PSA: Chip Bag Warning

[glencorgi]

With summer here in the US and lots of picnics coming up on the Fourth of July, I thought it an appropriate time to bring up a warning about chip bags and plastic bags in general. These can be lethal to our short four footed friends. In their quest to follow their food motivation, they will get their heads deep inside the bag, going after every crumb and then can't get it off resulting in suffocation. Over the years I have heard of at least a dozen or so corgis lives being cut short this way. So please, keep chip bags and other plastic bags out of corgi reach - up high; slit ends of bags when empty and keep your guys safe.

<http://www.ohiodanerescue.com/care/suffocation.htm>

Debbie

[corgimom]

Thank you Deb for that.

I recall reading on a site where a dog had stuck his head into one of those large plastic containers that you can buy bulk treats in, and of course, he suffocated because the owners were not home.

linda

[ChloeLouise]

This thread is relevant to me as my daughter's boyfriend's Lab died this past week as a result of "getting into the trash" and indiscriminanting eating plastic and TWIST TIES! These things (and chip bags, etc) that we all have commonly in our homes can certainly turn lethal for dogs. Imagine the nausea I felt when I caught Chloe with a half-chewed TWIST TIE this morning!! I am constantly scolding my daughter for leaving BOBBY PINS lay about... I try to be soooo careful but the occassional item escapes my scrutiny... Now, thanks for the warnings about potential suffocation threats - I tend to focus on things that can be consumed. I will increase my vigilance!!

[corgimom]

That is so tragic - I am so sorry to hear that. I have the same thing with
my daughter and her bobbie pins or those stretchie hair ties that are so popular now. I can also just see a dog eating that paper from the bottom of those chicken or beef packages that are there to soak up the moisture/blood. I have had my cats stick their head in a snack bag and not be able to get themselves out.

Again, so sorry to hear about your daughters boyfriends lab.

linda

[Jeni D]

Thanks for the warning, Deb. It's definitely a good tip. Lucky for me, Dudley is petrified of plastic bags, so it's not a huge threat.
I really had a hard time keeping hazardous materials out of Dudley's way when I first got him because I hadn't had to worry about that before. Luckily, he brings me everything he chews on, so I was able to quickly confiscate whatever he had--rubber band, twist ties, hair things, the list is endless. Now I am much more careful.

[glencorgi]

Chip Bag follow up:

Just heard this morning of another corgi lost to being suffocated searching for that last chip crumb in a bag. This was in SC and she belonged to an 18 year old girl.

Also with all the rain some of us have been having, keep a check on mushrooms popping up in your yard. These too can be deadly to our wee beasties.

Debbie

[Chip's Mom]

That is so sad and scary.

[Jeni D]

Mushrooms have been a huge problem in our yard the past few weeks. Luckily, Dudley wants nothing to do with them, but they still make me very nervous when he is around them.

[corgimom]

Deb, what a tragic story for that Corgi and her 18 year old owner. I cannot
imagine finding my dog in that situation.

We have mushrooms popping up also and I steer him away from them

linda