If a dog seems ok after a choking epsidode, must they be seen by the vet or only if add'l symptoms arise?

[ChitChatNine]

Hello,

Last night (after vet hours) our healthy 6yr old ShihTzu was vomiting repeatedly mucous/foam as she was choking on an object.  After failed attempts to do the Heimlich and trying to lift her upside down (made it worse) we got in the car to drive to the local 24hr Emergency Vet facility near us.  On the way there, she vomited again and suddenly was 100% fine.  We monitored her in the parking lot for quite awhile and decided to take her home and sleep with me to be certain all was ok -- it was as if nothing had happened to her.

It wasn't until this morning I found in the car a 4" piece of rawhide bone on the carpet in the car when she vomited and now am wondering if I should bring her in for a checkup at our vet or is it ok to not have her seen since she's perfectly fine today (eating, drinking, sleeping, alert, etc.)

Is it okay to hold off unless there are any add'l symptoms ?

We learned a very important lesson .. NO RAWHIDE BONES .... she rarely has them; it was a gift from a friend.  Next time anything rawhide will be tossed in the trash!!

Thank you Dr.

C~

[ChitChatNine]

Update:  She was seen today @ the vet for unrelated double ear infections .... and got a thumb's up that she is 100% ok from the choking .... my dog just doesn't show the pain by pawing her ears or rubbing in the carpet ... she's been up barking at night on/off since last Sunday .. she' s now on meds and will be better soon I'm sure...if she doesn't improve she'll go on oral steroids but we think the Otomax will do the trick.

C~

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

This is a good lesson for all our readers who give their dogs rawhide bones.  Thanks for your post and information!

[ChitChatNine]

Thanks.  I took a pic of the bone piece that could have been extremely serious.   Just as a reminder NEVER to have rawhide in the house again.  Scary.  Thanks for your post.

C~

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

glad shes ok yes thoses raw hid can cause lots of problems and even death, your blessed she threw it up. take care and hug your baby .

[ChitChatNine]

Shrotly after I posted, I spoke directly with our Vet who said as long as she had no symptoms at all, she doesn't need to come in.  She may have a tummy ache and a sore throat for a bit but should be fine since she expelled the entire object.  I just wasn't sure of the protocol in this situation never having gone through it so wanted to update that she's fine and eating, drinking, sleeping, playing and outside runs for business A-OK.

C~