blueberry
07-21-2009, 11:21 AM
Gender? Male
Age? 8 1/2
Color? Blue
Known medical issues? mild kidney disease controlled by diet
thyroid controlled by meds
Usual temperament (stressed, calm)? Calm
Type of food – raw or kibble (brand name)? Prescription Hills Kidney, soaked
Human food allowed? Occasionally (cheese, philly, PB)
Recent diet change? No
Feedings per day (one, two, three)? 2
Feeding(s) at what time(s) of the day? 7am and 5pm
Fast or slow eater? moderate to fast
Ground or raised feeder? Raised
Free access to water? Yes, but limited before and after meals
Allowed to exercise/play right after meals? No, for 1 hour before and after
If known, did sire/dam/littermates encounter this issue? Unknown
Oncoming warning signs, if any? Slight restlessness, progressing to obvious discomfort, vomiting foam/unproductive vomiting
How long after a meal did the incident occur? 5 hours
Time of incident? 10pm
Sequence of events? Ate around 5pm, everything normal, went for a walk at about 8pm, just a light walk around the block, still normal. About 10 pm noticed he was a little restless, he asked to go out, ate grass and vomited it straight back, with foam. Within minutes he was vomiting foam constantly, or trying to, with obvious discomfort. Called my boss (my vet), and asked her to meet me at Surgery as I suspected bloat and was on my way (approx 20 minute drive). As I was speaking to her, Floyd stood up and his stomach expanded like someone was blowing up a balloon. We rushed him in, X-ray showed torsion, vet offered surgery or PTS. We elected surgery with sevoflurane as the anesthetic, and he was on the table by 10.45pm. Surgery was long but uncomplicated, IV fluids, released torsion, loop gastropexy, closed up.
Vet involvement? Yes
Outcome? Surgery went well, uneventful, but long. Floyd regained conciousness quickly after sevo, he and I stayed at the surgery overnight and vet stayed until about 2am when it was clear he was recovering well. Still on IV fluids at this time. Appeared to sleep well, minor discomfort from surgery, but pain meds coping well. However, when we tried to reduce fluids, we also checked blood again and kidneys not coping so well. Eventual outcome was that even through 24/7 IV fluids, periodically reducing fluids to check kidney levels, it became apparent that his kidneys had completely failed, and if he came off fluids he would become progressively sicker very very quickly and die. He had recovered well from the surgery itself, and was feeling OK whilst on the fluids, so we elected to PTS while he still felt reasonably good.
Further comments? From showing no symptoms at all to full stomach blow up was less than 20 minutes. Admittedly he could have been bloating prior to us noticing the symptoms, but I am pretty sure it was that quick! Another 15 minutes to the surgery (yes we broke speed limits and ran red lights!), X rays, sx and torsion relieved in a total of 50 minutes from onset of symptoms and still we couldn't save him.
Yes, he did have kidney issues, but not that severe. Any surgical procedure would probably have had the same outcome, but unfortunately we had no choice but surgery if he was to have any chance at survival from the bloat. We weren't ready to lose him, so we played the odds. We lost.
I know the cost is not mentioned, but financial consideration will always be a factor in whether people opt for surgery no matter how much we would prefer it not to be. Just the bloat surgery and immediate post surgical care was $3,000. I got most of it at cost, and provided the nursing care myself, and it still cost over $2,000. On top of that was the daily blood work and continuing care for his kidney issues, which added up to a further $2,500 (at cost, about $1,800). None of this includes hospitalisation, as a vet tech I was lucky enough to be able to provide home nursing care.
Rest easy big guy, will always miss you. Floyd (4.14.98/12.23.06)
Age? 8 1/2
Color? Blue
Known medical issues? mild kidney disease controlled by diet
thyroid controlled by meds
Usual temperament (stressed, calm)? Calm
Type of food – raw or kibble (brand name)? Prescription Hills Kidney, soaked
Human food allowed? Occasionally (cheese, philly, PB)
Recent diet change? No
Feedings per day (one, two, three)? 2
Feeding(s) at what time(s) of the day? 7am and 5pm
Fast or slow eater? moderate to fast
Ground or raised feeder? Raised
Free access to water? Yes, but limited before and after meals
Allowed to exercise/play right after meals? No, for 1 hour before and after
If known, did sire/dam/littermates encounter this issue? Unknown
Oncoming warning signs, if any? Slight restlessness, progressing to obvious discomfort, vomiting foam/unproductive vomiting
How long after a meal did the incident occur? 5 hours
Time of incident? 10pm
Sequence of events? Ate around 5pm, everything normal, went for a walk at about 8pm, just a light walk around the block, still normal. About 10 pm noticed he was a little restless, he asked to go out, ate grass and vomited it straight back, with foam. Within minutes he was vomiting foam constantly, or trying to, with obvious discomfort. Called my boss (my vet), and asked her to meet me at Surgery as I suspected bloat and was on my way (approx 20 minute drive). As I was speaking to her, Floyd stood up and his stomach expanded like someone was blowing up a balloon. We rushed him in, X-ray showed torsion, vet offered surgery or PTS. We elected surgery with sevoflurane as the anesthetic, and he was on the table by 10.45pm. Surgery was long but uncomplicated, IV fluids, released torsion, loop gastropexy, closed up.
Vet involvement? Yes
Outcome? Surgery went well, uneventful, but long. Floyd regained conciousness quickly after sevo, he and I stayed at the surgery overnight and vet stayed until about 2am when it was clear he was recovering well. Still on IV fluids at this time. Appeared to sleep well, minor discomfort from surgery, but pain meds coping well. However, when we tried to reduce fluids, we also checked blood again and kidneys not coping so well. Eventual outcome was that even through 24/7 IV fluids, periodically reducing fluids to check kidney levels, it became apparent that his kidneys had completely failed, and if he came off fluids he would become progressively sicker very very quickly and die. He had recovered well from the surgery itself, and was feeling OK whilst on the fluids, so we elected to PTS while he still felt reasonably good.
Further comments? From showing no symptoms at all to full stomach blow up was less than 20 minutes. Admittedly he could have been bloating prior to us noticing the symptoms, but I am pretty sure it was that quick! Another 15 minutes to the surgery (yes we broke speed limits and ran red lights!), X rays, sx and torsion relieved in a total of 50 minutes from onset of symptoms and still we couldn't save him.
Yes, he did have kidney issues, but not that severe. Any surgical procedure would probably have had the same outcome, but unfortunately we had no choice but surgery if he was to have any chance at survival from the bloat. We weren't ready to lose him, so we played the odds. We lost.
I know the cost is not mentioned, but financial consideration will always be a factor in whether people opt for surgery no matter how much we would prefer it not to be. Just the bloat surgery and immediate post surgical care was $3,000. I got most of it at cost, and provided the nursing care myself, and it still cost over $2,000. On top of that was the daily blood work and continuing care for his kidney issues, which added up to a further $2,500 (at cost, about $1,800). None of this includes hospitalisation, as a vet tech I was lucky enough to be able to provide home nursing care.
Rest easy big guy, will always miss you. Floyd (4.14.98/12.23.06)