thought I lost best friend today
Posted: August 4th, 2009, 9:03 pm
A rough day for Boo, and the rest of the Showman family. He was at the Cape with Katie and her family; everyone is in town for her graduation this weekend. Shortly after breakfeast he began throwing up and showing obvious signs of pain. Katie loaded him up right away and headed for the nearest vet, knowing she could turn around if his condition improved. She called the vet in PSJ while headed down the Cape and didn't get much of response. She decided to head south following that conversation and ended up in EastPoint. By that time Boo was trying to eat sand off the floor, grass or anything he could that would make him throw up. His intestines were hardening and his sides were beginning to expand. The vet across from the DollarGeneral in EastPoint had seen the symtems a couple times previously, but I don't believe he had ever seen a dog live through it.
In a nut shell, the dog's intestines twist, and 99% of the time the intestine is dark and dead upon examination; the only choice is to put the dog down. I received a call stating that prognisys was bad and cost of further treatment was high; with Boo being less than three years old and an intrigal part of the family no discussion was neccesary. Following three x-rays we authorized the doc proceeded with emergency, exploratory surgery. He quickly found the intestonal twist and was suprised to find it was intestine was still pink and alive. This is a credit to Katie having Boo to a vet less than an hour and half after symptems first appeared.
Additionally, I would like thank the EasPoint vet for his rapid and professional assesment and action in light of the timeline he was faced with. Approximately 35 staples (from sternim to stiffy) later, he was patched up. I was in route from Tally and arrived shortly eafter surgery and before he had emerged from sedation. Morphine is the drug of choice for surgeries of this nature, but it was not an option because it causes the intestines to go into a stagnet state as well.
We drove Boo back to Tally this eveing and he is staying with the E-vet tonight so they can monitor his heart rate, pain, etc. Aside from the cost of surgery, we have quotes for tonight's stay at both the low and high end of the spectrum which includes and EKG in the event his rate becomes abnormal. However, I believe he is truley in good hands and I can't wait to have him back tomorrow. I imagine the beginning of dove season as well as the remainder of the tournament trail this year aren't in his prospects, but that really isn't important at this point.
Stay strong good buddy. We love you, and I plan on having around for at least another decade or so.
There are varying theories on the cause of "bloating." Theories include activity too close (before or after) feeding, feeding height, anatomy (usuallly attributed to large chested dogs like Boo), but in the end there is not a scientifically accepted theory. If you see the signs I mentioned above in your dog, then it is imperative you get them to a vet asap. Thankfully Katie did, and hopefully Boo will recover fully. A rough day today, and thinking back on my initial thoughts is painful; thankfully things are promising.
In a nut shell, the dog's intestines twist, and 99% of the time the intestine is dark and dead upon examination; the only choice is to put the dog down. I received a call stating that prognisys was bad and cost of further treatment was high; with Boo being less than three years old and an intrigal part of the family no discussion was neccesary. Following three x-rays we authorized the doc proceeded with emergency, exploratory surgery. He quickly found the intestonal twist and was suprised to find it was intestine was still pink and alive. This is a credit to Katie having Boo to a vet less than an hour and half after symptems first appeared.
Additionally, I would like thank the EasPoint vet for his rapid and professional assesment and action in light of the timeline he was faced with. Approximately 35 staples (from sternim to stiffy) later, he was patched up. I was in route from Tally and arrived shortly eafter surgery and before he had emerged from sedation. Morphine is the drug of choice for surgeries of this nature, but it was not an option because it causes the intestines to go into a stagnet state as well.
We drove Boo back to Tally this eveing and he is staying with the E-vet tonight so they can monitor his heart rate, pain, etc. Aside from the cost of surgery, we have quotes for tonight's stay at both the low and high end of the spectrum which includes and EKG in the event his rate becomes abnormal. However, I believe he is truley in good hands and I can't wait to have him back tomorrow. I imagine the beginning of dove season as well as the remainder of the tournament trail this year aren't in his prospects, but that really isn't important at this point.
Stay strong good buddy. We love you, and I plan on having around for at least another decade or so.
There are varying theories on the cause of "bloating." Theories include activity too close (before or after) feeding, feeding height, anatomy (usuallly attributed to large chested dogs like Boo), but in the end there is not a scientifically accepted theory. If you see the signs I mentioned above in your dog, then it is imperative you get them to a vet asap. Thankfully Katie did, and hopefully Boo will recover fully. A rough day today, and thinking back on my initial thoughts is painful; thankfully things are promising.
for Boo and