Unfit.

There was a big event at work this week. I had to attend various dinners and receptions on most nights this week. Yesterday was the big event. I got up, put Scooter in his raincoat and took a brief walk through the neighborhood. I knew I'd be home a bit later, so I let him linger in the vacant lot a few streets over, letting him get his fill of the outside before being crated for the better part of the day. We came back to the apartment, I got ready and ventured out into the rainy day. I had to stop at another university on my way to the Big Event, and rain + city traffic + college students + time constraints = me getting frazzled.

Finally, I made it to the Big Event. I went through the workshops and sat through a great keynote speaker, who mentioned me (me?! the lowest degree holder in the room) and a conversation we had the previous night at dinner. Then there was a long workshop that went over. It was supposed to be done by 4, but ran on until 5. And then there was a reception. I kept thinking about Scooter Pooter (Charles' nickname for him) in the crate and quickly ducked out of the reception and hurried home.

I got home, immediately took Scooter out for a longer walk and came back and made dinner. I needed to go to Target to get cat litter and some treats for Scooter. Scooter loves riding in the car. Plus, I was feeling guilty for Scooter being in the crate most of the day, so I took him with me to Target.

I was in Target about 25 minutes. I grabbed a few things, including some tougher toys and a kong to put treats in for Scooter, and came out to the car. What I found was Scooter had broken his leash in two and broken the flashlight that was attached to the leash handle and he ate a pack of gum. I drove home and once home, gave Scooter his kong filled with peanut butter to see how he did with it. A friend called and I mentioned Scooter had eaten some gum while I was in Target.

"Sugar-free?" She asked.
"Um, probably. Why?" I said.
"Sugar-free gum has a chemical in it that is highly toxic to dogs."

I rushed out to the car and got the package. Yep, "sugar-free with Xylitol" right on the package. I called a 24-hour Vet Clinic and a vet called me back within three minutes. I explained that it had probably been about an hour since he ate the gum, that he is two years old, around 10 to 12 pounds, that I'm a failure and unfit.

When I told her he wasn't displaying any signs of low blood sugar, she told me to get some hydrogen peroxide, give him 4 tablespoons and make him throw up. I told her I didn't have any hydrogen peroxide, she told me to get some ASAP, go to the store and take Scooter and make him throw up in the parking lot. If he didn't throw up, call her back and she would meet me at the clinic.

I threw on my shoes, grabbed Scooter and raced to Kroger. I bought the hydrogen peroxide and raced out to the car. I drove to a grassy area, poured approximately 4 tablespoons into a bowl and made Scooter drink it. He only drank about half of it, so I had to put him on the hood of the car, pry open his mouth and squirt it in, which of course, resulted in getting some in his eye. Huge fucking fail.

And then I walked him around the grass, stroked him, and talked to him. I try to coax him to drink a bit more. After several minutes, he started to throw up.

Hallelujah!

He threw up, we walked some more, then went home and he played as if nothing was wrong and was soon snoring under the covers. I, of course, stayed up half the night, looking for signs of low blood sugar and waking him up occasionally to make sure all was right.

I feel so unfit to be a "puppy parent." I can't believe he ate the gum and that I didn't know sugar-free gum can be lethal to dogs. Epic fail. I am so glad that he's okay and nothing horrible happened.