rivercrow

The dog has been ill lately.

In September, she was very sick. Could keep no food or water in or down. She became dehydrated. She ended up on antibiotic and anti-nausea medications.

We had a repeat this past weekend. Rather than wait for her to get really sick, we took her in. After a barium x-ray apparently showed an obstruction of some kind, she was released home with antacids, an ordered fast, and an 8 am return visit.

The x-ray this morning showed something was still there. Something big and winding, from her stomach to her small intestine. What could it be? Cellophane? Hair? Batting from a toy?

Endoscopy or exploratory surgery? The endoscopy would delay us for a week; if there is an obstruction, then the surgery would have to happen. The surgery is not without risk: there could be nothing, two incisions could be required, there could be leakage, anesthesia is never without risk, and so forth.

We opted for the surgery.

Two hours later, we got a call. A pristine, perfect example of a hard canine hairball. Easy extraction. They saved it for us.

Yum.

We’re waiting for her to wake up. We can visit this afternoon. She can come home on Saturday.

She gets gruel for the next week. And an e-collar. And after that, she gets a PM regimen of hairball meds.

This is a dog, right? Yes. She’s a dog.

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