Since we are still working on Cookie getting used to having her teeth brushed, I decided to help maintain them with C.E.T. Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews for Dogs.
The enzymatic action, together with an abrasive texture is supposed to be effective in helping keep teeth clean when brushing is not possible.
Personally, I am not a fan of any hide chews but I decided to make an exception.
The guys like them well enough, so that part was not an issue.
One thing I always worried about with any hide type of chews was potential choking or obstruction risk.
I never give any of these things when I'm not monitoring my dogs.
One of the problem with these dental chews is, that even the size meant for large dogs is fairly small. Too small, really, to be able to remove the chew before they get to the end of it. At least for our guys.
Both JD and Cookie got their piece and chewed on it. They finished at about the same time.
Something about Cookie didn't seem right.
She was making mouth motions as if she got a piece stuck to her teeth somewhere. More importantly, she was panting but in a strange way. Two pants at the time, then she'd stop.
I felt around in her mouth but couldn't feel anything being stuck in there. But she continued to pant in this strange way.
I decided to explore further back in her mouth, and there it was.
All the way back, there was this long chunk, stuck across. She was unable to either swallow it or spit it out, and as she was breathing it was blocking her windpipe. It was soft and quite stuck in there.
Once I found it I got it out quite easily but this could have been much bigger disaster.
We got lucky this time but I am not willing to take my chances. I am not giving them these chews again.
Fortunately, we are well on our way with the tooth brushing, which is a much safer way of keeping teeth clean.
Did your dog ever had a chew toy incident?
***
Related articles:
No Skimping on Oral Care
From The End Of A Lead Line To Casa Jasmine: Meet Cookie, Our New Adoptee
And So It Begins Again(?) Our First Health-Related Heart Attack With Cookie
I Didn't Know I Could Fly: Why Cookie Wears A Harness Instead Of A Collar
The enzymatic action, together with an abrasive texture is supposed to be effective in helping keep teeth clean when brushing is not possible.
Personally, I am not a fan of any hide chews but I decided to make an exception.
The guys like them well enough, so that part was not an issue.
One thing I always worried about with any hide type of chews was potential choking or obstruction risk.
I never give any of these things when I'm not monitoring my dogs.
One of the problem with these dental chews is, that even the size meant for large dogs is fairly small. Too small, really, to be able to remove the chew before they get to the end of it. At least for our guys.
Both JD and Cookie got their piece and chewed on it. They finished at about the same time.
Something about Cookie didn't seem right.
She was making mouth motions as if she got a piece stuck to her teeth somewhere. More importantly, she was panting but in a strange way. Two pants at the time, then she'd stop.
I felt around in her mouth but couldn't feel anything being stuck in there. But she continued to pant in this strange way.
I decided to explore further back in her mouth, and there it was.
All the way back, there was this long chunk, stuck across. She was unable to either swallow it or spit it out, and as she was breathing it was blocking her windpipe. It was soft and quite stuck in there.
Once I found it I got it out quite easily but this could have been much bigger disaster.
We got lucky this time but I am not willing to take my chances. I am not giving them these chews again.
Fortunately, we are well on our way with the tooth brushing, which is a much safer way of keeping teeth clean.
Did your dog ever had a chew toy incident?
***
Related articles:
No Skimping on Oral Care
From The End Of A Lead Line To Casa Jasmine: Meet Cookie, Our New Adoptee
And So It Begins Again(?) Our First Health-Related Heart Attack With Cookie
I Didn't Know I Could Fly: Why Cookie Wears A Harness Instead Of A Collar
YES, I have had the same thing happen with my westies - I had to go back and pull a piece that was wedged in their throats - needless to say after we finished that bag - they were never purchased again! With anything I give them - I am always monitoring just in case.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
katie
www.westiejulep.blogspot.com
Thank you for sharing, Katie. Glad yours ended well too. I always had an uneasy feeling about hide chews, now it's not just a feeling. Not that they couldn't choke on something else as well ...
DeleteBut definitely not giving these any more.
I am a registered veterinary technician who got these as a sample through my clinic. I monitor my dogs when I give and take away as they get smaller. The first coughing incident was after the chew so I didn't relate it to the 2 dogs coughing later for a day or so. When I gave again I noticed one dog pawing at her mouth a piece had actually gotten lodged and stuck between teeth a small piece but the chew still appeared to be whole but the size was inconsistent in the bag. Took everyone else chews away and 2 got pieces lodged in throat. I took the remaining chews out of the bag and noticed that somewhere thicker and some thinner. I was actually able to tear several with my hand . The other technician who took samples told me she stopped using and gave away after her dog coughed for several days after giving chew. Just be ware these can be a chocking hazard. I went on the VOHC site to see if they are on the list as an approved dental treat and they only had the virbac cet vegtable. So although these are supposed to dissolve easier I do not recommend even if you don't let chew to the end small pieces can break off and become lodged in there throat even on a dog that barely chewed his and walked away.
DeleteThank you for your contribution, Monica. When Cookie almost choked on this, the chunk was pretty large. The fortunate thing was that I was supervising so no disaster ensued.
DeleteWilhelm once choked on a rawhide chew while I was on the phone with my vet! It was not a CET chew, which I do now regularly give to my dogs, but another kind of rawhide (a chew that fragmented a lot which I have learned is the very worst kind and why I only give CET chews now.) Your instincts are correct that rawhide chews pose multiple choking and blocking problems but I have found that if I choose the size and thickness of CET chews I give the dogs (I actually end up not using any of the very thick chews that come in a bag) and monitor the dogs chewing very closely (I sit on the floor with them and don't allow them to swallow a chew too quickly/one that has not been significantly softened) then I have not had a problem, yet! But I know there is always a risk. I was comforted by an experiment I did with a rather thick CET chew that softened to complete flexibility in only two hours of soaking in water. Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm glad Cookie is okay.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! This one was quite softened, that's why it stuck in there following to contours of the throat.
DeleteOur guys are quite big, so even the big CET chews are kind of small for them.
Yes, I don't think I would give the chews to a dog bigger than Huxley (who is 80lbs but has a small mouth/head/throat.) Teeth brushing is always the best way to clean teeth no matter what!
DeleteElka has never had a chewing accident, thank God. I stopped giving her rawhides not long into her life, based on experiences I'd read of other petbloggers. I hadn't ever heard of these enzymatic ones!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were paying attention to Cookie, and got the piece out of her throat all right.
I think the enzymatic action is great; the tooth paste we use is enzymatic also. So that part is what attracted me to trying those, in spite of my gut feeling.
DeleteYes, I was watching and got it out fine, but one cannot always watch 100%. Also if it made its way any further ...
My one year old puppy had a CET dental chew yesterday and after several hours started vomiting and there were big piece of the chew in the vomit. They were soft and large enough that he could have choked on it. We've given them before and never had a problem. I probably won't give them again...don't want to take the chance of them choking.
DeleteYeah, I hear you. This can happen with any rawhide treat. Not worth it.
DeleteI just started CET chews yesterday for my dogs and my 80 pound hound had his get stuck when I gave him one today...I was worried this may happen so I sat with them as they chewed. I took away what was left and threw it out. I'm not giving them anymore.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it can happen quite easily, particularly if a dog tries to swallow a bigger chunk.
DeleteIt is always good to supervise with any chew toys.
I dont feed rawhide at all but have to monitor my dog - I always worry about a choking issue and it has happened. Scary as hell. I have taken canine first aid and CPR but in the moment I reached in and pulled the treat out.
ReplyDeleteYeah, theory is one thing but being in the situation is another.
DeleteI tried those because they were supposed to be good for teeth but never used rawhide before or after this incident.
My little 3 month old Sheltie got one stuck in his throat. I got it out, but it was very scary. I'm through giving him any rawhide chews.
DeleteYeah, it can happen quite easily. It's not like it couldn't happen with something else but for me that was the last straw for not using rawhides in any shape or form.
DeleteMy three month old Sheltie got one stuck in his throat, too. I pulled it out. I now sit on the floor with him while he is chewing one and take it away after about 15 minutes.
ReplyDeleteYeah, fortunately I was around and watching. We scrapped the idea all together, I now use raw meaty bones and they work just as well. We do brush daily as well, though.
Delete