Sheltie eating silicone part of baby pacifer

Question
I have a one and a half year old sheltie, she is loyal beyond belief, very very small for a sheltie and we have another sheltie and they are inseparable. Yesterday Holly was throwing up and not eating, lethargic. So i took her to the vet and she had eaten the plastic part of a baby pacifier. Today it is in her large intestines and she is passing it. The vet said she is depressed and he is concerned about that and she is not eating. Holly has always been finkey and set in her ways. I am just worried about something happening to her while she is there. My husband is going to pick her up tonight to bring her home because we think she will do better at home, she is still not eating at the vets. The pacifier is on its way out and she is coming home on antibiotics. Do you have any words of advice in this situation. The vet got snippy towards my husband because he did not believe us that we think she will be happier once she comes home, we told the vet that if she does not get better we will bring her back.  

Answer
Hi Jackie,

Sometimes in situations like this it is hard to measure the level of our reaction against someone else's ideals or recommendations.  I might guess that your husband was more emotional in his reaction than he might recall and that may be why the vet was snippy back.  Maybe they both had a bad day.  Let's give the vet the benefit of the doubt.  Very few vets are in the business for the money, and many just do better with animals than people.

As always, I'm not a vet.  Just a normal guy who happens to love Shelties.

In dealing with a dog that is not eating, my vet says the key is to make sure they are properly hydrated.  A dog can go a good while without food but any system shuts down quickly without water.  Obviously you don't want this to go a long time, but 3-4 days is not something to get very worried about.  Longer than that and you need to start thinking about IV fluids and nutrients.  Especially if they are throwing up frequently.

The vet is likely concerned that they want to see the actual pacifier come out and then measure the dog's response afterward.  Also they may be concerned about the vomiting.  (Did you see the pacifier on the x-ray and find the other portions of it in the house?  You are both certain that is what it is?)

If the dog is at the vet I would suggest it is ok to leave her there another day.  If she doesn't eat, ask the vet to reconsider your idea.

If she is home, keep close tabs on her.  Check on her during the night.  If she eats and starts on her schedule maybe she will pass the item faster and get better (that's what you are thinking of course).  Perhaps she is depressed by her surroundings at the vet.  Perhaps she is depressed because she ate something that is making her tummy hurt a lot!

If the home environment doesn't help it might be a good idea to bring her back to the vet.  I don't know a timeframe but I would guess that if 24 hours pass and there is no change it is time to go back.  That will help narrow down the depression source question anyway.

Try to work with your vet for the dog.  If you don't trust your vet, you should be using someone you do trust.

Dave