Intestinal Obstruction!! ... and a WARNING.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Oscar is in the emergency animal hospital after having had obstruction surgery last night. He's doing fine now, where they're keeping him for post op observation for the next 24 hrs. I can't say I'm all that surprised that this happened. Oscar eats EVERYTHING in sight. Just last week I'd commented on the discussion, 'Doodle Eats Everything!!!, about how Oscar was one of those kinds of dogs, and how I was concerned he may have eaten a lost earring earlier in the week, and that I was monitoring his behavior for anything out of the ordinary. So that's been on my mind. Last night I called our neighborhood vet (2 blocks away) after an eventful evening of Oscar throwing up voluminous quantities repeatedly. It was obvious he wasn't feeling well, lying down rather than playing with Lucy, and earlier in the day he'd refused his breakfast. (That was an absolute FIRST for Oscar, who will normally eat anything, any time, anywhere!) They had an immediate opening to see Oscar, so off we went (bad idea to take the car... I've got some onerous work ahead today to get the back seat cleaned up after Oscar upchucked about a quart of foul smelling liquid vomit).  Surprisingly, no earring showed up on the x-rays. However, about half a dozen areas of his small intestine were twice the size they should have been, indicating a possible obstruction. So off we went again, this time to the emergency vet hospital downtown. They could do the obstruction surgery and keep him for after hours observation.

We wracked our brains trying to figure out what it could have been that Oscar had eaten to cause an obstruction. We are so good about keeping things off the floor and out of reach. The exceptions are, low-pile area rugs, dog toys and mats, and water dishes. The only dog toys I allow to be out all the time are balls, because I know they can't be chewed up. Fast forward a few hours, after Oscar's surgery, the doctor called and told me what the obstruction had been. Here it is in this pic... can you guess what it was?

 

It was the neoprene 'Quiet Spot' tag silencer (its ironic a quick google search found it on a site called KeepDoggieSafe.com  http://www.keepdoggiesafe.com/quiettags.html?gclid=CKmnzP6I6bYCFU7h...). Think I'll contact the company and tell them just how safe their product really is! Anyway, I'd noticed it gone about a week ago, but had no idea when it was lost. I figured it was while out on a walk. Oscar normally only wears his collar when outside (I had to go through a lot of pictures of Oscar to find the one above of him wearing his collar indoors). Luckily, it had no sharp edges, as it was made only from neoprene and Velcro. Needless to say, I won't be asking for it back! Instead, I've ordered a plastic Rabies tag to sandwich between his ID tag and Dog License. That should keep those tags from jingling, AND keep Oscar safe!

So, just a warning that those 'Quiet Spot' dog silencers can come off, and if you have a dog like Oscar, it will get eaten and could become lodged in their gut. Oh, and BTW, this little jaunt to the emergency vet will cost us well over $3000 up front. Thankfully, we do have pet insurance so a portion will be reimbursed!

 

UPDATE: Hi everyone, thank you all so very much for your concern of Oscar... He did so well yesterday at the animal hospital that they released him to us last night. He was very happy to see us! He's doing well, and doesn't appear to be in a great deal of pain. He is on pain meds and maybe that's why. He slept really well last night and he's eaten several small meals of boiled chicken and rice without any problems at all.

People have said we're lucky to have caught this early. Areas of the small intestine could have died had we waited longer, which would have resulted in an intestinal resection. As far as catching it early, there were some strong indicators that something was very wrong, very quickly, and maybe this info could help someone else to get to the vet ASAP if their doodle is found to have the same symptoms. The most obvious was the frequent and COPIOUS vomiting. I'm convinced he threw up more than just his stomach contents (I know this is kind of gross!). A lot of that had to have come from his small intestine. Oscar has had bouts of stomach upset in the past and he only threw up small amounts (albeit frequently). Plus, he never lost his appetite during those particular stomach issues. So losing his appetite was the second indicator. With these 2 'symptoms' we knew something was wrong, all within about a 60 min. time frame. I'm not sure if this is the way all dogs would react to an intestinal blockage, but its the way it happened with Oscar.

I also wanted to report that the vet bill for the animal emergency hospital was well UNDER what was originally quoted to us ($3000-$6000). The total came to $2260. I think it was well below because we avoided complications, AND Oscar recovered so well the day following surgery. Our neighborhood vet's bill was just over $300.

I just took this picture of Oscar. Between his oral surgery as a young pup, his neuter surgery and this event, Oscar continually seems to be sporting the 'shaved leg' fashion statement!

 

2nd UPDATE:

Several of you asked about Oscar's insurance and wanted to know how fast Embrace Insurance would process the $2260.39 emergency vet hospital claim. We received an email from them last Friday that a check was being sent that day for $1785.79. So it took them 1 week to process the claim. The other claim for our local vet's services (exam, x-rays and fluids) for over $300 still hasn't come through. I've done some checking on it and Embrace never received the claim, so I've had to have the vet resend it. The delay with that claim wasn't the insurance company's fault.

As for Oscar, and how he's doing, I've had his incision checked by my vet a couple times already and he tells me he's healing well. He gets his staples out this Wed. He's still wearing his Comfy Cone in his crate, but he doesn't seem to mind it at all. Keeping Lucy and Oscar from rough housing has been the major issue, as they just naturally want to do it. They can play with a ball together quietly, though, (lying on the floor, one squeaking the ball in the other's ear, until the other one takes it and reciprocates). We're all anxious for Oscar to be done with his recovery so he can get back to his normal activities.

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Wow....how scary for all of you and I am very happy Oscar is going to be fine. What a little stinker. Also, glad you have Pet Insurance.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Well, first of all I'm happy to hear that he is going to be ok which is the most important part.  I'm also happy to hear that you have Pet Insurance.  You will have to let us know how the insurance handles your claim.  Hopefully no hassels.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

This certainly isn't the first claim we'll have had for Oscar this year (we've already met the yearly deductible.. and beyond) and the insurance company has been very good in paying out what they outline in their coverage. The plan we've chosen doesn't cover prescription meds so that portion won't be covered, but everything else should be. They pay out relatively quickly too (especially if the vet's office sends the claim electronically). Still, I'm considering switching companies next year for a higher percentage of coverage (our insurance currently covers 80%). Its times like these that that extra 10% could make a big difference. Then again, a different company might not be as good about paying out claims in a timely manner. I'll have to look at all the pros and cons of switching.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, Debb, I'm so sorry Oscar has to have surgery, but very grateful that you got him to the vet and the problem is being corrected! Poor you and poor Oscar! 

I hope his recovery is quick and uneventful. Will he have to spend the night at the hospital?

Hugs to you both! 

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Thanks, Karen, I appreciate it! I just got a call from the animal hospital and the vet says Oscar is doing well and just ate a small portion of kibble. They're going to reduce his pain meds and later today transition him to pain pills. She said he was doing so well, that we may be able to pick him up tonight. It depends on if he keeps the meal down. So, we'll see. Oscar did kind of poorly with his neuter recovery (he was in a lot of pain for a lot of days... in the absence of any infection), and the vets tell me this recovery will be a lot harder. So, I'm bracing myself for what's to come. It really hurts me to see Oscar in pain, but just being close will give him some comfort.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I know how you feel. Sending positive thoughts that Oscar's recovery will be as easy as possible for both of you. 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Thank goodness it sounds like he will be fine.  Poor baby! I would definitely write to that company-and send them the bills, as well!  

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Yeah, well, I doubt I'll send them the bills (although I'm NOT saying I won't!). What's the worst they could do?? Nothing.) I really just wanted others to be aware that this little silencer is not fail safe and it packs a BIG punch if swallowed, and any place I can leave a review about the product, I will.

[Leslie and Halas]

I'm glad he's going to be OK!  I hope the insurance works well.  Please let us know.  Wishing Oscar a quick recovery.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Scary. Glad Oscar is safe. Yay for insurance.

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

Debb I'm so sorry to hear about Oscar and your experience.  It probably happens a lot. Some dogs will eat anything and this little plastic chewy must have seemed like a wonderful treat. Just after you find out he doesn't need the dental work then you have this.  Good thing you have insurance.  Hopefully you won't need it again.  Oh and BTW, he has gotten so big! He is starting to look like Lucy.

Good luck with the recovery. It will probably be a challenge to keep him quiet since he is a puppy.... remember Lucy's litter mate who broke both front legs and had to be in the crate for months?  This won't be that bad (i hope)

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Thanks, Jeanne...

Oh, and yes, I DO remember her. Wasn't it Molly (or Imp, as Sandi called her... the tiny little runt of the litter)? 14 days of recovery is what the vets are teling me before the staples can come out. I doubt going for walks will be restricted after the first 5 days or so, but definitely no running or jumping or roughhousing with Lucy. We've been down this road before with his neuter recovery, so we kind of know what to expect.

And YES, Oscar IS looking more and more like Lucy! When they run together we can't tell them apart at first glance. Lucy has a fuller tail, but they're almost the same height now and before this latest emergency, Oscar weighed almost 50lbs! Its funny when one comes up to us or we see one out of the corner of our eye, we're always getting them mixed up with the other!