Can't shake the nerves(long).

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

My stomach has been in knots since Thursday morning around 3 am. I awoke to my dog standing and panting at me on the bed. She wouldn’t move, just pant pant pant. We took her out, she used the bathroom, but still she just stood there and panted.

I got up to sit with her a while, and she wouldn’t sit or lay down. She couldn’t jump up on the bed or couch either. She had gotten a cortizone shot the day before for her skin allergies, so I naturally thought she was having some kind of reaction to that. I called the after hours number to the vet, got hold of the vet(which she tried to talk me out of calling her in at 5:20am), but she agreed and we met her there.

Initial exam showed that her legs and back were fine, but she thought something might be wrong with her stomach. She sent us home with a shot, and two pain pills and to call her around noon. Two hours later Oreo still won’t sit or lay down, and to make matters worse, she’s falling asleep standing up. Her little legs would buckle and sometimes she’d just hit the floor. I called again, took her in to get xray and blood work done. Xray showed she has a mass in her stomach. Her white blood cell count is high though she says it isn’t cancer. She says it looks like food. The size of a softball.

She starts giving her antibiotics and medicine for upset stomach and eventually I take her home. She seemed better once home. She was able to lay down for long periods and was more alert, things like that. Then around 3am again this morning, she starts whining. She’ll lay down, whine, change positions, whine etc etc. Of course I’m worried, I know she’s in pain. Plus she hasn’t eaten since Wed. night.

Today (I stay home from work, again) to watch her. She still can’t get comfortable, and now she’s limping really bad on the leg they took blood from. I don’t know what to do with her. I called the vet’s office several times telling them what’s happening but they really won’t tell me what to do other than to watch her and give her her medicines. I bought some of their canned dog food, which she has no trouble eating. She also had no trouble drinking.

Now the weekend is here and I’m still just as nervous. She’s still uncomfortable, and yelps from time to time when she gets up. They’re waiting to see if she’s going to pass this big thing herself first. Personally I wish they’d just cut her open and get it out so she can feel better, but I guess they know best.

And for now I sit here with butterflies in my stomach and tears ready to fall the next time she screams.

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Hope things get better - it is so stressful to watch them suffer and know there’s nothing you can do. {{{hugs}}}

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Good Lord, I don’t blame you. I’m a nervous wreck when my pups are sick. How the heck do they expect her to pass a softball? That just doesn’t sound right. And I’d think they’d be a bit more concerned about the obvious pain. I guess it’s good that she’s eating and drinking, but I also have to wonder if it’s wise to put more food in her until the thing comes out.

Please accept my best wishes and keep us posted!

4

Hi-

Did they do a barium series yet? That should be done ASAP- they should be monitoring where that “mass of food” is going (or not going). When you called the vet office- did you talk directly to the vet or just to the receptionists? If you haven’t spoken to a vet yet about your dogs continued discomfort- call back again and be pushy about talking directly to the vet. I manage a vet hospital and the employees I have now would have gotten the vet on the phone- but they don’t always start out knowing what is important and what isn’t. I can’t imagine sending a patient home with a possible blockage that is as painful as you describe- that really is nothing to “wait and see” on.

I hate to judge any vet over the internet because I see so many times that there is more to the story, or people declined recommended treatment (not saying this happened here), etc- but if they don’t start getting aggressive about this -I’d go for a second opinion (try to pick a vet based on a friend’s reference if you can).

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Sorry to hear about your family’s illness. We’re pulling for you. Feel free to email me if you need to chat or post whenever we can help out.

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Hi, I’m very sorry to hear your doggy’s so sick. I’m a nurse (of humans, not animals) and I frequently come across cases where people with life-threatening illnesses have been fobbed off, dismissed and generally badly treated by medical professionals who are too lazy to listen properly or do a proper examination. By nature I’m quite a shy person, but the more of these awful stories I hear, the more I become an evangeliser for being assertive when it comes to the health of your loved ones. I think this applies to our beloved pets too, especially since they can’t speak for themselves, so I my advice is to insist on speaking to a vet and keep asking questions until you are sure of what they think is happening, sure that they understand exactly how much pain your poor dog is in, and sure that you are satisfied with their treatment plan. Sometimes, knowing that someone thinks you are a complete pain is the price you pay for peace of mind. Good luck, and best wishes to your poor dog. Hope she feels better very soon.

Louise

7

Thank you all for the well wishes.

Ok, for some more information I was too tired to write:

I have talked to the vet herself a few times. She does want to see if the medicine she gave Oreo would break up what’s in her stomach. The thing that is crazy to me is that Oreo never had a problem going to the bathroom. There’s no bulge in her stomach. She ate and drank normally. That’s why when all of a sudden she was sick it was so shocking, because there were no signs at all. She was normal, happy, and energetic and then bam…she wakes up like this. She’s a 50 lb dog, you’d think something the size of a softball would show somehow. Plus, how in the world would food get stuck in there?

As far as the food thing goes, the vet said that’s what it looks like, so I’m guessing she’s not sure. I don’t like this vet actually. She’s made too many smart ass comments. For example, when I asked her if feeding Oreo would just go on top of what was already in her stomach, she replies, “Unfortunately I’m not a psychic to know whether or not she has passed that mass.”

Exact words I swear. Yesterday I called and asked them if they would want to see her again to make sure it’s not in her stomach anymore, and they said no. They want me to call and let them know how’s she’s doing and if she starts to backslide in any way (vomitting, or doing that panting standing thing) to let them know right away.

Today she seems to be doing better, and I’m so thrilled I was crying. There’s been no yelping of any kind, she actually jumped up on the bed for the first time since Wednesday. She’s still limping pretty bad on that one leg which I’ll let them know Monday. As far as that mass goes in her stomach, I have no idea. I certainly haven’t seen anything the size of a softball come out. She hasn’t needed any pain meds or stomach meds either. I just keep giving her the antibiotics.

I know I won’t feel 100% better until she’s had another xray and her blood taken again, but the vet hasn’t as of yet said she wanted to do that just now. Besides, all this has already cost us $382 and that broke the bank. So for now I’ll hope she continues to get better everyday and if, God forbid, she does take a turn for the worse, I’ll do everything I can to get the money to take care of it.

Thanks again :slight_smile: Oh by the way, should I take this opportunity to show you just how darling Oreo is? I do have some pics of her.

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I hate to suggest something expensive, but have you thought about getting a second opinion from a DIFFERENT vet?

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Yeah I thought about it, but there is only one other vet in town and he is more expensive. I even called and asked if they would do a payment plan and they said no, just hold a check for 2 weeks. That’s what I had to do with this vet too.

I have made up my mind though, if after the antibiotics are done and they dont’ suggest another xray, that I’m going to have to go to the other vet and ask my mom for the money.

10

Do you let Oreo have a treat called Greenie?

I just saw on the news that it has killed dogs when pieces have gotten stuck in their esophaguses and intestines. I thought of your problem when I saw it and got right on the computer to let you know, just in case.

I’m glad that it looks like Oreo is on the mend. May she makes a full and quick recovery, no matter what the cause was.

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Darn! I meant to preview to make sure that link would work. Here it is again.

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Thankfully no, I’ve never given her that though we saw it at the vet’s the other day and thought about buying it. Thanks for the tip, now I really won’t buy it.

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Are they certain it was a solid mass? My older cat, when he was around 2 or so, got sick suddenly with all the symptoms you’re describing- crying (in his case, he was screaming), couldn’t get comfy, wouldn’t jump on anything, etc. I brought him to the vet immediately, and they took x-rays. As soon as they put the x-ray up, the vet and I (I have some experience with such things) burst out laughing.

The damn cat was positively full of gas. Which showed up on the x-ray as masses, but there’s a difference in how a solid mass looks vs. a ball of gas.

He got some shots, and some antibiotics to take, and within a few days was just fine. Apparently he’d gotten a hold of something that violently disagreed with him.

I would definitely consider a second opinion, as well as changing vets.

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Jeezopete. Sounds to me like you need a new vet. Sending best wishes for Oreo to feel better soon.

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bobkitty I don’t know how certain she is that the mass is solid. She did mention that she had some gas pockets in there too. Right now I can’t really tell how much more Oreo is progressing because of her sore leg. She seems to be laying on her stomach fine and w/out complaint, but still limping. I hope it’s just gas. Her stool is still soft too, but not runny. And she’s still going regularly, all good signs I hope.

Archergal finding a new vet will depend upon the outcome of this. Right now with signs of her getting better I’m going to hold off until Oreo is done with her antibiotics. If the vet suggests doing another xray, that’ll be a plus in my book.

Oh and here is what my baby looks like.

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Those are beautiful photographs. That first one should be framed in large format on a wall.

Glad she seems to be doing better. I’ll second the “look into changing vets” idea. Or at least talk to the current one about your concerns with their communication skills. You should be as comfortable talking to your vet as to your own doctor.

17

She’s doing worlds better today, I’m very happy but I scheduled an xray for Thursday to see if the “mass” is still there, or getting smaller. I’ll feel better once I know for sure.

As far as the pictures go, thanks :slight_smile: Actually the first one won first prize at a small pet photo contest. I won for both my dog and cat in those categories. I had an 8x10 of each and had them on my wall by my trophies.