I have been a couple hours at the emergency veterinary clinic this afternoon. Ozzie gave me quite a scare. I had invited him to jump into the car with me for a ride to the post office, and while we were en route, I noticed he was acting like he had something in his mouth. A very long black thread was trailing out the side of his muzzle. When I stopped the car, I had a closer look. I gently pulled on the end of the thread, and Ozzie squealed in pain. I tried to open his mouth to see what was in there and managed to get a peek at the inside.
He had black thread all knotted and wrapped around his tongue. His tongue was swollen, the thread was cutting into him and I could not get it off. He cried and thrashed and I realized this was too much of a job for me. So I kept on going right to the nearest veterinary hospital.
They whisked us in immediately, which was wonderful, since we had never even been there before. The veterinarian was super concerned that he might have swallowed a bobbin! That is extremely serious, because the thread can wind all around the intestines and cut the blood flow off and even kill a pet. I was terrified. Had he gotten a bobbin and swallowed it? I didn't think so, but you know Ozzie, he is pretty tricky and always into everything. They did ex-rays which, thank goodness, did not reveal that he had a bobbin in his tummy. That would have involved a drive to Santa Cruz to a canine specialist to have it fished out, and possibly even surgery!!
They had to sedate him to get his mouth open and to cut out the knotted thread and pull the thread that he had swallowed out of his esophagus. I finally got him home, but he is all knocked out from the sedation. Poor fellow. I just cannot believe the things he can get into. I don't even know where he got the thread! I don't have any projects that use black thread, and I didn't think he could get up where I keep my bobbins, where I do have one that holds black thread.
So all my friends out there with pets, watch out for long pieces of thread, attached to a spool or bobbin or not. The vet told me that cats are even more prone to swallowing it than dogs, and the consequences can be dire.
$300 later, we are home safe and I am just cuddling him in my arms thanking my lucky stars this story didn't have a different ending.
Oh my goodness, I am glad to hear that Ozzie is okay. Do you think this will curtail his little adventures of being curious. I hope so.
Posted by: Cindy D | July 18, 2008 at 06:09 PM
Thank goodness Poor Ozzie is ok. And I'll bet Nicole could use a nice glass of wine after that scare.
Posted by: Susan Ramey Cleveland | July 18, 2008 at 06:10 PM
OH.....my lord! What next???!!!! Poor Ozzie and poor you! That would be very frightening. I hope Ozzie will feel better after he sleeps. Sorry you both had to go through that. Who would have thought when you got out of bed this morning that your day was going to turn out like that? Just goes to show we never know what each new day will bring. Have a great weekend. Nancy in WI
Posted by: Nancy | July 18, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Oh no! I am so glad it ended okay. Remember when Beau ate a needle at Kate's house? They were more concerned about the possibility of thread than the needle - which did eventually work its way out with just a little assistance.
Poor guy - give him a hug and kiss for me.
Posted by: Andrea | July 18, 2008 at 06:43 PM
Oh my! Poor Ozzieman. He does get into things like no other dog I have ever heard of. Sounds like it was good you figured it out when you did. What a day.
Posted by: Dandelion Quilts | July 18, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Oh, this incident is no laughing matter. I'm so happy he is okay now. You must have been so frightened. Thank goodness you took him with you and discovered the problem. Hugs to you and Ozzie.
Posted by: Jeanne | July 18, 2008 at 06:59 PM
Poor Ozzie - I'm glad he's ok. Don't be too hard on yourself, it's hard to keep him out of everything - he's pretty wiley as I've witnessed firsthand!
Posted by: Lisa D. | July 18, 2008 at 07:06 PM
I'm always afraid of this happening. I'm so glad it was a happy ending!
Posted by: MichelleB | July 18, 2008 at 07:10 PM
That is just crazy. I didn't know a dog would swallow a bobbin.
Posted by: dot | July 18, 2008 at 07:23 PM
Oh my gosh! Poor Ozzie! Well, I have cats, and they get into trouble too. I have one little kitty who several years ago managed to find a needle and thread that I was going to use to sew on a button, left it on the bathroom counter for seconds and came back, gone. I found her just in time choking it down! I couldn't believe it, she swallowed the needle and thread! Took her to the emergency room, they said it is very common for cats to do that! I don't know how she did it! Anyway, $800 later, after an operation, she was fine. I am soooo careful with my needles and thread now. Anyway, I am so glad the little stinker is ok!
Posted by: Beth | July 18, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Oh Ozzie! Poor little guy ((((hugs))) I am so glad he is okay. He is such a special dog. Thank you for the warning. I have westies and I would be devastated if anything happened to them like that. Also be careful of carrot pieces. My dog snitched one and almost died...
Posted by: Colleen | July 18, 2008 at 08:10 PM
I'm so glad came out of that little escapade okay. He's such a cutie. I have a cat who loves to chew anything stringy. One time I saw something black dangling off his tail. I called my husband to see and he pulled a good foot and a half of black thread out of the cat's nether regions. Eew! Thank goodness it came out without getting tangled in his intestines! We (and he) got lucky!
Posted by: Pam | July 18, 2008 at 08:27 PM
Oh my goodness, Nicole! When I looked at Ozzie's photo, I thought he looked "more sedate than usual". As we all know, that just isn't Ozzie's MO. Then I proceeded to read the frightening scenario~~poor Ozzie, and poor you! I'm so glad he didn't swallow the thread, and I'm so glad you are his loving Mommy. p.s. Your Friday finish is simply stunning~~again, you are such an inspiration!
Posted by: jen | July 18, 2008 at 08:34 PM
Thank goodness Ozzie is all right he could have gotten the cotton anywhere The hem of a dress that was on the clothes line oroff the edge of a rug you just never know if only he could talk. you will never know.
Hugs Mary.
Posted by: Mary Wood | July 18, 2008 at 08:52 PM
Aww poor Ozzie, I can imagine the panick you must have felt. I have a dog who loves to grab every loose thread, I'm constantly removing it from her mouth.
Posted by: Linda | July 18, 2008 at 08:53 PM
Poor Ozzie! I'm so glad he's OK. ~Adrienne~
Posted by: Adrienne | July 18, 2008 at 09:17 PM
Oh, Nicole!! Thank goodness you took him with you and noticed the problem! And thank heavens they were able to remove the thread without invasive surgery!
I'm always nervous about our cats around thread 'cause I've heard how dire the consequences really can be.
I am so glad Ozzie came through this okay!
Posted by: Cathi | July 18, 2008 at 09:19 PM
Omigoodness! I'm SO GLAD that Ozzie is ok! What a terrible experience, I feel awful for you!
Posted by: Blondie | July 18, 2008 at 09:45 PM
so glad Ozzie is going to be okay! (((hugglies))) for you
Posted by: Rhonda | July 18, 2008 at 10:15 PM
thank goodness Ozzie is home and yes its so scary when dogs do something out of the ordinary, ozzie is lovely bless him all cuddly
Posted by: faith marsden | July 18, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Thank heavens it wasn't more serious for your baby boy! This has been a good reminder. I pick up dropped pins immediately so no one (me included) steps on them, but I hadn't thought about the possibility of my pups swallowing loose threads or a needle. I'll be much more careful.
Posted by: Jane | July 18, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Poor Ozzie, but thank god, everything is ok right now...What a horrible start in the weekend... Your last quilt is so amazing. It´s fun and inspiration to look at it!
I wish you a nice relaxing weekend with NOTHING BAD!!!
All the best for you and Ozzie!
Sabine
Posted by: Sabine | July 18, 2008 at 10:59 PM
I don't know whether you are Ozzie are going to gray hair first, but the two of you are definitely headed there. He is as bad as raising a child when it comes to worry, lol. Glad he is ok, Nicole. It will take a couple of days for you I am afraid.
Posted by: Perry | July 18, 2008 at 11:17 PM
How scary! Glad it all worked out and that Ozzie is home safe and sound.
Posted by: Jane Weston | July 19, 2008 at 12:59 AM
Ohmygod, Nicole, it must have been terrible for both of you! Poor Ozzie!
I'm so glad that everything turned out well...my fingers are crossed that it won't happen again...!! Big hugs to you two,
Julia
P.S.: thinking of fingers crossed - mine are still crossed for your job :o)
Posted by: Julia | July 19, 2008 at 01:45 AM