My dear friend's daughter Jeni has an old "big loveable mutt" that's getting on in years. Bandit hasn't been in the best of health, and arthritis has stolen his ability to go on the backpacking trips he enjoyed with his humans.Late last week, Bandit couldn't keep anything down and was acting lethargic. Jeni took him to the Vet, and during palpation, the Vet grew concerned; an x-ray confirmed a large abdominal mass. Not wanting her beloved dog to suffer - but not ready to put him down that day, she took him home to pamper before that awful deed was done.Sunday, Bandit barfed up 2 gloves and a sock. OMG!!! He still was throwing up Monday, but a return visit to the vet showed no mass, and just a touchy tummy that meds were prescribed for.I have no idea why Bandit eats things like that - but he certainly dodged a bullet!

WOW, I'd agree that he "dodged a bullet". Thanks goodness Calvin, or any of my dogs doesn't / didn't eat stuff like that.Pops

Definitely dodged a bullet! So glad the objects stayed in his stomach and didn't travel to his intestines!!

OH MY!!!!!! Crazy dog!!!! LUCKY dog!!!!

Incredible! Glad he'll be okay.

Oh my gosh! I wonder how many times that kind of thing has happened! Wouldn't it seem that a vet could tell the difference? Bandit saved his own life. I wonder if he'll be broken of that very bad habit. Hope so!

Not a tumor - gloves! | Good Sam Community

AZPops
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
WOW, I'd agree that he "dodged a bullet". Thanks goodness Calvin, or any of my dogs doesn't / didn't eat stuff like that.

Pops
xteacher
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
Definitely dodged a bullet! So glad the objects stayed in his stomach and didn't travel to his intestines!!
amandasgramma
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
OH MY!!!!!! Crazy dog!!!! LUCKY dog!!!!
magnusfide
Explorer II
Nov 20, 2014
Incredible! Glad he'll be okay.
CA_POPPY
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
Oh my gosh! I wonder how many times that kind of thing has happened! Wouldn't it seem that a vet could tell the difference? Bandit saved his own life. I wonder if he'll be broken of that very bad habit. Hope so!
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Nov 20, 2014
CA POPPY wrote:
Oh my gosh! I wonder how many times that kind of thing has happened! Wouldn't it seem that a vet could tell the difference? Bandit saved his own life. I wonder if he'll be broken of that very bad habit. Hope so!

Glad your daughter waited on the 'extreme' measure.

I to am surprised VET didn't pickup on foreign bodies vs tumor etc.

Here is the 2014 X-Ray Contest Winners.........LINK
3rd place was a Great Dane that ate 43 1/2 socks
Y-Guy
Moderator
Nov 20, 2014
Yikes reminds me of this story. A dog who ate nearly 44 socks
brewjaz
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
Happy her and her pup--but I agree with others--the vet should've known the difference. I wonder how many times this has happened and been misdiagnosed by a less than efficient vet....
dturm
Moderator
Nov 20, 2014
brewjaz wrote:
Happy her and her pup--but I agree with others--the vet should've known the difference. I wonder how many times this has happened and been misdiagnosed by a less than efficient vet....

It's not always that easy. Cloth is not radio-opaque (like metal, stones, etc.) and appears like all the other soft tissue - including tumors. Location of the mass might help differentiate and further X-ray studies (like barium) could better light up what's going on (but that's more money). Then an ultrasound might be useful in differentiating tumor vs. foreign body.

Most of the time we go with a list of possibles in a differential diagnosis and base the plan on the most likely.

I've had cases like this where I suspect tumor, but couldn't rule out a foreign object. Often times we have done an exploratory to make sure there was nothing that could be done and euthanize on the table and not let them wake up if the situation could not be corrected. It's always another option.

Glad things worked out.

Doug, DVM
lucy6194
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
our lab ate a good portion of an exercise mat. Spent good portion of night throwing up and the yard was colourful for a couple of days. Other than that she's o.k. However we did have another lab that required surgery to remove the plastic she had chewed.