What The Hell

[TheRedQueen]

Damn, Matt! How scary! I can't believe the Kong punctured him. So much for soft rubber.

I remember years ago, working for a vet that removed a vinyl toy from a dog's stomach...it was almost brittle after being removed...guess the stomach acid had changed the toy from soft to hard. Scary stuff!

Glad Kayden is out of surgery and doing well...

[dogged]

Freakin' scary! I'm glad the surgery went well, though. Heal quickly, K.

[blabsforbullies]

A lot of the time, it isn't the foreign body that causes the perforation. Something gets stuck, compromises the blood supply to the tissue, and makes the tissue weak. When the normal perastaltic constractions occur, the tissue tears.

In my experience, unless scar tissue causes a narrowing of the intestines at the site of the surgery, most dogs do very well once the critical period, usually 48-72 hours, is done. Sending my very best that this is the casefor your baby!

[maberi]

Would any of this lead to a reduction in white blood cells?

I was a bit nervous when the surgeon mentioned that. Not to mention it makes me a bit uneasy that his cell count is low and he is more susceptible to infections and other things floating around that place.

[blabsforbullies]

Possibly. If the perforation was there long enough, he could have used up the blood cells fighting the infection. I'm sure they are repeating his CBC today. It also depends on which white blood cell is low. Each does a different job. Also, unless recent blood work has been done, he may naturally lie on the low end of normal for a count and this just pushed it on to the other side (insert my plug for doing routine blood work to have as a comparison . Not saying you didn't, just plugging good medicine).

[mnp13]

Kayden will recover just fine.

Your wallet has a much more grim prognosis.

[maberi]

Thanks for all of the great info and good wishes. It is nice getting some light shed onto something you know very little about.

I could kick myself for not having any insurance on any of my dogs. I think with Earl's ACL repair, Yoda's tests and now this, I have easily gone in excess of 15 grand over the past 3 years.

The timing couldn't have been any better either. Heidi and I planned a trip to a local resort for next Thursday. We went there for one night for our "honeymoon" 7 yrs ago and haven't really been anywhere since then. We called and cancelled our reservations this morning. It looks like it may be another 7 yrs before we actually get there

[TinaMartin]

Hows the pupper today?

[Jenn]

Sorry about your trip, and sorry about Kayden - best of thoughts for a speedy recovery!

[blabsforbullies]

I personally advocate pet insurance to everyone. Even myself! There have been many a time I have had things come up that I could not do myself like MRI's, etc. I like the company Pets Best. They seem to have less restrictions than most.

I hear ya on the vacation thing. We gave up ours this year to pay for a radioactive iodine treatment that will cure my kitty's thyroid condition. I'm sorry you guys had to go through all of this. It'll be worth it to have your best friend back and healthy, but I know exactly what you are saying.

[madremissy]

Just saw this. I hope Kayden gets to feeling better very soon. Sorry about your trip.

[HappyPuppy]

What an ordeal! I saw the potential for blockages when Ruby barfed up a piece of bone WRAPPED in tennis ball (or other toy?) fuzz and I wondered how easily that could have been a larger wad... Scary! Sorry about your trip. Hope he continues to improve properly!!

[CinderDee]

How scary. Sending lots of good thoughts to Kayden!

[maberi]

Really dumb question but the surgeon mentioned this morning that I could stop by to visit Kayden after 5 today.

I'm a bit nervous to visit him because he gets excited when he sees me and I don't want to put any undue stress on him but of course I would love to see him.

Do you think it is better to let him rest today and visit tomorrow?

[Marinepits]

Hey, Matt! I'm glad to hear that Kayden pulled through just fine.

Dr Blabs removed a WHOLE (as in not damaged except for a small split in it) tennis ball from Mac's gut a few years ago and he bounced back fairly quickly. He didn't need any of his intestine removed, though.

After he came home, we just kept him crated and quiet for a couple of weeks then limited his jumping for a while. Then he was good-as-new. Of course, he is not allowed any toy that he can chew up and swallow anymore, and tennis balls are COMPLETELY off-limits now.

Let me know if you need anything.

[Marinepits]

Really dumb question but the surgeon mentioned this morning that I could stop by to visit Kayden after 5 today.

I'm a bit nervous to visit him because he gets excited when he sees me and I don't want to put any undue stress on him but of course I would love to see him.

Do you think it is better to let him rest today and visit tomorrow?

He may be pretty doped-up so won't be moving around much anyway. Give them a call and ask if he's medicated.

We kept Mac pretty doped because he was acting like nothing was wrong. Damn bulldogs.

[blabsforbullies]

That's a tough question to answer. Some do better with visits from their families, and others don't. If he is kinda sedated, I'd go for it.

[BigDogBuford]

When I worked for the vet we took an entire mens shoes out of a Mastiff's gut. It wasn't even chewed up, but pretty much still intact.

[maberi]

I just spoke with the surgeon

She said after she spoke with me this morning they did another blood panel and his white blood cell count and electrolytes were back to normal.

They were doing more blood work on him when I called so she will update me if there is anything out of the ordinary but she doesn't expect there to be.

She did say that he is pretty painful so they have him doped up pretty well and said it would probably be best for him to get some rest tonight so I could maybe try stopping by tomorrow depending on how he was doing.

Assuming he doesn't throw up at all today they are going to try giving him some food tomorrow.

PS - What size shoes did that guy wear?

[BigDogBuford]

I just spoke with the surgeon

She said after she spoke with me this morning they did another blood panel and his white blood cell count and electrolytes were back to normal.

They were doing more blood work on him when I called so she will update me if there is anything out of the ordinary but she doesn't expect there to be.

She did say that he is pretty painful so they have him doped up pretty well and said it would probably be best for him to get some rest tonight so I could maybe try stopping by tomorrow depending on how he was doing.

Assuming he doesn't throw up at all today they are going to try giving him some food tomorrow.

PS - What size shoes did that guy wear?

It was a size 10 mens shoe.