'I Don't Want Another Family To Go Through This With Their Dog'

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By By April Zepeda

Summary

A dog owner found out first hand what happens when an animal eats the popular 'Gorilla Glue' -- her dog's stomach expanded to the size of a basketball.

Story Published: Aug 31, 2006 at 3:14 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 8:36 AM PDT

'I Don't Want Another Family To Go Through This With Their Dog'
OAK HARBOR - A popular glue does more that just stick -- it grows when it comes in contact with liquid.

So imagine what would happen if it was swallowed. An Oak Harbor pet owner found out first hand, and her dog is lucky to be alive.

On Thursday, Julie Kosmas got to pet her dog Emma Jo for the first time in three days. The black lab is still recovering in an Oak Harbor animal hospital.

She had to undergo surgery after a near-death encounter with a popular glue called "Gorilla Glue."

"When we saw the X-ray it was mind blowing that a dog's stomach could be that big," said Kosmas.

Emma Jo has a knack for knocking things off a counter. That's how she got the Gorilla Glue and swallowed some.

Kosmas knew her dog was in danger. The bottle says to keep away from children and animals. The instructions say get immediate medical attention if swallowed.

What it doesn't say is what would happen.

"This is the abdomen," said Veterinarian, Doris Campbell pointing to an X-ray. "This entire roundish blob is her stomach filled with Gorilla Glue."

A couple tablespoons of Gorilla Glue grew to the size of basketball.

"This stuff, when it hit the stomach, expands, blocks the stomach, and will require surgery to fix the animal," said Dr. Campbell.

The veterinarian took out three pounds of hard brown foam from Emma Jo's stomach.

"Keep this out of reach of your children. If this happened to a child?" wondered Kosmas. "And, I don't want another family to go through this with their dog."

The company does list an emergency phone number on the bottle in case a person or animal swallows the glue.

That's how Dr. Campbell discovered what happens when Gorilla Glue is ingested.

Still, Emma Jo lost 12 pounds, spent nearly a week in the animal hospital and by the time it's all over, the vet bill will be in the thousands.

It gives new meaning to claim on every bottle of Gorilla Glue... "The toughest glue on the planet Earth."