Not my BC...but Dusty BA!

[KrisK]

I was away for a few days and DH was outside doing some repairs to our back stairs. He accidently dropped a 1 1/2" deck screw on the ground. Since he is still recuperating from his back surgery and moving very slowly, Dusty came rushing in, picked up the screw and ran off with it. The fenced yard is 25m x 35m, so it's very large. DH tried to see if Dusty had dropped it, but wasn't able to find it. The grass is growing as well so this is really like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Dusty seems to be his usual self...active, racing around, eating, drinking...so I don't think he swallowed it..but I suppose it's possible.

I'd like to avoid x-rays if possible, because it's outrageously expensive here. Any ideas as to what I should watch for in his behaviour?

I'm going to see if I can find the screw outside. Here's hoping it turns up.

[KrisK]

Well, I raked the yard, and no luck finding the screw (sigh)...but Dusty did have a normal 'poop'. Is is possible to have something so foreign in his system and still be acting 'normal'"

[trailrider]

I have a strong magnet to drag around when something metal is in the grass, shavings etc.

[Allie Oop]

You might also rent a metal detector (who knows what else you might find)! I hope that Dusty didn't consume the screw! Good luck.

[KrisK]

Thanks trailrider...I think I'm going to get a large magnet just to see if it turns up. So far, Dusty BA is acting normally but I'm going to call our vet just to see what he has to say. Dusty is a 'mouthly' little guy but doens't tend to eat strange things. He's more likely to toss it in the air and play with it. Here's hoping it turns up!

[KrisK]

Update....no sign of the dang screw anywhere. I spoke to my vet and he let me know what I should watch for. So far, Dusty's acting normally, but I think I'm going to get an x-ray just for my piece of mind. I love the little bugger...even if he is a bad as* and I sure don't want anything to happen to him. Apparently, the galvanived screw could act with his stomach acids and cause liver damage.