Blade almost died Saturday/Sunday night/morning.
He had BLOAT! He was fine all day Saturday. Did
NOT overeat nor did he romp around much at all
Saturday. Around 10:15 he started acting weird
like diarhea or upset stomach which he has had
often enough in his life so I didn't think
much of it until around 11:40. He
started acting progressively uncomfortable and
wanted out every 10-15 minutes. I noticed he
was drinking water. Around 12:20 he started foaming
at the mouth and I freaked. I was already freaking
thinking I need to get ready to take him into vet.
At 12:35 we noticed his stomach seemed bloated.
By 12:40 I was dressed and we called Animal Emergeny to alert them. We
arrived at 1:15-1:20(it takes 35 minutes to get there from our house).
When we got there they immediately took him back for x-ray and had an
x-ray developed by 1:40ish. The vet came in and
showed us normal dog intestine and then Blade's HORRIBLE x-ray. I of
course started crying and of course he had gotten there in time.
$2100.00+ dollars.
Though I have insurance on him and 80% of that hopefully is covered,
though I don't care. They let us come back and tell him goodbye after
they had fully prepped him for surgery. They had to put needle into
stomach to release some of the gas. Of course we had to leave so I get
no sleep until the vet called us at 4:45 to tell us everything went
extremely well and he had already woken up and was very stable. That his
blood pressure stayed the same throughout surgery. We went and visited
him yesterday afternoon as that was the first time they would allow me
in. I brought him his regular food. He would not eat for me but did act
fairly calm. Then I insisted Steve go in to try to get him to eat and
that upset him. This morning we picked him up at 6:30 to take him to
another Vet to monitor him for the day. They sent home all his IV drip
stuff. The Vet that did surgery came in and said he had never seen a dog
run out after that surgery in all his years of performing that surgery.
I said you have never seen this dog. But then he said he had used a NEW
method in which they immediately start them on a Lidocaine drip when
prepping and it is going to be published this month in some Vet
magazine. He attributed his doing so well during surgery and after to
that drip. Also because Blade is thin and has a very tight chest and
very solid muscles he did have a bit of problem stabling his stomach to
his side. But he also said he was in perfect shape. And I said yes but
he seems to be genetic disaster. And he said he may be BUT he said I
would take his TEMPERMENT anyday as he was the best GSD he had ever had
to work with as far as being coopertative during prep, after surgery
etc. So that made me proud as I know some of his temperment IS the way
we have raised him. He was So EXCITED to see us he whined and moaned
like a baby and a bear. I felt bad having to leave him at another
strange Vet's office. My regular Vet is a MOBIL vet so therefore he
could not go there today as she would be on the road most of the day. It
appears as all went well and he will be fine but what a stressful and
anxiety ridden weekend.
I haven't slept much in days. I couldn't sleep last night I just kept
worrying about him but I do have seperation anxiety from him.


I can't wait to get home today.

Gwen