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kaycountrygal
05-01-2012, 05:28 PM
5.1.12
It has been a very stressful three days. First, Sissy is home and doing good as far as I can tell... but a way to go until she's totally out of danger. We picked her up from Carolina Veterinary Specialists animal hospital Greensboro, NC this morning where she has been since Sunday morning, 4-29-12. I would like to thank all of the folks there. I think Sissy would have died if we had not been able to take her there (1.5 hrs away but worth it).

Here's what happened. At some point in her 12 weeks she swallowed a round rubber object the size of a dime but twice as thick. It lodged in her small intestine and surgeon had to remove 7" (most of duodenum) to get to some live tissue and then do a resection . Because she had to remove so much it makes things more complicated. We dont know when she swallowed it or even if she swallowed it after I got her. In the intestine part that was removed, dr pointed out dark streak where object had moved along but then lodged. I dont recognize what the object is. I am so sorry it happened and just hope and pray she recovers completely. (Pictures below of object and duodenum that was removed)

On Fri, 4.27.12 Sissy had her 3rd DAPP shot... seemed ok.

On Sat 4.28.12 Sissy threw up 10 times, foamy stuff, wasnt her usual perky self, acted as if she was not comfy. Actually she has never been able to be still for very long and has never slept an entire night since I got her 3-17-12. All along I wondered if she had something "wrong inside". We should trusts our instincts.
Sat I took her to my regular vet place & he thought he saw something in radiograph but when tech took another one, nothing showed. Sissy acted as if she was not comfy, moving around often, & I kept saying "I think something is inside". Yet when he did TWO physical exams on her, she didnt show one bit of discomfort. He thought maybe it was a reaction to the DAPP... and said if she got worse to call him because he was on call all weekend. Got med for pain, nausea, gave her fluids & we came home & she seemed better... but she really wasnt.

On Sun, 4.29.12, I found where she had had diarrhea 6 times and had no appetite which is unusual for her. She wasnt as active either. I called the on call vet & told him what was going on & he said to take her to an animal emergency center right away. Mercy! I've never had to do that with one of my pets & I asked him where the best & nearest one was & he said Carolina Vet Specialists in Greensboro (about 1.5 hours away but worth it)

I got LilGirl settled, we dressed, & got there at 11am & they didnt waste any time doing tests and radiographs. I told them also... I'm sure there is something in her stomach or somewhere that is causing her pain. I was relieved when tech told me that yes, radiograph did show "something" and radiologist had been contacted for review.

Again I was relieved when doctor told me that radiologist had seen object & she didnt think it could pass by itself & surgery was indicated. The surgeon said Sissy's glucose was low at 40 & she wanted to raise it & give her fluids before operation. Dr said she would call me after operation. Oh No, I said, we will be right here until after operation & we stayed until it was over & Sissy was in recovery. We didnt see her until next day but they encouraged that I call any time--day or night to get updates on her & I did because I couldnt sleep although I was very tired.

MON 4.30.12 Sissy stayed at animal hospital & we visited & later called.

Tues 5.1.12. Sissy stayed at animal hospital until this morning when we picked her up. She seems to be doing good considering everything she's been through. She's in a crate to keep her from moving too much & jumping etc. It's going to be hard to keep her "calm & not much activity" for TWO WEEKS. I'm giving meds, cold compresses, small food six times a day, observe for any problem.

Anyway that's what has been going on with Sissy. I just hope she heals properly INSIDE and OUTSIDE. Sorry this was so long... just wanted you all to know about it. Gotta go now; it's time give her a tiny bit to eat. ... Kay in NC

Freedom
05-01-2012, 05:37 PM
Oh my goodness! Prayers from RI for healing and complete recovery.

It looks like a "foot," like from a bread board, or a modem, a DVD player, something like that. Some many items have those feet now, and they do come off now and again.

How scary for all of you! Poor baby girl, please give her some gentle cuddles from me.

pomtzu
05-01-2012, 05:50 PM
Oh my goodness - poor little Sissy. Thankfully you caught it and were able to get her treatment. With such a good sized portion of her intestine removed, she may need a special diet and frequent feedings for the rest of her life, but I suppose the vet will discuss that when the time comes.

Some dogs will eat just about anything, and you'll just have to watch her like a hawk from now on. My niece's yellow lab had surgery for eating rocks. Once wasn't bad enough, but she did it a second time a couple of years later, and required surgery again. A very expensive procedure - and niece's hubby now calls Ms Rock Eater his million dollar dog. Well not that expensive - but VERY expensive.

Sending prayers and good vibes to Sissy for a complete and speedy recovery. Smooches to Sissy from all of us here in DE.

cassiesmom
05-01-2012, 05:51 PM
Oh my goodness! Prayers from RI for healing and complete recovery.

How scary for all of you! Poor baby girl, please give her some gentle cuddles from me.

From here too! (both the prayers and the gentle cuddles):love:

Karen
05-01-2012, 05:51 PM
Puppies WILL ingest things they should not! Yikes, that must have been scary, particularly as she's so little. Thank goodness they were able to find it and do the surgery and we hope she recovers well.

robinh
05-01-2012, 06:22 PM
How scary! Prayers being said that Sissy gets well soon.

Roxyluvsme13
05-01-2012, 07:00 PM
Oh no! I saw the title of this thread and my heart sank.

I'm so glad Sissy is okay. Lily's gotten into things she shouldn't have gotten into before as well and has been rushed off to the E-vet, but thank god, we've never had to have surgery!

It's also pretty common for Poms to get low glucose, though I'm sure hers was obviously related to her not feeling good.

Give that sweet baby girl some love for me and I'm sending her wishes for a speedy recovery!

Scooter's Mom
05-01-2012, 07:30 PM
Oh how frightening!
Please give her some gentle cuddles from me as well...

chocolatepuppy
05-01-2012, 08:40 PM
Oh no Sissy! Get better soon!

happylabs
05-01-2012, 08:56 PM
Oh my goodness, scary. Glad she is okay. She is just a dear little thing.

dab_20
05-01-2012, 09:06 PM
How scary! So relieved to hear Sissy is okay and in recovery. Looks to me like a bottom to something like mentioned above ^ maybe an electronic or even a chair. Puppies are such curious little things!

Lots of loves for Sissy, hope she gets feeling better real fast!

Alysser
05-01-2012, 09:58 PM
OH what fun puppies can be...:eek:

Holy crap that is scary!! SO glad to hear little Sissy is okay, gosh I wonder how she even swallowed that. Mikey swallowed a sock recently, luckily threw it back up within 3 days! But this is a perfect example of what could happen. I am just so happy she is fine now. Pups will be pups...

BE careful, Sissy!! Don't scary mom like that again! It looks like the cap/bottom of a chair leg to me as well. Maybe a stool even. If you got her from a breeder, it could have even happened there! I imagine this took awhile to travel through her system and you've only had her about a month or so if I remember correctly. Those things come off so easily and I have seen dogs try and eat them. It happened at work once, lucky we caught the pup though!

wishbone
05-02-2012, 01:19 AM
That is so heartbreaking and Sissy is so brave! Sending more vibes for her faster recovery..

Josh and Dan

kaycountrygal
05-02-2012, 11:51 AM
Wed May 2 2012

Thanks everybody for your comments regarding little Sissy. For those of you who have gone through some sort of event like this, I'm glad your dog did ok. It's amazing and puzzling (and scarey) at what they'll eat. Some of you suggested what the rubber object was & I've been looking throughout the house & I cant find anything on the bottom of furniture or vcr, dvr, electronic stuff or vet suggested it might have come off the back of a hanging picture frame. My brother suggested that it could have come off kitchen utensils but I dont have any that have a recessed area, just plain plastic. I dont know, wish I did.

I am really thinking she had it inside her when I got her on 3.17.12 from a woman a few miles away who raised the puppies in her house. One of these days I'll visit & just chat with her, not in any accusatory way but just to tell her about Sissy because I dont want it to happen to any more puppies she might have.

We made it ok through yesterday & last night. Sissy's appetite is good IF I feed her chicken breast & rice which I cooked for her & I certainly dont mind doing it. It's wonderful to see her eat her tiny little meals. And, yes, she drinks some water also. She doesnt like the a/d they said she ate in hospital. She doesnt like to be confined in the crate but that is best for her & we do take her out to eat, bathroom, cold compress, & just plain hold & talk to her. She really is a sweet little puppy born 2.1.12 & weighs 2.4 lbs.

Oh, big news imo... She had a bm yesterday--her first since the operation Sun evening--& bm early this morning. It was soft but not diarrhea. I was just relieved that she could have one with her new intestinal setup & so glad it was not diarrhea.

I find this recovery a bit stressful. I was told by dr & also my instructions say "gastrointestinal incisions can break down; the most critical period is 3-5 days post-op... It is particularly concerning since she apparently developed a blood clot in the vascular arcade supplying blood to the damaged section of bowel during the surgery..." The blood clot is why dr had to cut off most of small intestine in order to find good tissue.

She's sleeping now; her pain med makes her drowsy. Continue to keep us in your thoughts. Thanks. Kay in NC

kaycountrygal
05-02-2012, 05:03 PM
Here's pic of incision on her tummy.

robinh
05-02-2012, 05:21 PM
Lots of prayers for the little sweetie. That incision is huge for such a little baby.

lizbud
05-02-2012, 05:27 PM
Oh my, I'm so sorry to hear about Sissy's scare.:( Poor baby must have been very uncomfortable being
blocked up like that. It looks like she is over the hard part and now she'll just rest & get better day by day.:love:

She does look her most pitiful in the pic with the " get me out of here" caption.:D Prayers & gentle hugs for
baby girl Sissy.;)

whoopdeedo
05-02-2012, 05:41 PM
I'm so sorry you and your poor puppy, Sissy, had to go through so much. I can't even imagine how scary that must have been. I hope she continues to get better. My prayers are with you both.:love:

mrspunkysmom
05-02-2012, 07:35 PM
Oh dear. I'm glad you stuck to your guns and prayers that she's okay now.

Varga
05-03-2012, 12:46 AM
How scary! :eek: poor little girl

Hope she'll continue getting better. All the best to you all.