31/08/2023
Next time you think about throwing a stick for your dog…..
copied from a friend’s training group
‘This week, I made a mistake.
Anyone who knows me well knows I will always own up to my mistakes.
This was one of mine.
I'm posting this not to be dramatic or to start discussions, but to highlight to everyone who is a dog owner how a split second decision can result in catastrophic events.
On Monday afternoon, Myself and Finnley were walking Merlin at the park. Whilst there I found a large stick (more of a branch really) and threw it for him. As I did it I heard all the people who say "Never throw sticks for dogs it's dangerous" and rolled my eyes to myself thinking that dogs have chased sticks since the dawn of time! 🙄
Next time I will listen.
Whilst running for the stick (branch) Merlin caught it in his mouth. Within seconds he was yelping like I've never heard before. As I ran towards him I could see that it had jammed his mouth open and he was unable to close it. Finally he was able to close his mouth again, by which time blood was pouring out of it.
He started wheezing and choking, then went limp, I couldn't get him to move. Seconds later he was heaving and vomited blood all over the grass. At some point during all this I called Steve to come and get us in the car and the vet - of course being a Bamk Holiday I was put through to the emergency vets who said I had to go to Castle Hill in Reading.
By the time Steve arrived, Merlin could not and would not walk and he carried him dripping with blood to the car. Again this isn't me being dramatic, this is how it happened.
We drove 30 mins to Reading where Merlin threw up 2 more times pure blood.
They put him under a general anaesthetic and discovered a piece of the stick wedged against his windpipe.
He was struggling to breathe and was sent straight to Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists in Ringwood as they were concerned he wouldn't make it through the night.
After driving over an hour to get there - the longest scariest drive ever....after all there is no pet ambulance, we reached the specialist in Ringwood.
Whilst she observed Merlin he dribbled blood from his mouth the entire time.
He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and remained there for the best part of 2 days.
We were told that the stick would either be removed manually back through the mouth, via key hole surgery in the neck if the stick was small enough, or worst case scenario a slit down the front of the throat for a bigger obstruction- I don't need to tell you the risks involved here.
He was put back under general on Tuesday morning and they managed to remove the stick via forceps.
It was 10cm long! Miraculously (and she said it was a miracle) the stick had not damaged the windpipe or oesophagus when it had got wedged in his throat. They then had to flush away all the fragments and splinters that remained inside his throat.
He was kept another night to be strictly monitored, no food allowed but fluids via drip and very strong pain killers.
Tonight he came home. He will be allowed only in the garden on a lead for 2 weeks. He has two different lots of antibiotics and 2 different pain killers to take. No solid food for 2 weeks.
He is lethargic, swollen, and in pain......because I threw a stick. One second decision resulting in catastrophic events - we were lucky it could have been so much worse.
Our vet bill totalled almost £7000 - thank god for insurance!
So please please, use this story and listen to the voice saying don't throw sticks for dogs, because I ignored it and nearly lost my favourite being as a result.
The guilt I feel is immense.
Share this story if you need to!!
A huge thank you to Maria and the staff at Ringwood who were phenomenal and we owe them so much for how hard they worked to look after Merlin.
