Worried sick about Ajax

[NicoleLJ]

I am so worried right now. Ajax is really sick. Since yesterday morning he has not been able to keep water or food down. And he is now starting to get lethargic. I thought maybe he might be feeling better this morning because he drank some water and it stayed down. So hubby went to church and I stayed home to keep an eye on him. Well a few minutes ago up came all teh water.

When hubby gets home I am having him phone the vet and take him straight over. I am worried that since he can't even keep water down that he might have a blockage of some sort. Hubby should be home in an hour and a half. I hate waiting that long but I have no way to get him to the vet before that. I am so worried. I just don't know what to do.
Nicole

[Cinder & Smoke]

I am so worried.
I just don't know what to do.

Prayers for Ajax!

Spend the waiting time to looka ALL around the house for signs of something
that might have been eaten or chewed upon.

Are there ANY critter poisions that could have been found?

Spilled or leaking vehicle coolant (antifreeze)?

Hopefully it's "just" an upset tummy.

[NicoleLJ]

Someone gave me the idea to phone a friend with a cell phone. I phoned our doctor friend, he is usually on call so always has his phone on him. He gave hubby the phone and hubby is now on his way home. I will keep you posted as to what happens.
Nicole

[NicoleLJ]

He is now on his way to the vet. She said she would meet them there in 15 minutes. Now I just have to sit and wait to find out what is wrong.
Nicole

[Grace]

Prayers for Ajax.

[NicoleLJ]

Sadly I was right. He does have a blockage. And hubby is pretty sure what it is too. He says they suspect it is the leg off of one of Dedrick GI Joe toys. He found teh toy in the yard yesterday. He think he chewed it off the night before when he had them in the back yard for about 15 mintues as he shoveled the front sidewalk and such. The toy must have been under the snow so he didn't see it when he let the dogs out back. I feel just awful now.

So Ajax is staying the night at teh vets. He is very dehydrated. She said she could feel the blockage. And that tomorrow they would know more. She wants to wait till he is hydrated before they do anything. She said she doesn't know yet if they will have to do surgery. She says it depends on where it is located. If they can get it out without surgery then she would prefer that. And so would I. They x-rayed him but she had to go get them developed so we don't know the results yet.

I feel like the worst owner in the world. I thought i was doing a good job of making sure the toys were picked up or he was being supervised when they were out. I pray they don't have to do surgery.
Nicole

[Catty1]

Nicole! At least Ajax will be ok...you know what it is!

This has happened to other pets, too - and if you weren't as careful as you have been, this could have happened more often, or worse!

Snow hides things, and puppies love to dig.

And hey - PT People are always happy to chip in for surgery costs (and others too), so please let us know.

HUGS!

[NicoleLJ]

Thanks. The vet told hubby that it will be between $750 - $1000 depending on if he requires surgery or not. Hubby's parents are covering the cost for us and we will pay them back when we can. The last thing on my mind was money. I just wanted my boy checked out.

I hate this not knowing and not being there. He has never spent a night away from home or even away from Sheena or Luca before. I worry as much about my dogs as I do my kids. But with my kids I would be able to spend the night in the hospital with them. I can't do that with Ajax at the clinic.
Nicole

[Grace]

I'm so sorry - but at least you do know the cause. Will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

{{{{{ Nicole }}}}}

[Taz_Zoee]

Poor Ajax. I will be hoping he will not need surgery and that everything will be fine, so he can be back home with the family soon!

[NicoleLJ]

Ok the vet just called with the x-ray results. What ever it is it is stuck just before the secum(sp?) in teh small intestine. So unless he passes it tonight they will have to open him up tomorrow to remove it. She says what is showng up on the x-ray is 4 little metal ball bearings close together. But she says when you feel it it is not round but long and hard. She says plastic will not show up on the x-ray so she thinks what is showing up is the metal pieces that are in the G I Joes leg. I am praying that he passes it tonight so that they don't have to operate. But that is what we know so far. I don't think I will be getting much sleep tonight.
Nicole

[chocolatepuppy]

Oh no Nicole. I will keep Ajax in my prayers. I'm sure he is in good hands. This could happen to any one of us, no matter how careful we are.

[NicoleLJ]

Thanks for your support everyone. I am so worried about him.

We had people over when the vet called to update me so I didn't remember to ask some questions. When she calls agian this evening I will ask her but until then I was wondering if you guys might know the answer. If he has the surgery, with it being in the small inestine what does the operation entail? And what is teh survial rate of it? I know I should have asked when she called, and I know that surgery is the only option if he can't pass it. But these details I need to know. With him only being 5 months old I am wondering if that means he will have a harder time recovering or handling the surgery. Does anyone know?
Nicole

[lizbud]

I am so sorry about Ajax. I couldn't remember which came first, the
small or large intestine, so I looked this up.

http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=512


I hope the mass is small enough to be passed. Prayers for Ajax from
us in Indy.

[NicoleLJ]

Thanks. Actually a friend on another forum was able to give me this link:

http://www.thepetcenter.com/sur/io.html

It tells you all about the surgery, pictures included, and even how to feed them afterwards. It was hard for me to look at and read but it helped me knowing what he might go through tomorrow and knowing now what to do when he gets home. For anyone going through this I would suggest they check out that link,
Nicole