RetrieverTraining.Net - the RTF banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Tummy Ache

Jump to Latest
21 - 34 of 34 Posts
#22 ·
Jennifer Teed said:
Oh my goodness!!!

The barium hasn't moved and it's been an hour and 15 minutes. Normally it gets passed within minutes. She will go into surgery within the hour, and they said it might be intestinal ilias(sp?) .. where the nervous system restricts movement.. but that's unlikely. Surgery will take 1 to 2 hours, her temperature is 103, and vet strongly advised surgery. She'll be under intervenes for 2 days and she's probably not able to come home until Tuesday.... eeps

I feel sick to my stomach.
Click to expand...
Here's hoping that the surgery goes well and that she has a quick and complete recovery.

And don't you get sick...one of you needs to be healthy!
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#24 ·
Jennifer, if its any comfort for you, a very good friend's dog went through almost exactly the same progression of illness that your pup has suffered. He was maybe one year old when it happened. They tried xrays, barium views, but couldn't find anything. Finally when the dog's temp spiked to 104, they decided surgery was the only option. When they opened him up they took out a corn cob. The dog recovered completely and very quickly. I only tell you this to let you know it is not as bleak an outlook as I am sure you are feeling.

The best of luck to you and your dog. We will be thinking about you.
 
Discussion starter · #25 · (Edited)
Thank you all for your prayers.

I went to see Quest before her surgery. I held back going to see her all morning, but I couldn't help myself. She had an IV and was laying soundly in her kennel. She seen me, started licking my hand uncontrollably and started to cry. When I left I heard her crying from the front area.

One thing I've never gone through, but it's probably not good for me to go visit her. She'll just get all excited and it'll interrupt her rest. Even though I talked to the vet like 10 times over the phone and went to the clinic 3 times within 5 hours time.... I think they think I'm nuts. I have to really sit back and let them do their job. It's just so hard. You know? It's not like when you have children and you can sit by their bedside table to sleep.

The second time that I visited the vet was right after I had dropped her off. The vet said that I didn't need to bring anything because nothing will ever get back to me, and when I put her in her kennel there were just newspaper on the bottom. I couldn't handle it so I took some of the contents of her crate in my truck and put them in with her. I thought they would make her more comfortable. Plus I buy so many blankets and teddies at garage sales it didn't matter to me if I had to leave them behind.

My husband lost his lab of 8 years old to a thyroid problem. He was about 16 and it was hard since cocoa was his best friend. He had to watch her get sick and suffer, and I think Quest being at the vet is bringing back memories of cocoa. He's pacing around and trying to keep himself busy. But I know that the surgery should go smoothly and she'll be herself again.

Thanks again everyone for your support.
 
Discussion starter · #27 ·
So she came out of surgery, and the vet was unable to find anything. There was nothing physically blocking the intestine. It was simply inflamed.

Makes me a little sick thinking that they put her under anesthetics and cut her open for nothing... Jeesh!!

The inflammation had to have been bad enough to cause the barium to get stuck and not pass after over an hour.

They put her on Metronidazole and hope that the inflammation will go down. They will keep her on intervenes and for the night. Hopefully tomorrow if she's taking food I can bring her home.
 
#28 ·
Jennifer Teed said:
So she came out of surgery, and the vet was unable to find anything. There was nothing physically blocking the intestine. It was simply inflamed.

Makes me a little sick thinking that they put her under anesthetics and cut her open for nothing... Jeesh!!

The inflammation had to have been bad enough to cause the barium to get stuck and not pass after over an hour.

They put her on Metronidazole and hope that the inflammation will go down. They will keep her on intervenes and for the night. Hopefully tomorrow if she's taking food I can bring her home.
Click to expand...
Don't beat yourself up. You and the vet did what was needed, given the circumstances. I always tell my patients who are about to undergo an exploratory laparotomy that we *might not find anything*, which in many cases is just as important (and much better) than finding something. If the decision was made to operate, its because you expect you might find a life-threatening condition that you don't want to overlook. Now you can focus on medical and supportive care and not wonder if you're missing something in there.

In our prayers...
Dave

ps...did anyone consider parvo...I had a dog struggle through that, who went on to live 12 more years.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #29 ·
Quest is doing much better :D

I went to the vet this morning to see her and she was all happy! I got to walk her around the yard and spend some time with her. She chewed out her IV last night so her leg was all swollen. Her belly was all shaven and crusty from the surgery. Since there was no obstruction they had time to remove her baby canine that has been driving me nuts :p

They are going to try and feed her when the vet gets in, and the he'll be able to tell me then if she gets to come home.

I asked about Parvo, giardia and coccidia, but they ruled them all out. Not by tests, they just don't think the symptoms match. Hopefully they are right.

Thanks for everyone's support. I honestly don't know what I would do without this forum.
 
#32 ·
Jennifer,

Is she doing better today?
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #33 ·
jeff t. said:
Jennifer,

Is she doing better today?
Click to expand...
Yeah she's doing alright. She finally started to poop again :D and it was solid !!! Hurray!!!

I'm still questioning the vet a little, as they didn't even consider giardia even after I mentioned it. They said that it wouldn't cause her to be lethargic or to vomit. However, giardia could cause inflamed intestines which could cause vomiting and being lethargic.

They have no idea what caused the inflammation and she's only on metronodizole for 7 days. Hopefully whatever she has clears up in that amount of time.

Sometimes I wish I was a vet, or at least more knowledgeable about this stuff.
 
#34 ·
Glad she is on the mend!!!:)
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
21 - 34 of 34 Posts
About this Discussion
33 Replies
14 Participants
Last post:
1st retriever
RetrieverTraining.Net - the RTF
posts
1.5M
members
36K
Since
2003
A forum community dedicated to retriever owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, training, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Retriever Training Forum Event Information AKC Field Trials Equipment, Gear & Miscellaneous Classifieds Training