My Lab is in for surgery now and I'm a mess

[KurtNYC]

Sweet Lab and Golden retriever mix, just under 2 yrs old. He was showing signs of obstruction over last weekend and then puked 4 times and aspirated on Monday so I got him to the vet promptly. They could not feel anything in his gut and he wouldn't hold still for x-ray so they have had him on liquid diet, etc. He has been there for 4 days now and finally they have decided to do an exploratory. Really wish they would have done it Monday because 4 days in a hospital crate has only weakened him. But I trust my vets and we were trying to avoid surgery. They sedated him yesterday and couldn't see anything in the x-ray but today with a little solid food he started barfing again so...

He is going into surgery now and I won't hear anything for an hour or two. If it goes well I get him back on Saturday.

I have been holding off stressing out about this but the 4 days has worn me down also. Now I just feel wrung out and like I could barf too. Trying not to think about how dangerous any surgery on the gut is and the risk for infection and complications but there isn't much else to think about at this point. Just wish I was there to comfort him.

[elleng]

1. Wishing and thinking of you 2, Kurt.

I'm sure he's well comforted.

[KurtNYC]

3. Thanks. Here is my boy...

[elleng]

4. Lovely, big, smart pup, eh?

[KurtNYC]

5. Thanks. They just called

He had sock stuck between the large and small intestine. They had to cut the sock in half and pull it out from both sides. He may come home tomorrow.

I feel guilty for letting him get the sock (he has had worse) but a little better knowing that we found the source of the problem.

[elleng]

6. OH MY GOODNESS!

We'll laugh about this in a few years, right, Kurt???
He's got to have toys, ya know!

[KurtNYC]

21. I joke that he is part billy goat and his sister, who alternates between

independent and cuddly, is part cat. She is content to chase and run around with toys but he seems always to want to chew them to bits and swallow the bits.

I kind of wish they had done the surgery Monday when I took him in and said 'hey, I am pretty sure he didn't pass the sock he ate' but hindsight is 20/20 for all of us and he wasn't running a fever, dehydrated, weak or anything so it didn't hurt much delay surgery and try to be sure it was needed.

His vet since birth was the one who finally felt the sock and went in after it. I love her and trust her empirically. While I respect everyone who works in this practice, I am glad SHE did the surgery.

[elleng]

27. Good to hear.

So you KNEW he at a sock???!!!

[pipi_k]

7. So glad

they found the obstruction and got it out!

A friend's dog (yellow lab) died from eating the blanket in his bed.

It's so hard keeping stuff away from our pups.

Anyway, I hope your buddy is feeling better soon and you have him home with you again.

[KurtNYC]

22. Sorry to hear that, how heartbreaking.

I watch him closely if he is starting to break something down and he likes for me to chase him around when it gets too small for my comfort. This sock just got swallowed almost whole. He had torn maybe 20% of it off and then I turned my back and 10 seconds later he nudged my leg like 'hey can I have another sock?' and I knew then that I has screwed up. Won't do THAT again -- no socks or rope.

[snacker]

10. Oh, that's good news!

You will be amazed how quickly he recovers!

[KatyaR]

13. OMG.

I'm so glad your pup's going to be okay. I just gave my Boston Terror, Basie, a stern lecture about not eating stuff. He's ALWAYS destroying and eating (or trying to eat) anything he can get hold of that's made of material. I can't tell you the problems we've had with it. He looked at me very earnestly like he was listening, but the minute I turn my back, he'll be at it again.

Anyway, no more socks for your baby!!!

[KurtNYC]

23. Thank you

I was trying a sock with him because he had been breaking down tennis balls. I try to re-direct from things they can't chew to something that they can and mostly it is nylon bones and a solid hard rubber ball designed for chewers. But he sat and asked for the sock I was throwing away (hole in it), big puppy eyes, sitting and looking, just like we taught him and I gave in. Didn't expect him to take such a big piece...

[Gidney N Cloyd]

16. Lab 'dad' here, too. I heard vet emergency hospitals have a code "LAS" and it's not short for Lassie

LAS= Lab Ate Something.

Glad your pup's going to be OK.

[Kadie]

14. He is beautiful.

Hope he feels better real soon.

[KurtNYC]

24. Thanks. Here he is with his sister

That's a puppy pic (about 4 months old) but they still have the long ears and big paws (as wide as MY hand) at 20 months. I love having two dogs and these 2 are the perfect playmates for each other. Have had rescues and strays but these were my first to raise from pups. Their litter was 3 black, 3 gold and a chocolate. An unplanned pregnancy. Riley is named for his mother, Raleigh.

[Phentex]

2. Awww, poor thing!...

Hope he's better soon. Good vibes for him and you!

[graywarrior]

8. Sending good vibes your way

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[snacker]

9. I've been through this with our dog.

Our less than one-year old standard poodle had to have surgery with similar symptoms. She would not even drink water. X-rays were done and nothing showed up, so surgery was scheduled. It turned out that she had swallowed two chunks of decorative bark used in landscaping. Wood does not show up in xrays, apparently. The surgery went well, and her recovery went smoothly. I was amazed because the poor thing was so weak before the surgery. I hope your dog's surgery goes well and the outcome is good. Good vibes for your dog and for you!

[KurtNYC]

25. Thanks

Does she still eat bark? I know I will be more cautious about what he eats (or might swallow) but will HE be?

Mine likes sticks and bark also. I'm going to be a nervous wreck watching him after this.

I will post a new thread when he comes home. My thanks to you and all Loungers for the good vibes.

[RebelOne]

11. Hope it is nothing serious. I know how you are feeling.

I had my Rottie in for surgeries a couple of times and she came though with no problems, but I was a basket case. She went to doggie heaven in 2010. She was almost 13 years old and had cancer.

Sending good vibes and good wishes to your doggie.

[Tikki]

12. Hugs to you and your sweet fur baby...

And those tied to his heart.

Strong healing vibes your way...


Tikki

[unionworks]

15. You Never Lose

....a pet you love, Kurt. I had a Staffy 30 years ago, and if I think of him he is still lying beside me when I go to bed at night. Hang in there!

[KurtNYC]

28. I had a profoundly spiritual experience when my 2nd boxer

departed from an ailing body. As unique as the bond we shared when we were both in the flesh.

If heartbreak is the ultimate price of love then I will just have to continue to pay.

Thanks for your kind thoughts at this troubled hour.

[MrsBrady]

17. so sorry man

vibes for your pup....Hugs and ear scritches for him too.

I've been through a lot with my rescued Rosie...had her for about 14 months now....
in that time she's been through intense heart worm treatment...

I just had her spayed finally last thursday after she got the all clear from the heart worms...
then ended up in the ER Sunday night when she started pooping blood and barfing.
They don't know if it was nerves from the surgery or the Metacam.

But I hear you. I was a MESS, until I knew she would be ok.

Our fur babies count on us...and man, I really need my dog right now.
I'm going through a lot of crap.

Keep us updated.

[Sienna86]

18. Your Lab is beautiful

I hope you have him home tomorrow and can give him some TLC.

[femmocrat]

19. Glad this tale had a happy ending!

Just a word of caution to everyone--- don't buy those "rope" toys for your dogs. One of my corgis got some of those threads stuck once. Poor baby. We were able to avoid the surgery, TG. So glad your puppy is on his way to recovery.

[grasswire]

20. my border collie got into the trash (and I didn't know it)...

...and ate that stretchy butcher's netting they use to hold a roast together. Luckily, he barfed it up a day later before I realized that something was really wrong with him. That could have been tragic.

[hamsterjill]

26. Glad the issue has been handled.

Now, try and get some rest so you will be ready for his return and recuperation. Glad to see responsible pet parenting here as you got him to the vet pronto. Thanks for loving him and I wish you both many happy years together.