Peanut's Apricots

Peanut is a 10 1/2 year old spayed female longhaired dachshund. She presented on emergency to Dr. Anderson at 3 a.m. for eating approximately 8 ounces of dried apricots earlier that day. Her owners think she had snatched approximately 50 halved (depitted) apricots and had vomited 30 already at home. That means she had about 20 still in her stomach! Her owners found her bloated, but otherwise she was doing well at that time. She was treated with fluids and an acid reducer. She went home. She returned to see Dr. Willman at 1 a.m. since she was not getting any better. She was now lethargic, vomiting, dehydrated, with diarrhea and not wanting to walk. She was then placed in our ICU for diagnostics and more aggressive treatment. Dr. Hafer took over her care in ICU and did x-rays.

Peanut's x-rays showed a large amount of food in her stomach. Dried fruits can make pets sick. In large numbers, apricots can cause the elevation in electrolyte potassium in addition to vomiting, diarrhea, blockage of the stomach and depression. (If she had ingested a large number of apricot pits, her prognosis would be worse as the fruit pits can cause cyanide poisoning.)

Peanut stayed in our ICU for several days for stabilization. She then went to surgery with Dr. Stubbs to remove the remaining 17 apricot halves obstructing her stomach. She recovered without any further complications and has continued to do well at home.

Keep an eye on your pet, you never know what snacks they may find in your house!