You are probably wondering why I am writing about something we all know to be a bit dangerous, well because even though I knew it, I still did it.
I threw a stick for Murphy yesterday and off he went at 300 mph to fetch it, the trouble was, he got there just as the stick landed and (I think) it bounced up and hit him in the mouth somewhere, possibly the throat as we can't see any trauma in his mouth anywhere.

He let out a yelp and lay down, trying to gag. There was a bit of blood, though nothing to write home about, but he is feeling very sorry for himself. He ate his tea last night and is drinking well, but you can see it is sore. I almost dreaded going to bed last night incase something happened to him in the night (I do worry about him!)

So my stupidity has injured the poor dog and all because I forgot his ball, something I won't do again. He is giving me the look that Deerhounds give when they have the hump with you, but he is getting plenty of cheese to make up for it!

Don't throw sticks!

Oh Dear, poor Murphy. I've heard a few horror stories with stick throwing, and it something I used to do all the time when we had labrador's. We used to call Conah the "stick king" because he loved to play fetch and if you didn't find one to throw for him, he would disappear into the undergrowth and pull a tree down and fetch that back expecting you to throw it for him.

Just thinking about it now, I've never thrown a stick for Toby or Mac. The thought has never occurred to me. I guess it's because theres always toys lying about the paddock for them to play with.

I think if you forget his ball again, you should take off your boot and let him play with that. Your punishment will be to walk home with a soggy foot and you won't forget again

Hope Murphy feels better soon.

What a nightmare for you! We have all done something we know we shouldn't at some time so the main thing is that Murphy seems to be ok but a timely reminder for us all! Thank you

He hasn't eaten tonight, I did him Scrambled egg with rice in and he didn't touch it, hes still a bit down in the dumps, but hopefully by the end of the week any cut will not be so sore. Just wish I could see where it was, my poor 'little' man!

will you be taking him to the vets?

If he doesn't improve yes, but you know what its like, sometimes we panic and take them too soon!

he's most probarly bruised and sore. Know what you mean about us panicing - I am a nurse and am great at making decisions about other humans but when it comes to my dogs i am useless

An update, Murphy is feeling much better, my son took him for a nice walk today.
He got up this morning and was starving, he only had scrambled egg last night. So I gave him his normal meat and biscuits, which he wolfed down. The stick must have jabbed him in the throat as he hasn't done his usual barking at the shadows in the garden at night! His throat must be a bit sore, but he is getting back to his usual self.

Really pleased to hear that Murphy is feeling better

Only just seen this thread. I have thrown sticks in the past. Lockie loves sticks. I do always throw them so the are flat rather than landing on their end. Either way it is not something that happens often as he loves his ball or Tuffie ring. I will try to refrain in future.
I'm glad there was no serious damage done and that Murphy is feeling better. A ;esson to be learnt by all.

Orrin has been to the vets tonight. She went for a run around a newly ploughed field last night with the other hounds. Not long after they got home Orrin started retching and she kept this up on and off for most of the night. She ate all of her tea and wasn't being sick at all but it seemed as though she had something stuck in her throat and she was trying to clear it. Orrin was still retching this morning so we booked an appointment with our vet. Orrin has inflamed tonsils probably caused by something catching on them. The hounds did catch a rabbit last night although Alan said that Orrin didn't get a hold on it and as it was Joe who caught it he got to eat it when they got home. But the field, as it has just been ploughed, may have turned up some old, brittle bones. I know Ellie, the Whippet, quite often finds old bones in this field as do the puppies.

Ben was retching the other week. I gave him a breast of lamb that had some long thin bones in it. I was told by a "Dog expert" not to give cooked bones but that the uncooked variety in breast of lamb and chicken were ok.

He sicked up a collection of bones from the night before. I was told that he would digest small uncooked bones but that was not so. Probably because lamb is his favourite food and be just swallowed them whole being the gannet that he can sometimes be.

I'll cut the meat off the bones next time as next time they may well get stuck!

I wouldn't give any bones except beef bones, all the others splinter.
Those fried bones are also horrible.
Murphy did nick a chicken carcass out of th bin (my sister in law was staying and out it in there) and ate it, we usually put food waste in the recycle bin as he is notorious for theiving out of the kitchen bin.

Anyhow, he lived to tell the tale, I sometimes think he is a cat with 9 lives........

I hope Orrin is ok now, that is why I walk on the golf course, I am sure the greenkeepers cut the fairways nice and smooth, just for me!!
Murphy usually gets cuts to his pads on ploughed fields, especially if it is cold.

All four of our dogs eat uncooked bones and not had any problems. They have lamb breasts, chicken carcass, chicken pieces, turkey necks, pig trotters, ears and the occasional beef bone to chew on. Rule of thumb is no load bearing bones ie leg bones, as they are too hard and will splinter. Some dogs do have problems if they attempt to swallow rather than chewing and crunching them. If your dog is a swallower , then whole bones are probably not a good idea.
Better to give them mince comprised of ground meat and bone, but the most important thing to get right is the ratio of bone to flesh. I would say 25 - 35 % bone is enough. Too much bone can make the stools too dry. It is also important that the bones are fresh and have not been allowed to dry out. Anything that hasn't been eaten within a day should be thrown away.

Here's Mac with his 1st Chicken wing :

Wow, Murphy has had the odd chicken bone out of the bin and I have panicked like crazy.
This picture terrifies me!

Lurch8252 wrote:


If you think that is scary , wait until you see the Video !

I wonder if bones are the cause of Murrays diarrhoea as he loves breast of lamb and chicken wings. He was eating grass yesterday and today has sicked up grass and frothy white stuff but is fine in himself. They are such a worry aren't they?

Bones can be the cause of a runny bum. But dogs sicking up grass and froth is
normal, they eat grass, though no one knows why and they bring it up, Murphy does it every few weeks, it is if they are lacking in something, or it is a medicine.
Just shouted out to my husband how people on here are giving their dogs chicken bones and he cant beleive it.
I used to walk an alsation as a youngster and he had been in for an operation as he got a chicken bone lodged, he was on medication for life after that.

You people are frightening me!!!

No video thanks!!!

I thought that it was just cooked bones that were a danger and that raw chicken wings were ok

They do say never give a dog chicken, pork or lambs bones, cooked or otherwise, I have never heard of anyone giving their dogs these bones until I read these threads! Beef bones are okay but surely if you think about it, the smaller the bone the easier it is to get lodged somewhere.
My in laws are greyhound breeders and wouldn't ever give any of theirs these types of bones either.

You lot are scaring me!

The whole point of a bone is it good for the teeth and the marrowbone inside, chicken wings do not contain these, how on earth would they come out? Ouch!