CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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Joined: 07/07/2003
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Heard a tragic story at the dog park this week. A young couple left their maltese puppy in the care of a relative who is wheelchair-bound with MS. I know, I know, hindsight is 20-20 and they probably never should've done that. The poor woman went to take her medication and dropped a pill on the floor. You can guess the rest. The pup was gone by the time the kids got home, summoned by a frantic phone call. Oh, that poor woman, I can just imagine the awful, helpless feelings she must've gone through. I hesitated to post this, but thought maybe a reminder to consider where you're leaving your dog, or who is visiting that might have pills in a handbag, could possibly save a terrible loss from happening. Oh, and the "Drop it!" command can be absolutely life-saving, although this was a baby too young to have had obedience training. 
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Code2High
Agoura, CA
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Joined: 12/21/2004
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Oh, how sad. I don't think I can blame them for leaving the pup with a person in a wheelchair, sounds like she's mentally competent... and anyone can certainly drop a pill, I do it all the time. The lady must feel horrible. Just a perfect storm of the small size of the breed, plus being a puppy... Probably not more than a couple pounds, ingesting an amount of a drug designed for an adult human.
Drop it, or "spit!" as I prefer (I swear it is easier to say at speed, and easier to train) is an essential safety command for any dog. Although with something that small... it may not work in time. Before spit, and useful in many high risk situations, is the "no" or "off" or "stop!" or "AAAAAT" command that tells the dog not to grab the thing or do whatever else is about to invite disaster. "Stay" can also be used to keep the dog from being close enough to attempt the grab. Absent any of those controls being established, I'd recommend that anyone taking anything their dog shouldn't ingest, do it away from the dog... in a closed bathroom or something. Purses can be a real menace, I had several doses of no-doz go missing one time. Never was sure which dog, but had to call poison control and keep them with me for a few hours.
So yer hanging out at the DP, huh? I'm going to have to come check that one out. I assume they've got a small dog side and you're using it?
susan
What I want to know is, when are they going to start selling Comfort Zone for HUMANS????? 'Cause some days...
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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I told my friend who relayed the story about the peroxide to induce vomiting, too. That might've possibly saved this puppy, if done quickly enough, but I doubt the poor MS lady could've managed it. It was a muscle relaxant that she dropped and they probably start being absorbed in the mouth.
No, we don't do the actual dog park, although they do have a small dog side. Bud won't hear of having our girls mingle with the riff-raff.  Plus he claims his back kills him if he stops walking, so we just walk the big park every day.
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Blind45
Largo, Florida
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Very sad. Our Taz knows the "DROP IT" command but like you said, this was a puppy and may have been too young for this type of training. Though we do give Taz one type of human pill, he gets a fish oil pill every day. This keeps his skin and coat healthy and keeps his joints from hurting him. He is 13 and still out runs the young dogs at the park.
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Code2High
Agoura, CA
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Inducing vomiting is a good thing to know and be set-up for, and yet as you say may not have worked out here. In any case, a terribly painful loss for the owners and for the lady who watched it happen.
Tell Bud, there's no law against walking in the dog park! 
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CatandJim
Tulsa, as in Oklahoma
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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What a sad situation. I am so sorry to hear about your friend's loss. I am sure the dog sitter is beyond heartsick over it.
You are right, this can & does happen to anyone. I dropped one of my medications a few years ago and before I knew it my beloved Gabby had eaten it. She did so before I could give my usual command of "drop it". I induced vomit with peroxide since it was early (5:30 ish) in the morning and our vet wasn't available yet. I am so glad I did! Come to find out later what I had dropped would have been life threatening to my sweet Gabby. As much as I hated to see her puke I was certainly glad I knew what to do!
Good post & warning Judy.
Cat
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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So very sad....
Hard with a puppy, but we trained our dogs they aren't allowed to eat ANYTHING that is dropped until we say it is ok.
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Jerrybo66
AZ
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CA POPPY wrote:I told my friend who relayed the story about the peroxide to induce vomiting, too. .
We all hope we never need it but what is the peroxide treatment to induce vomiting. How much, how to give it, etc.. I've never heard of it..... Thanks..
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maddog348
Bakersfield,CA
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Lab 'ate' an ant stick --emergency vet said to give her 1/4C peroxide. Well we got most of it down her before the look of panic crossed her face an she ran out into the back yard leaving little 'foamy' piles of froth everywhere -- looked like a MAD dog. She was so sad - couldn't figure why her trusted people would treat her like that. Foamed about an hour AND was just fine after that. No problems. Isn't something I would do with out a real reason But glad I know it. K
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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Jerry, there are a lot of articles on the web but here's one I pulled up that has a short explanation. Note that there are times when this is not the appropriate action, as when a caustic substance has been swallowed.
How to induce vomiting in a dog
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