Fur Kids Foundation 2018 Success Story: Shotgun

Meet Shotgun, a 4 year-old mastiff/Rottweiler mix. As most of us dog owners know, our canine buddies have this scavenger-like instinct to eat just about anything that they can find; and boy do we have a bang up story for you here…

​With the weather warming up in June, Shotgun’s mom decided to grill—like most of us do. And with dinner, she made corn on the cob, which we all love—including Shotgun.

In a split second, a whole corn on the cob was missing from Shotgun’s family table! Because Shotgun is a giant dog, his mom was concerned that he swallowed the corn cob whole. She called the vet’s office to see what would happen if he did do that, and learned that she needed to bring him in right away.

Again, most dog owners know that dogs can void the most unimaginable items, but corn on the cob is often one of the most difficult because of its size. Once ingested, the cob can get stuck somewhere within the dog’s digestive tract causing a partial or complete intestinal obstruction. If you think that your dog may have gobbled up corn on the cob watch for signs of trouble such as vomiting, straining during defecation, loss of appetite, stomach pain, whimpering and restlessness. If your dog shows any of these signs, get to a vet immediately.

Shotgun’s mom is a single mom with two children, who had just paid her larger bills and didn't have anything to spare when this happened. She was upset over the thought of Shotgun needing surgery and her being unable to afford it, and the vet told her about Fur Kids Foundation. She quickly applied, and we were happy to help.

Luckily, no corn cobs showed up on Shotgun’s X-rays, which likely meant that he missing corn on the cob was chewed up (not swallowed), and Shotgun would likely be able to pass it on his own. That night, Shotgun went home with his mom and threw up a few times, where his mom could see pieces of the cob. After a few days of throwing up and pooping it out, he made a full recovery—and hopefully will never try to eat a corn cob again.

​Fur Kids Foundation is grateful for the dedication of our volunteers and supporters who have helped local families stay happy and healthy, and together! If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families in Campbell County, Wyoming with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories.

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