Fudge Had to Go to the Emergency Vet Last Night! Luckily, She is Fine!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Yesterday, it rained all day. Not a light rain either....it was a "walk your dog and get drenched day," which I did twice. The dogs were bored, so I gave them a new bone in the evening and settled down to watch Dancing With the Stars.  If you know anything about me, no one bothers me when DWTS is on. My family even has instructions to hold all calls from the Pope. About an hour into the show, I hear a god awful sound and minutes later, another one. I go out into the foyer and Fudge is frantically circling, licking her lips, moaning, and gulping. I immediately thought she had Bloat. When I let her outside, she was frantic, trying to eat grass, making whimpering noises,  and I noticed that she had vomited in the house, which I assume was the source of one of the loud noises.  Of course, I was home alone.  I checked for obstructions, did not see one, and loaded them in the car and by this time, she was less frantic, but still gulping.

Part of the reason for this discussion is to remind everyone to have a plan when there is an emergency.  I lose my keys every single day. I have already lost my set of car keys and could not find the spare set of keys or the single spare key we keep for emergencies. I couldn't find my phone and kept running to and fro trying to find things and wasting valuable time. Finally, I located the spare key, got ahold of my pet sitter to keep Vern, and Fudge and I made our way to the ER vet.

Once we got there, Fudge's symptoms seemed to be far less severe (naturally) but she was gulping and extending her neck repeatedly. They ruled out bloat, but thought she might have an obstruction.  Fudge was perfect and made me proud. They x-rayed her and did not see an obstruction, but did feel she had shards of bone in her colon waiting to pass. When I got home, the bone I gave them only had a few tiny pieces missing, and the only other thing I know that she has been chewing on is an antler. I will say they have a basket of bones, so I can't be sure.  They gave her fluids and medicine, sent us home with more medicine, and want her on a chicken and rice diet for a couple of days to let her esophagus rest. 

They said no food and water for 8 hours and when we got home, I put the food dishes up and Fudge sat in the kitchen staring at the bowls.  She would not move away from those bowls, and I disobeyed the doctor and opened a can of Fromm soft food and gave her just a bit.  Of course, I found out moments later why no one calls me Dr. Laurie, when she threw it up.  The good news is when she threw up that time she threw up some feathers and what looked like a tiny bone and that seemed to stop the gulping.  She slept all night and did not move this morning when my husband got up. Today, she is tired, but seems better and ate her chicken like a champ. 

I am going to try and have a small kit by the door from now on in case of another emergency. Thank goodness if was not bloat, because every second counts, and I lost many with my poor organizational skills and forgetfulness. Another reminder to get Pet Insurance, because this 4 hour visit cost over $500.

P.S. Nothing proves to my family more than this how much I love my Fudge. I did not hesitate to turn off Dancing with the Stars to take Fudge to the vet.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, the way your discussion was worded, it sounded like you didn't have it. I was surprised. And very glad you do.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I went back and re-read what I wrote and it does sound like I don't have Pet Insurance, but I do. I actually got it driving home with Fudge as a puppy in the car. Same for Vern. I will be interested to see what they pay and am filing a claim this week. Thank you! We don't want to sell our boat....LOL!!

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

So glad Fudge is OK...How very scarey.

 

I actually got pet insurance for Bailey just last month...Makes me breathe a little easier!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thank you, Elizabeth. Yes, I would not be without Pet insurance.

[Charlotte and Bo]

I'm glad both you and Fudge are feeling better.  They sure can be quick when they want something you don't want them to have.  So far I have been lucky since Bo has been more inclined to play with the contraband than to eat it. It's no fun trying to chase down a dog carrying a dead animal or garbage someone has tossed over the fence but it is much better than a frantic trip to vet. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Charlotte, You are so right about the quickness. I never saw her eat feathers, but it could have been in our yard. Who knows?? I hope at some point they outgrow this, but Fudge is three :)

[Joan, Louie and Mila]

Fudge you silly Doodle...glad you and your Mom are OK

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thank you, Joan!!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Laurie, how scary this must have been! I'm so glad it all worked out and she is fine. Good advice about being organized and keeping a kit at the door. I will do just that.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Sherri!! You can make a dog station at your new house :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Not that I've done it but it is good to think about make an emergency bloat kit. I wish there were ambulances for dogs, no joke. I think about something catastrophic with Calla and I'd have an awfully hard time getting her into my car. I guess I would hope a neighbor was home or I'd hope the police would help out.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

F, This is another good point. I really do need to do this, because that was my first thought with how Fudge was acting and by the time I located everything, the outcome could have been bad.  I thought the same thing about ambulances last night.