X.yli.tol makes my wallet lighter :(

Friday-

Picked up Olly on my way into town

Hung out with him for the afternoon

Went to dinner with the rents

Gone for less than two hours.

__________________________

We got home around 8:30pm

about 9:30pm, I noticed THIS

(obviously EMPTY and CHEWED UP

on the floor in my bedroom.

If you cant tell, the package says "WITH XYL.ITOL"

If you don't know, xylit.ol can kill dogs if ingested at a toxic level

Xyl.itol is an artificial sweetener used in sugarless gums and candy. While safe for human consumption, it can be fatal for dogs if ingested by causing a dangerous drop in blood sugars (due to a surge of insulin) and possible liver failure. Symptoms can show for up to 30 minutes.

So I completely FREAK OUT!!! I'm yelling for my dad and then I'm calling N and then looking up symptoms online to be looking for.

2 sticks is fatal for a 20 lb dog.

Olly ate 15.

Hes 76 lb.

If you do the math, that's not good.

Olly did not have ANY of the symptoms that were listed (Vomiting, lethargy, lack of coordination, seizures) so I called the Emergency Animal Hospital who advised me to call a 1-800 number for the animal poison hot line to get a "case number" from them. I didn't even talk to a real person and the recording told me that I would have a pay $35 up front.. Um no. So I hang up and call the Emergency vet back and get the SAME GIRL who is irritated that I called back. I ask her why I need to pay $35 to get a case number if I'm just going to bring him in to them anyways. She says, "Mam, they are PROFESSIONALS and we require you speak to one of them before bringing him in. We will NOT treat him without a case number." Oh well great, I'm glad I'm being advised to call the PROFESSIONALS since apparently NO ONE at the EMERGENCY ANIMAL HOSPITAL is a professional. So I ask her, "about how much will it cost me for you guys to look at him tonight?" And she replies, "a minimum of $200 mam."

WHATTTTT?! At that point I asked if there was anywhere else I could take him that wouldn't cost that much and she said no, I thanked her, and she immediately hung up.

At that point, I made the decision to keep an eye on Olly since he was acting completely normal (running around, chasing the cat, playing fetch, etc) and wait until the morning when I could call our own vet. I barely slept because everything he did I seemed to think it was a "symptom."

Saturday-

8am: I finally got up and called the vet who told me to bring him right in. 2 tests, 2 hours and $193 later, I left with good tests results and some precautionary medicines. His blood work came back within the normal range and his liver function looks good also. He will go back in 10 days for a re-check.Who?! Me?!

Waiting for test results is tiring...

WHEW! I'm not happy about the bill but I'm glad Olly is okay. I knew he SEEMED fine but I would never had forgiven myself if I didn't bring him in and something happened later. At least he has fresh breath???!!!.... sigh... Dumb Dog.

Doesn't he look happy to be there?! :)

I will post a birthday update soon- I have lots more to tell than I originally thought (as of 5 minutes ago). You will probably gasp, laugh, and then get pissed right along with me when you hear the WHOLE thing. The whole thing may have to be in installments as I am already dreading having to relive it and type it all up.... Id much rather just go to sleep for a long long time and forget about it but ya know, not possible. Overall, I had a good birthday. Obviously I could have done without the drama you will hear all about but I'm not that lucky so I didn't expect it anyways. I just didn't think it would continue all the way through the weekend....