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A free puppy!?!?!? - Printable Version

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- Bucko - 05-22-2002

Carole came dragging home a free little chocolate lab puppy from one of her patients.

Being the runt of the litter, the thing was starving, so much so that it had eaten bark. When we got the puppy it would choke when it swallowed then throw everything up. We took it to the vet suspecting a bowel blockage. Sure enough, xrays confirmed it. Laxatives, enemas and IV fluids took care of that. $300.00.

She continued to choke, even after all of that and developed an aspiration pneumonia. Back to the vet, xrays confirmed it, antibiotics, plus something funny on the xray caused the films to go to a specialist. Another $250.

The specialist sent the puppy to a critical care surgeon in Seattle who confirmed that she has an abberent artery. The arterty comes off of the aorta and goes across the chest and down the leg. Well, her does that as well, but it managed to wrap itself around her esophagus on the way. So it is constricting her esophagus, allowing only thick soup-like foods to pass.

Her fight for life and loving disposition has won the hearts of all she meets. Her surgery is today. May the doggy gods be with her. $3000.

$3550 -- anyone want a free puppy???


- Innkeeper - 05-22-2002

In a perverted way, it sort of reminds me of the time we brought home $1500 worth of newly reupholstered furniture. The next afternoon, while we were all away, the cat destroyed it; AND LIVED!


- hotwine - 05-22-2002

Good grief! Call that pup "Lucky", or "Charmed". Hate to say it, but I probably would have spent a nickel and plugged 'er in the ear.


- wondersofwine - 05-22-2002

Hope your puppy pulls through and lives a long and happy life with you.


- winoweenie - 05-22-2002

I take back ALLA' the nasties I've said about you. WW


- Thomas - 05-22-2002

Bucko, anyone willing to take in a puppy, and then spend $3550 to make it healthy, has to be a good person/s. I salute both of you.


- hotwine - 05-22-2002

I agree. But it ain't over yet - there's still post-op to go, and follow-ups. And special dietary needs, at least for a while. That vet ought to be pickin' up his new Mercedes sometime next week.


- winedope1 - 05-22-2002

Hi guys. Its really winedope, not winedope1 as a new member. My email changed and I couldn't remember my password so I couldn't retrieve my password Etc., hence the new name. Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS BUCKO!!! I applaud your actions and you've picked a great breed! Once her health problems are straightened out, you may want to think about putting her directly onto adult food, of course under the ok of your veterinarian. These dogs grow quickly, and to avoid some developmental orthopedic problems, you will probably want to change her diet sooner than that of some smaller breeds. What did they call her aberrant vessel condition, not a PDA, was it? Also to all, I know a lot of this is in humor, but the majority of us in the veterinary profession work really hard, for fairly low pay. I work with a doctor in a strictly surgical practice, and our average work week runs 60-70 hours, plus after hour phone calls, etc. I do my work because I do love animals and I am pretty darned good at it ( ought to be after 20 years!). If most of us were in it for the money, we wouldn't be in it ! I'm sure there are a number of other professions like this. At least I hope so. : ) WD PS- Bucko- please keep us updated on the little girl's progress. What are you calling her, besides expensive!?

[This message has been edited by winedope1 (edited 05-22-2002).]


- Drew - 05-22-2002

Bucko, as an ex K-9 officer I stand and salute you. Name that dog "Chance".

Drew


- Bucko - 05-22-2002

Wow! Thanks for all of the nice replies! Tawny (named after the Port of course) survived the surgery today, continuing her extraordinary fight for life. She had not one, but two vascular rings encircling her esophagus. The vet surgeon said she would have never survived without surgery, probably succumbing to aspiration pneumonia along the way. He seems to think that she will do just fine with tincture of time, TLC and growth.

Isn't it amazing how one little animal can endear itself so quickly to so many!?

Bucko


- TINAJ - 05-22-2002

First of all, let me congratulate you on your new family member!! I would also like to second winedopes description of a typical veterinary pay scale. We put in a lot of time and in general are paid the least of all medical professionals, but the rewards are endless. I wouldn't want to do anything else. That little dog was sure lucky to find you (vascular ring anomalies are rare, and 2 at once is extremely rare). There is a special place in heaven for people like you. Oh, and by the way, it is usually the "free" pet that racks up the highest bills. Good luck with her recovery.


- Thomas - 05-23-2002

At my home in the Finger Lakes region of New York we have a vet in the area who is willing to make house calls. That is dedication, and that is greatly appreciated. he even called me two days after we had to put down a 12-year-old cat, to see if I was ok. Incredible guy.


- winedope1 - 05-23-2002

I'm glad to see the positive experiences with the vet community. We do try HARD !! Bucko, I'm so glad that she did well today. That condition is unusual, and I'm glad that you were referred to a skilled surgeon. Tina is right, most of the "free" pet are the most costly- I should know- all of my pets are hospital "castoffs". These are pets who were either abandoned or turned over to the hospital because the owners could not afford, or didn't want to do the necessary treatments. I'll say it again, this little girl was so lucky to find you and your wife!!! Will continue to think of you all- please continue to give updates! WD PS- my boss and I have the ultimate "housecall practice". We are called in on referral by general practitioners who need a specialty surgeon. We go the the client's regular vet hospital (bringing all our own equipment and supplies) so that the client and pet are always with a familiar environment and staff> We travel all day with our suitcases so that they don't have to. It's strenuous but really great!

[This message has been edited by winedope1 (edited 05-23-2002).]


- Bucko - 05-23-2002

I brought the puppy home tonight. She headed straight for the food bowl..... some things never change. I'm surprised that they offered her no pain meds.

I did a little research on my own and found that you can safely give puppies 10 mg/lb. of aspirin twice a day, so 5/8 of a baby aspirin it is.

Thanks for the input WD!

Bucko


- barnesy - 05-23-2002

Vets are truly wonderful people, and so are animal lovers. We had a marvelous vet when we were in Idaho, hated leaving her when we moved.

Had another great vet in Wyoming when I was runt myself. I had found one of our cat's kittens, which had two belly buttons. We took the kitten in, me crying to "fix my kitty." A maggot had borrowed into its stomach. We were pretty poor back then so whenever we needed the guy's vet services he would work it out in trade. My dad would usually do some work for him.

The cat's about 15 years old now, fat and sassy. Of course he had to have some other work done a few years later from kidney crystals.

Bucko, enjoy your pooch. It'll pay you back with unadulturated love, many times over.

Barnesy


- winedope1 - 05-23-2002

welcome anytime, Bucko. Although pain management is at the forefront of human and animal medicine now, there are some concerns over its use. If the procedure was relatively quick, they may not have felt justified. Puppies are extremely resilient. There can be concern over use in young animals, as in young children. Also,there may have been concern about depression or extended anesthetic recovery time. It's good to hear that she is already beginning to act like a typical pup. Yea for Tawny and Bucko! PS- check with your vet on use of aspirin if considering more than immediate post-op period and confirm dosage. Problems that occur are generally similar to those in people- ie.- GI upset so give it with food and stop if GI upset occurs.

[This message has been edited by winedope1 (edited 05-23-2002).]

[This message has been edited by winedope1 (edited 05-23-2002).]


- TINAJ - 05-26-2002

1/2 baby aspirin should be fine (check with your vet to be sure) for short term. Watch for any vomiting of blood (digested blood looks like coffee grounds) or dark tarry stools. I hope this description hasn't offeneded anyone--I forget not everybody finds these things "normal". Your puppy probably had strong post-operative medications, as any surgery that enters the chest is quite painful. Young animals usually bounce back relatively quickly, and their organ systems aren't mature so many medications are a little tricky to use with puppies. Again, thank you so much from all of us animal lovers for giving this little girl a chance. Good luck!

Barnsey, I saw the mention of Wyoming. Did you grow up there? If so, where? I spent the first 25 years of my life there. Grew up in the sprawling metropolis of Elk Mountain (pop. 200 counting dogs). I miss it sometimes, but not in the middle of winter.


- Bucko - 05-26-2002

She is running around like she had good sense, 4 days post-op. They are tough little buggers.


- winedope1 - 05-26-2002

after surgery ( not the same, thankfully!), my goofy lab was standing on her operated leg- 1/2 hour post-op!! She didn't seem to realize that we had done anything to her. Talk about nerve wracking- I ran her anesthesia! Glad to hear that Tawny continues to flourish. Waiting to hear about her puppy adventures...


- winoweenie - 05-26-2002

Gracious TINAJ I've gone past the tree on the outskirts of Elk Mtn Hundreds of times on my travels from Denver to Salt Lake. Met the owner of the gas station and his wife...Where are the other 198 folk? WW

[This message has been edited by winoweenie (edited 05-26-2002).]