My dog ate a whole rotisserie chicken carcass

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

My young Briard (almost 2) knocked over the trash can while I was getting ready for work this morning and ate an entire rotisserie chicken carcass. :eek:

I’ve called the vet and fed him a bunch of bread to cushion the bones a bit. Fortunately I have the flexibility to work from home, because per the vet we’re in “wait and see” mode for the next 48 hours… he might digest everything just fine, or the bones might perforate something and require emergency surgery (or even, god forbid, kill him) .

He’s only gotten in the trash once or twice in his life, and even then it was only when the lid was accidentally left open. He’s NEVER knocked the whole can over and rummaged through it before.

Has anyone experienced this before? Any sage wisdom or words of advice as we embark on this 48-hour nerve wracking journey? Or even just jingles that he doesn’t have to be wisked off to surgery?

[JanM]

Jingles for him, and hugs for you.

[AKB]

We had a Chesapeake Bay retriever who ate many a roasted chicken and several turkey carcasses without a problem. He was amazingly clever at climbing on chairs, tables and counters so he could enjoy a good meal. If the dog chewed carefully and did not eat any string or poorly chewed bones, he should be ok. If the leftovers were spoiled you can have a different set of problems.

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

The leftovers were unfortunately from Saturday evening (the trash was going to go out with me when I left for work). Also unfortunately, my Sheltie was nearby and I suspect that led the Briard to gulp down the carcass. String and all.

I’m actually only about 85% sure it was the Briard and not the Sheltie who ate the chicken. The only thing I’m confident of is that neither of them would have shared something so delicious with the other.

Both parties got bread and are under supervision, either way.

Ugh. What a terrible start to the week. Fingers crossed things don’t get worse from here…

[Horsegal984]

One of the most seasoned ER vets I work for always offered up this bit of advice. “Dogs have been eating bones since the beginning of time.” Have to say, majority of time he was right too, if chicken bones make it to the stomach can’t say I’ve ever had to do surgery on a dog for them not coming out. Now pork bones will cause some diarrhea and bloodiness, but the biggest risk we’ve seen with chicken/poultry bones is getting stuck in the esophagus. Which you would know by now.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=Horsegal984;8225967]
One of the most seasoned ER vets I work for always offered up this bit of advice. “Dogs have been eating bones since the beginning of time.” Have to say, majority of time he was right too, if chicken bones make it to the stomach can’t say I’ve ever had to do surgery on a dog for them not coming out. Now pork bones will cause some diarrhea and bloodiness, but the biggest risk we’ve seen with chicken/poultry bones is getting stuck in the esophagus. Which you would know by now.[/QUOTE]

One difference, according to our vets, is that dogs have been eating RAW bones without trouble.

Cooked bird bones are a bit different and those are the ones you have to worry about.

Now, that was long ago, maybe today they have changed their recommendations.

I hope whoever had all the fun chewed them well.

[Countrywood]

Jingling and fingers crossed will turn out well!

[Foxtrot_s]

We don’t feed bones, but actually, chickens these days are raised so fast that the bones are relatively quite soft and should not cause a problem. Accidents happen. Turkey, not so much.

[Horsegal984]

[QUOTE=Bluey;8225995]
One difference, according to our vets, is that dogs have been eating RAW bones without trouble.

Cooked bird bones are a bit different and those are the ones you have to worry about.

Now, that was long ago, maybe today they have changed their recommendations.

I hope whoever had all the fun chewed them well.[/QUOTE]

Even with the cooked ones, I’ve never had a perforated intestine from them. Pork bones cause colonic impactions, I think primarily because it hurts to poop so they just don’t, but if chicken bones make it to the stomach they’ve always seemed to come out just fine. Maybe for the reason Foxtrot suggested, the softness of them?

[Casey09]

Prayers. Please update I love Briards.
Years ago a family member had a lab that grabbed a chicken wing or leg or something. It was the same worry, but it went fine.

[khall]

Yes I have a terrible counter surfer and he will also take advantage of any bit of food he can get ahold of, chicken carcass being one. I also gave him bread and watched him but at 95 lbs he has big pipes and made it through no trouble. One of these days his appetite will kill him (almost did when he at sugar free gum with xylitol! thankfully I caught it quick and made him throw it up!).

Jingles your guy passes his meal with no adverse reactions!

[DoubleClick]

My little border terrier one time opened the refrigerator when I was out and ate half a cooked rotisserie chicken and parts of the container it was in. Our vet said to give her canned, chopped spinach to help wrap and cushion the bones. She was totally fine but lost access to the kitchen when unsupervised (she can also open cabinets and will remove bowls, etc. and carry them around, so more reason to keep her out of the kitchen).

I hope your pup enjoyed his steal with no ill effects!

[supaflyskye]

Oh my. Jingles for your boy. Best of luck he makes it through alright.

[french_fry]

Thinking of all three of you! Please keep us updated. It will probably be fine, but how nerve racking!

[vacation1]

Jingles. I’m the chicken-bone-nazi in my house, bundling them up and transporting them to the outdoor garbage can immediately after dinner. I’ve been lucky with bones, but dog once grabbed 5lbs of boneless chicken breast off the sink and gave herself a case of gastroenteritis. It’s enough to make me a vegetarian.

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

24 hour update: both patients are doing well, although the Briard had a bit of gas last night (no shock there!).

24 hours to go! Thanks for the jingles and advice, it is all greatly appreciated.

[talkofthetown]

Still jingling!

We were at a friend’s house a few weeks ago, and his 100 year old lab was laying in the yard going to town on a whole chicken carcass. We said “oh no, your dog has a chicken!” He said “Yeah…I was rotissering it last night but I forgot about it and it burned. So I gave it to her.” Our faces went :eek: Friend said “She’s a yard dog! Yard dogs can eat chicken bones! It’s the pets you gotta look out for. Stupid $2,000 dogs would choke in a second. But she’s a yard dog.”

Um. Alrighty then. :lol:

[Kat_Renee]

Sending jingles! We went through a phase when doggy was knocking over the trash and eating whatever was in it (we purchased special trash cans, making it heavier, etc. before we just put it in the laundry room). The worst was pork bones. Vomiting and diarrhea all over the house. Chicken bones amazingly no effect. No splintering, etc. We were pretty lucky and I think doggy has intestines of steel.

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

48 hour update: I think we’re home free! Minus some burping on Monday night, Chewie never even had any digestive upset. Insides made of steel, apparently.

Here’s a photo of my lovely boys, so everyone can see who you’ve been jingling for.

Thanks to everyone who offered support, advice, and jingles! :yes:

[GraceLikeRain]

Thank goodness for an uneventful ending. Cooked bones are one of the things that I have nightmares about when it comes to my boy.