to tell Daddy that the vet grabbed his “junk”.
Do not beat yourself up any more. He seems to be ok now. It happened, time to move on.
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Don’t be too hard on yourself; these things happen. Some x-rays sure wouldn’t hurt and hopefully it will help you feel a little less worried. And I bet Titan is going to love the chicken and rice
You know, when my mom was in school to be a vet tech they took x-rays of her friend’s dog for a radiography class and found out he had a nickle in his tummy! He hadn’t been sick at all! And when the vet took it out it was all worn down like it had been in there for ages.
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Titan really wasn’t fond of the rice but he ate it. He usually gets boiled chicken pieces with his kibble anyway, but tonight was kibbleless. He’s in bed now. Had a long day
That’s odd about your mom’s friends dog. Wow! You would think having nickle in you, you’d get sick. Weird. Glad they found it!
Don’t beat your self up…We all make mistakes…The good thing is that our dogs will always forgive us and never hold a grudge…keep monitoring, doing what you’re doing…it will be OK
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Oh that’s so true. Unconditional love and forgiveness. I do beat myself up though because he’s been through so much in his life, I promised to protect him. I guess I just can’t protect him from everything… but this toy incident was totally a fubar on my part :/
Don’t beat yourself up. Take him for x rays so you feel better about that. Once I discovered half a sock soaking wet on the bed. I knew lyse’ had to have swallowed the other half when I looked around and didn’t see it. A moment later she was gagging. I freaked. Omg! Next thing she puked up the entire half a sock. Lol what a relief! We’re not always on top of our game & shit happens. I hope Titan can pass that thing and will be ok gurl!
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Hey Terri. Omg, talking about socks! My vet was telling me that a tiny dog was in there the other day and swallowed a tube sock! Ugh, surgery pulled it out. Luckly lyse threw it up! Thanks for the support. Not sure if I’ll take him in the a.m. or not. I’ll see in the a.m.
Hello Brenda it happens he will be ok, I don’t let my pups play with anything that they can rip apart no matter what kind of toy it is, I don’t even let then eat raw hide.
A lot of those toys that are sold in the stores are not good for them even the Kong toys because they’re rubber and if they eat them I’m sure that’s not good..
Hang in there Titan you’ll be ok boy, you would be surprise how tuff our little pits are.
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Hi Rob. Oh I know they are tuff lil cookies and that’s part that worries me. I’ve seen them with broken legs just hobbling like nothing is wrong! I learn the raw hide thing early. I’d pull some chunks out of Titan’s mouth when he starts gagging. Ding dong he is. Geeze, you’d be surprised at the size of the hide he’d try and swallow… ugh, well maybe you wouldn’t be.
Thanks for the support!
With kids I continue to beat myself up about things, what I could have done or should not have done always comes into play but I always remember that things are not as bad as my panicky self thinks it is and I do panic a lot. I am hoping he is fine after a few more days he will be back to being Titan.
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Thank you Kita. You’re right. As parents we tend to over exaggerate things but one can never be too sure, right? He seemed ok last night and this a.m. so I opted to wait on xrays. He was ready and waiting to eating his breakfast this a.m.
Once my dog had a nail in her paw and I hurt her pulling it out. It was about 10 years ago and I still feel bad. But the truth is, even the best parents mess up sometimes. Give yourself a break, I am sure Titan will be fine! My mom’s dogs have eaten much worse things over the years and they’ve always pooped it out eventually.
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Hey Camille! OMG! A nail? I’d of lost it! I’m so overprotective of my boy, I just hate to see anything happen to him, especially if I could have avoided it. :/
I’m so sorry. I would be beating myself up too. That one is so tough. It’s amazing how we can not have any issues and we get a little comfortable and then they swallow something. That’s how I feel about squeaky toys. I give it to Rigo, because he likes to pull the squeaker out, but I have to be with him so that I can take it to the trash. He’s now reached a point where he’ll set it down to wait for me, but I just don’t want to take the chance. So if I leave the room, the toy comes with me.
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Hi Kimberly, and thank you. Titan is like Rigo with squeakers. I try not buying toys em in because that’s the first thing he goes for so of course, I play double time watching him with that. Funny how Rigo will just wait! Too cool! Titan does that with his Jone Nat Chew bones. If I walk to the kitchen, which is in eyes-view, he will stop chewing on his bone and wait for me to come back.
Well, fit on the finger, sounds small enough to make its way out.
I will also tell you not to beat yourself up but I’ll be honest–I always do too. BUT it’s not helpful to anything or anybody, it won’t undo what happened and you don’t deserve it. So if you can, don’t beat yourself up.
Here is one thing – we cannot control everything. And with those things we do, we do slip sometimes. It just doesn’t click. And that’s human too.
Keep watching for signs of obstruction and examining the poo. I really do think this should just come out, though.
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Thank you Jana! Yes, the piece easily slipped on my finger cause that’s how I was teasing him with it. It’s raining today and I walked the yard looking at new piles of pooh and saw one that was rained down a bit and saw pieces of something in it. Not sure what it was but if whatever that was came out, it may have been pieces of this toy? I’m hoping so. I opted against the xrays this a.m. because he was acting so normal and was anxious for breakfast this a.m. I’ll keep a steady eye on him all weekend.
Hey Brenda,
Ohw no dear. Well, it hurts and feels “what if” you could have thrown it away that time.
But no point of blaming yourself Brenda. It just let you down and being too emotional can lead to something worse dear. Especially in such a situation where you need the focus most on Titan. He needs you more than ever.
I remember one of my friend had to through such and he was worried too much and hate himself for that. Vet adviced him to keep eye on his boy and call him if he notices something strange. He missed it as he was too worried and the end of the story. So stay focus dear.
Just focus on everything and do what’s best for him dear
Sending all the prayers for him. Hope for a speedy recovery…
Take care y’all.
Cheers…
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Hi Mayura! It’s things like these when you can never be too cautious. You just never know what could happen, thus me being so careful with the vet and all. However, he really has shown no signs of feeling bad or any other symptoms. Hopefully, he’ll do well this weekend and we can put this “toy” incident behind us. Thanks for the support!
Don’t beat yourself up Bren, it’s a learning experience and move on. He seems to be okay from vet. He looks great in that picture on the couch. You can’t control everything he puts in his mouth. My cat loves elastics and yarn and he does find them even though I try hard to avoid putting them where he can get to them. Then he vomits and I feel awful.
I try harder next time to avoid it from happening.
Hope he does well Bren!!
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I can help but feel at fault Lisa. I should have thrown it away as soon as he ripped it off. Knowing it could be fatal to him makes me come down harder on myself. I know it happens but it’s not suppose to happen to me, in my head, because I am so protective with everything to do with him. I want to know he’ll be fine but sitting here right now, I’m wondering if he’s ok. Oh yeah, my cat would eat all kinds of stringy things and then barf it up. So gross.
Aww poor Titan! You were just trying to play with him, it’s not like you fed him the toy in his dinner bowl or something… Hope it’s not stuck in there though. Dogs with obstructions usually seem pretty darn sick when they come in. As in they can’t stop vomiting and have fever and stuff.
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I know Ann but I feel so totally guilty for not getting to his mouth in time
Now I’m super paranoid and threw out a mess of this toys. Can’t let it happen again :/
Hey Bren,
We can tell how much you love Titan and what a great Mama you are! And just like with kids, there are going to be incidents that scare the bejeezus out of us. But you did the right thing by acting on his care as soon as you realized something was up.
And like Lisa says, don’t beat yourself up over it
And OMG he is just the cutest thing ever posing on that couch!
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Hey gf! One can not help but beat themselves up when something like this happens because I definitely think I “slipped”. However, I won’t let that happen again and Titan isn’t getting anymore of these stuffy kind of toys. Now I am more cautious about his rubber ones and his bones. It’s just one of those things that puts things into perspective for ya. Thankfully, this one has turned out fairly ok.