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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

The doghouse

Advice re PTS decision please

34 replies

Atantrumaday · 27/02/2017 12:34

Hi all,

So my beautiful goldie had emergency stomach surgery for an obstruction on Saturday. He's not a chewer, but had randomly decided to swallow a dishcloth and it got caught in his stomach and intestine.

On removal they intestine was tugged about a fair bit and as a result doesn't appear to be functioning properly.

He rallied after surgery and we were really hopeful, but today the sphincter muscle in the small intestine appears to be constricted and he's quite poorly again.

The vets have given a muscle relaxant in the hope it helps the sphincter relax and normal function to resume but if not the options will be further surgery or pts.

He's almost 10 and he's lost a third of his body weight so pretty weak and compromised.

He's my first dog (have got another too but he was first) and he's just the perfect family dog in every way so I'm finding it really difficult to make a decision. I desperately want him back but I don't want to put him through more surgery when it's probably quite risky.

Any advice?

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GahBuggerit · 02/03/2017 12:56

Hope he continues to improve OP. Give him a snuggle from me xxx

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Atantrumaday · 02/03/2017 15:14

Will do Gah - any excuse He's had a lifetime of hugs today.

Still going well, has had further tablets no problem and kept another small feed of chicken and rice down. Has also had a trot out into the sunny garden with our other dog. Amazing how the other one can just tell he's weak and poorly - usually they get together and bundle around each other but he's giving him a wide berth apart from the odd nose rub.

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Atantrumaday · 05/03/2017 18:41

Just thought I would let you all know that my lovely doggy is recovering really well!

We ended up bringing him home the same night we had the bad news from the vet that there was nothing more they could do. They said to bring him home for a couple of days, that he would deteriorate quickly and then have him PTS.

So we got him back asap last Weds night, I slept on the sofa with him all night, medicating him every 4 hours as instructed by the vet. He slept and slept and slept, was sick a couple of times - was so lifeless I didn't expect him to make it through the night.

Then Thursday morning he heard the kids coming down the stairs, ran to the bottom wagging his tail and honestly since then he's just got better and better.

Rang the vet early Thurs to ask if it was good that he hadn't been sick for 8 hours straight and they said yes, then it just carried on. No more sick, no more regurg, eating everything offered every 4 hours...

Went for a check-up on Friday and he went bouncing through the door - the vet just couldn't believe it. Described it as nothing short of a miracle.

Upping his food little by little and he's yet to do a poo and come off some of his medication but it does look like he's going to be ok.

Thank you all so much for your support and kind words last week, it really helped.