Labrador’s Precarious Pajama Lunch Lands Him in Hospital

2017 Hambone Award nominee

When Dawna and Madi McNaughton of Huntington Beach, California, first brought Levi, the 7-year-old Labrador retriever, into her home as a foster dog, their goal was to find him a forever home. But after multiple failed adoptions and the relationship they established, they decided to make him an official member of the family. However, that bond was nearly broken after the lovable Labrador swallowed a pair of adult sized pajama pants and needed emergency veterinary care. Levi’s meal misfortune and heartwarming recovery have earned him the title of March’s “Most Unusual Claim of the Month” by Nationwide, the nation’s first and largest provider of pet health insurance.

Collage-55A collage of 4 pictures of a chocolate lab lying against a pair of legs in blue pants, holding a tennis ball in its mouth, lying on a dog bed outside, and smiling next to a woman with blonde hair.

Before entering foster care, Levi lived a life of neglect, which caused him to suffer from severe separation anxiety. Uneasy when alone, Levi would attempt to escape any house when left in solitude, which led to four failed adoption attempts. However, the distraught dog found comfort at the McNaughton household, especially when accompanied by the family’s other Labrador, Maggie.

“Levi was a completely different dog when he was around Maggie,” said Dawna. “Seeing all the issues he had, we knew our home was the best place for him. He’s such a loving dog and wants nothing more than to be a part of the family. He enjoys everything in life, especially the water.”

Collage33A collage of three pictures of a brown dog jumping in pools of water.

Just as things we’re looking perfect in Levi’s life, tragedy struck when Maggie’s health quickly deteriorated and she sadly passed away. Levi became depressed and reverted back to his anxiety-ridden ways, which drove him to lose over 20 pounds and patches of fur in a span of only a couple months.

“It was rough for Levi when we lost Maggie,” said Dawna. “He would act okay if he was around me or my husband, but when he was by himself, he couldn’t function properly. Even having our other dogs around him didn’t help much. We put him on medication, which helped, but he still struggled when left alone. He would become destructive and try to escape.”

Levi’s anxiety-driven behavior reached its peak one day inside Dawna’s bedroom. Dawna had just returned home and opened her bedroom door to see Levi asleep in his bed and her husband asleep as well. Not wanting to disturb the peaceful scene, Dawna closed the door and went to another room. She returned an hour later to get ready for bed, but when she reached for her pajamas, she was met with a surprise.

Collage-47A collage of three pictures of a brown down sitting in the gass with its tongue hanging out, a brown dog standing outside with its tongue hanging out, and four dogs sitting in a line all wearing christmas costumes.

“I went to put my pajama pants on, but as I pulled them up, I realized the legs were gone,” said Dawna. “At first I wasn’t sure who the culprit was. I thought maybe one of the foster dogs had come in and ripped them up, but I couldn’t find any trace of the shreds. I started to suspect Levi, but I wasn’t sure until the next day.”

The next morning, Dawna kept an eye on Levi and noticed him having trouble relieving himself. Upon further investigation, Dawna noticed blood in Levi’s stool, and shortly after, he began to vomit. She immediately called her daughter Madi, who is a veterinary assistant at the VCA All-Care Animal Referral Center in Fountain Valley. Madi advised her mother to bring Levi in immediately, and within minutes they were at the veterinary hospital’s doorstep.

Collage110A collage of 4 pictures of a brown dog jumping into a pool, swimming in a pool while holding a red and blue toy, looking straight ahead with wet fur, and sitting inside a pool with its arms over the side, porpping itself up.

Upon arrival, staff took Levi for X-rays and further tests. The X-rays revealed a large blockage in the ailing Labrador’s intestines. The staff treated Levi with intestinal medications, intravenous fluids and pain medicine with the hope that his body would be able to pass the blockage naturally. If Levi was unable to pass the pajamas naturally, he would need to undergo emergency surgery.

“The whole ordeal was so stressful,” said Dawna. “The fact that Levi had lost so much weight because of Maggie’s death made the situation much more dangerous. We were worried that he might now make it through.”

Luckily for the McNaughton family’s, Levi was able to start passing the fabric the next day. Levi spent the next day in the hospital for monitoring purposes and was eventually released back to his home.

Collage27A collage of 4 pictures of a chocolate lab with a white chihuahua sitting on its head, sitting next to a white lab, swimming in a pool with a white lab, and swimming with a white lab that has an orange ball in its mouth.

Since the incident, the McNaughton’s have brought a Labrador foster puppy into their home to help with Levi’s anxiety and he has responded wonderfully. Levi has gained nearly all his weight back and has refused any urge to eat things he’s not supposed to. Dawna is grateful for the great veterinary care that saved Levi’s life and relieved with the support she received from Nationwide.

“Levi’s an amazing dog and big part of this family. We would have been devastated if we lost him,” said Dawna. “The veterinary staff was wonderful and knowing Levi had pet insurance coverage from Nationwide gave us peace of mind throughout the process. We feel like dogs should be insured because their health is more important than the veterinary bills.”