Hazelnut’s Story (My Dog Ate My Pills What Should I Do?)

Some of the greatest tails are near tragedies with happy endings.

The story of Hazelnut, a six-month-old Rhodesian Ridgeback dog who nearly died after accidentally ingesting 30 heart medication pills is just that. The popularity of Google searches for ‘my dog ate my pills what should I do’ indicates this is a common concern for our Kiwi pups. Dogs routinely end up at the emergency vet after eating something toxic.

Recently, PD sat down to talk to Hazelnut’s human mum Bridgette. In this article, Bridgette shares some of the harrowing moments of keeping all her children (both human and furry) safe from harm.

This is Hazelnut’s story. It’s one of trial and tribulation and PD is proud to be a part of it.

Emotional rollercoasters and cyclones

It’s early morning when PD talks to Bridgette and Cyclone Gabrielle is finally beginning to calm. Not only has the country gone through a harrowing experience but Bridgette’s family has had their own emotional rollercoaster keeping Hazelnut alive.

This story is a classic case of ‘my dog ate my pills what should I do‘ with some unexpected twists and turns. However, before we look at how Hazelnut accidentally ingested 30 heart pills and what came next PD asks Bridgette to share a bit more about this lucky little Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy.

Meet Hazelnut, a special Rhodesian Ridgeback dog

“Hazel [short for Hazelnut] was born on about the 11th of August last year. That makes her six months old. She’d been abandoned and we got her as a rescue from the Saving Hope Foundation.

She’s part Rhodesian Ridgeback dog and I would think probably Terri. We also have Bentley who we got about three years ago from Saving Hope. Both of them are Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs crossed with something else and they get on really well.

Everyone who meets Hazel thinks she’s just a little sweetie and a honey (but she’s also a little minx 😊). She loves everyone she meets so much that as soon as she sees somebody her tail is like a windscreen wiper.

She loves getting up and jumping on the bench and eating food but she also has her dislikes. When it comes to least favourite things to do… She hates going outside to the toilet when it’s raining. She hates getting her feet wet and is very precious about that. You can just imagine over the last few days with the cyclone…”

How did the accidental ingestion happen?

This story is about the near tragedy of Bridgette’s fur kid, but during our interview Bridgette shares another very special and sad experience she and her family survived. This involves a very real tragedy her daughter experienced five years ago.

“Five and a half years ago my daughter got a random virus and nearly died. The virus killed her heart and as a result she had to have a heart transplant. It’s a really special story – she’s amazing.”

“She has to take a hundred tablets a week to survive and this is why there was heart medication in the house. Then Hazel ended up ingesting 30 of these tablets. The tablets were in their foil casing high up on a shelf but Hazel’s inquisitive nature lead her straight to them.”

My dog ate my pills – what should I do?

“We took her to the emergency vet at night and they gave her decontamination treatment. They gave her some charcoal and made her vomit to get as much medication out as possible.

Interestingly, the vet had never seen a case of a dog ingesting this type of medication before. After researching the heart medication (an immunosuppressant) he discovered it’s actually being trialled for use in dogs. However Hazel was in danger because she took 30 and not one.”

The little Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy was fine for about three days and then she suddenly just couldn’t walk. She collapsed and couldn’t do anything.

Hazel’s second emergency vet visit

“Her joints started to swell and that’s why she couldn’t walk on them. Her immunity was low because of all those immunosuppressant tablets that she’d taken. An infection took advantage of the situation, setting in and causing inflammation in her joints.

“She ended up being critical and going into the intensive veterinary unit. The vet said there was a higher possibility she could die or be adversely affected long-term. They did a range of processes to treat her including joint tapping.

When the vets said she was critical, we were like ‘oh my God’. We know that she’s incredibly lucky to be alive.”

Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy dog eyes

“The emergency vets said that even on the operating table and during everything she just was such a sweetie. Everyone fell in love with her because she was just so sweet and gorgeous and just wanted to be around people.

She’s doing great now. She’s got no side effects and is back to normal… and even back to trying to steal food and annoying Bentley. But he loves it, it’s so cute. They sit there and they lick and clean each other.”

Preventing accidental ingestion in dogs

What advice would you give to other PD customers to help keep their dogs safe from accidental ingestion?

“Put any sort of medications or poisons or other pet hazards way, way out of reach. But that’s not enough. It also needs to be locked away in a cupboard. Dogs are very inquisitive and curious and they’ll clearly do anything to try what they think is food. Ensure it’s physically impossible for them to get access.

PD would like to share the following article on preventing accidental ingestion and choking in dogs, here.

Lifespan of the Rhodesian Ridgeback dog

Having gone through the experience of her dog accidentally eating her daughter’s pills, Bridgette shares some pertinent insights on pet parenting:

“Considering a dog’s lifespan, which is shorter than ours, our dog only lasts a number of years. Hopefully. You need to be prepared particularly in these changing economic times with financial worries and the cost going up in terms of living expenses.

Without pet insurance you need to have five grand or seven grand or whatever it is available at any time to save your pet.”

Award winning pet insurance for a soft landing

Thankfully, Hazelnut had recently joined PD prior to her situation. This meant that when she ate the pills and again when she suddenly collapsed and needed to be rushed to the emergency vet, there were no second thoughts. Her family could focus squarely on her health and wellbeing instead of the potential veterinary treatment costs.

“Having pet insurance is invaluable. It’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made. You know, it’s like yourself having health insurance. It’s a no-brainer. You need to have it because no one’s got any crystal ball.”

“My experience with PD insurance right from the start was outstanding. It was very personalized and I really want to congratulate you for employing people who are dedicated and passionate about their jobs.”

Do you have a soft landing for your pet? A plan for illness and accidents like accidental ingestion? Find out about getting one or more months of pet insurance FREE with PD. Click below to get a quote for award winning pet insurance.

PD would like to thank Bridgette for sharing Hazelnut’s story with us and our wider community.