Archer
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When it rains it pours, people. Seems in the bask of happiness that has greeted me with Archer's successful diagnosis and treatment a little rain has fallen. Aria had to have emergency surgery last Wednesday morning for a foreign body!!!!!!!
Yes, I've been so busy with work and EDD and caring for my little patient at home that I am just now getting around to typing this to share with you guys. Sorry for the delay.
It all began Wednesday morning. I got up at the usual time and went about the usual routine. Archer was almost out of his ProBiotic and both kids needed a weight check, so we hopped in the car and headed towards the vet. She acted fine, laying in the back seat next to her brother. We got to the vet, went about the weight check and purchase, said hi to everyone and left. She acted kind of weird as we got into the car. Didn't want to jump in and when I picked her up, she sort of clung to my arm with her paws. I let her sit in my lap on the ride home because she just wasn't herself. Well, we were barely on the road back home and she started projectile vomiting!!! She then threw up 4 times in a matter of minutes. It was food tinged water. Covered my chest and lap, car door and window, passenger seat and Archer (who had unfortunately decided to hop up there to check on his sister). I pulled over and called the vet to tell them I was on my way back there. The receptionist said there was only one Vet that morning and he was in surgery, so the first available appointment was at 2:00!!! I took it, assuming the vomiting was over and finished heading home, feeling slightly uneasy about my vomiting 4 month old puppy. My instincts were right. She vomited two more times in the garage as we got out of the car, and three more times in my kitchen as I tried to go change my clothes. It wasn't until after I set her down on the kitchen floor that I noticed what really freaked me out. As if the excessive vomiting wasn't enough, her belly was swollen to the size of a fully inflated balloon!!!!!! She was restless and grunting. I scooped her up without changing and hauled it to the emergency clinic.
She vomited four more times in the car on the 10 minute trip there. Again it was exorcistic. Made for a total of 12 times within an hour. First thought instinct was foreign body in the stomach due to how she was vomiting, but honestly with her stomach looking the way it did I was horribly worried about bloat. I called my vet on the way in to cancel our appointment and made it to the ER in record time.
They got us in quickly. The vet tech had a Doberman, which was nice and the vet ended up to be an old friend of mine. I felt she was understanding and Aria to be in confident hands. Took radiographs which confirmed both my suspicions. Her stomach was HUGE on the films and her intestines showed the classic signs of a foreign body. She was in no acute distress, so the ER Vet allowed me to transport Aria back to our Vet for the surgery. The operating rooms were full there and they couldn't start her for over an hour. My vet could be ready in less than 30 minutes. Plus, I know them well and if it wasn't for him, we'd still be searching for a diagnosis for Archer.
When I got there they were set up to begin the gastrotomy. The Vet came in and spoke to us about complications and risks. He thanked me for being such a great owner and let me take Aria to the back. My favorite tech was there and had everything ready to go, including a cage with comfy blanket in which I set her in and said goodbye. I placed Ari in her kennel and she turned and licked my face as I placed her in as if to say "Don't worry, Momma. I'll be fine". I said bye to her pretty face and sparkling eyes and walked away before the tears started. Made it to my car before losing it. Sat there on my vomit covered car seat in my vomit covered clothes for a while to collect myself, and then drove home empty armed. Pretty heartbroken and feeling like a failure at this point, although giving myself a few brownie points for getting her taken care of quickly. Now all I could do was wait and pray.
Got home. Took a shower, did laundry and shampoed the seats in my car. Heard from the Vet two hours later. Successful surgery. She indeed did have a foreign body, but it was not in her stomach like we expected. It had lodged in her intestines, about 6-8 inches in. It was a sock! My sweet, naughty little girl ate a freaking sock! It was one of my thin black ankle socks. The vet said it was probably swallowed in it's normal form, but when he found it, was telescoped in on itself and formed a wad of fabric that in no way could pass on it's own. He went on to say that her stomach lining was very thick and her stomach was bloated with water and digested food. He said her intestines were also thickened and dilated, mostly from the effects of the foreign body. They did the lavage, suctioned the fluid from her stomach and intestines and sutured them back up. He also took biopsies of the gastric and intestinal tissues just in case the inflammation continues and is holding them incase we need them in the future. He also did a preventative gastroplexy. The odds of her ingesting another foreign body is high and with her stomach as distended as it was, he was worried that if it didn't reduce in size that she could potentially have GDV.
It was 4:45 by the time I heard from the vet, and he said she was awake and groggy from the anesthesia and pain meds, but recovering well. We discussed me taking care of her overnight, as there is no evening care available at my clinic, but decided to transfer her back to the ER as they have internists available overnight at Aria's beckon call if she was to need anyone. So we picked her up right before the clinic closed and transported her across town. It was heartbreaking to see her during discharge. She was weak and shaky and was whining, just standing there on weak legs. She looked up at me and wagged her nub as best she could and it was enough to bring a tear to my eye.
After a quick consult from her new ER vet, a treatment plan was made and we signed the consent and left our baby behind once again. I called for updates every 2 hours throughout the night. Her recovery was pretty unremarkable. She started eating and drinking and pottied well during the day Thursday, so around 5:00 PM we picked her up and took her home.
She did well the first two days. Limited to strict cage rest for 7-10 days. Today is Thurs 12/26 and it was her first day of quasi freedom. She was let out of jail for 15-30 minute increments every 1-2 hours and even went on a short leash walk with Archer.
Her medicine schedule is nothing short of one of my patients in the hospital. She's on Sulcrafate (mix in syringe with 6ml of water and make into a slurry) that she gets 30 minutes before eating. She has to have her antibiotic one hour before the Sulcrafate coats her stomach, so it doesn't interfere with the absorption. She is also getting an injectable antibiotic daily due to the inflammation she had during surgery. She had a Fentanyl patch on the back of her left hind ankle, which was removed 4 days post operatively. Her pain is now being managed with oral Tramadol and she's on Gapapentin for pain and to help wean her off the Fentanyl too. Her appetite is good and she's still eating small amounts every 4 hours. I've been watering down her Orijen and making it into a mush to be easier on her stomach. It's all so complicated with the timing of it all, so I made a spreadsheet to make it easier to keep straight. Normal potty habits too.
Took her to the vet today for some localized swelling along her incision. Seems as though she's having a suture reaction
He didn't think it was bad enough to remove the sutures, but has me keeping an eye on it. I am doing warm compresses every 3-4 hours for 15 minutes to help reduce the size of the Seroma she's developed as a result of the reaction.
Anyway, that's what's going on in our world. I have photos of her over the past week, but they're not downloaded yet. Will get them loaded and posted here soon.
Expect the remaining two days to be pretty uneventful, but will keep you posted.
Yes, I've been so busy with work and EDD and caring for my little patient at home that I am just now getting around to typing this to share with you guys. Sorry for the delay.
It all began Wednesday morning. I got up at the usual time and went about the usual routine. Archer was almost out of his ProBiotic and both kids needed a weight check, so we hopped in the car and headed towards the vet. She acted fine, laying in the back seat next to her brother. We got to the vet, went about the weight check and purchase, said hi to everyone and left. She acted kind of weird as we got into the car. Didn't want to jump in and when I picked her up, she sort of clung to my arm with her paws. I let her sit in my lap on the ride home because she just wasn't herself. Well, we were barely on the road back home and she started projectile vomiting!!! She then threw up 4 times in a matter of minutes. It was food tinged water. Covered my chest and lap, car door and window, passenger seat and Archer (who had unfortunately decided to hop up there to check on his sister). I pulled over and called the vet to tell them I was on my way back there. The receptionist said there was only one Vet that morning and he was in surgery, so the first available appointment was at 2:00!!! I took it, assuming the vomiting was over and finished heading home, feeling slightly uneasy about my vomiting 4 month old puppy. My instincts were right. She vomited two more times in the garage as we got out of the car, and three more times in my kitchen as I tried to go change my clothes. It wasn't until after I set her down on the kitchen floor that I noticed what really freaked me out. As if the excessive vomiting wasn't enough, her belly was swollen to the size of a fully inflated balloon!!!!!! She was restless and grunting. I scooped her up without changing and hauled it to the emergency clinic.
She vomited four more times in the car on the 10 minute trip there. Again it was exorcistic. Made for a total of 12 times within an hour. First thought instinct was foreign body in the stomach due to how she was vomiting, but honestly with her stomach looking the way it did I was horribly worried about bloat. I called my vet on the way in to cancel our appointment and made it to the ER in record time.
They got us in quickly. The vet tech had a Doberman, which was nice and the vet ended up to be an old friend of mine. I felt she was understanding and Aria to be in confident hands. Took radiographs which confirmed both my suspicions. Her stomach was HUGE on the films and her intestines showed the classic signs of a foreign body. She was in no acute distress, so the ER Vet allowed me to transport Aria back to our Vet for the surgery. The operating rooms were full there and they couldn't start her for over an hour. My vet could be ready in less than 30 minutes. Plus, I know them well and if it wasn't for him, we'd still be searching for a diagnosis for Archer.
When I got there they were set up to begin the gastrotomy. The Vet came in and spoke to us about complications and risks. He thanked me for being such a great owner and let me take Aria to the back. My favorite tech was there and had everything ready to go, including a cage with comfy blanket in which I set her in and said goodbye. I placed Ari in her kennel and she turned and licked my face as I placed her in as if to say "Don't worry, Momma. I'll be fine". I said bye to her pretty face and sparkling eyes and walked away before the tears started. Made it to my car before losing it. Sat there on my vomit covered car seat in my vomit covered clothes for a while to collect myself, and then drove home empty armed. Pretty heartbroken and feeling like a failure at this point, although giving myself a few brownie points for getting her taken care of quickly. Now all I could do was wait and pray.
Got home. Took a shower, did laundry and shampoed the seats in my car. Heard from the Vet two hours later. Successful surgery. She indeed did have a foreign body, but it was not in her stomach like we expected. It had lodged in her intestines, about 6-8 inches in. It was a sock! My sweet, naughty little girl ate a freaking sock! It was one of my thin black ankle socks. The vet said it was probably swallowed in it's normal form, but when he found it, was telescoped in on itself and formed a wad of fabric that in no way could pass on it's own. He went on to say that her stomach lining was very thick and her stomach was bloated with water and digested food. He said her intestines were also thickened and dilated, mostly from the effects of the foreign body. They did the lavage, suctioned the fluid from her stomach and intestines and sutured them back up. He also took biopsies of the gastric and intestinal tissues just in case the inflammation continues and is holding them incase we need them in the future. He also did a preventative gastroplexy. The odds of her ingesting another foreign body is high and with her stomach as distended as it was, he was worried that if it didn't reduce in size that she could potentially have GDV.
It was 4:45 by the time I heard from the vet, and he said she was awake and groggy from the anesthesia and pain meds, but recovering well. We discussed me taking care of her overnight, as there is no evening care available at my clinic, but decided to transfer her back to the ER as they have internists available overnight at Aria's beckon call if she was to need anyone. So we picked her up right before the clinic closed and transported her across town. It was heartbreaking to see her during discharge. She was weak and shaky and was whining, just standing there on weak legs. She looked up at me and wagged her nub as best she could and it was enough to bring a tear to my eye.
After a quick consult from her new ER vet, a treatment plan was made and we signed the consent and left our baby behind once again. I called for updates every 2 hours throughout the night. Her recovery was pretty unremarkable. She started eating and drinking and pottied well during the day Thursday, so around 5:00 PM we picked her up and took her home.
She did well the first two days. Limited to strict cage rest for 7-10 days. Today is Thurs 12/26 and it was her first day of quasi freedom. She was let out of jail for 15-30 minute increments every 1-2 hours and even went on a short leash walk with Archer.
Her medicine schedule is nothing short of one of my patients in the hospital. She's on Sulcrafate (mix in syringe with 6ml of water and make into a slurry) that she gets 30 minutes before eating. She has to have her antibiotic one hour before the Sulcrafate coats her stomach, so it doesn't interfere with the absorption. She is also getting an injectable antibiotic daily due to the inflammation she had during surgery. She had a Fentanyl patch on the back of her left hind ankle, which was removed 4 days post operatively. Her pain is now being managed with oral Tramadol and she's on Gapapentin for pain and to help wean her off the Fentanyl too. Her appetite is good and she's still eating small amounts every 4 hours. I've been watering down her Orijen and making it into a mush to be easier on her stomach. It's all so complicated with the timing of it all, so I made a spreadsheet to make it easier to keep straight. Normal potty habits too.
Took her to the vet today for some localized swelling along her incision. Seems as though she's having a suture reaction
He didn't think it was bad enough to remove the sutures, but has me keeping an eye on it. I am doing warm compresses every 3-4 hours for 15 minutes to help reduce the size of the Seroma she's developed as a result of the reaction.Anyway, that's what's going on in our world. I have photos of her over the past week, but they're not downloaded yet. Will get them loaded and posted here soon.
Expect the remaining two days to be pretty uneventful, but will keep you posted.
I totally agree, Von and feel the exact same way about my three furkids. I'd go bankrupt taking care of them and gladly give my life to save theirs. I don't have any human children either and don't plan to. My dogs are my kids and it will always be that way. I don't expect people to understand, just respect. If that hadn't been my FIL, I would have opened the seventh level of hell open on his A#$. Nearly did.
You did wonderfully and I give you a lot of credit for your fast and correct decisions! Give that pup a hug from me and I hope you can feel this virtual hug to you too!! {{{HUGS}}} Keep us updated!
