Blitz At Vet

[dmswartzfager]

DH woke me up around 6:15 this morning to tell me that Blitz had blood coming from his rectum, and had made several trips outside (but he didn't know what Blitz did out there). Blitz's temp was normal and capillary refill time looked good, with pink gums, and since there wasn't any sign of "gushing" blood from his anus, I opted to take him to Highway when they opened at 7:30. I got there around 7:45 and spent some time filling out the "S" part of his chart (subjective - what the owner reports) before another nurse came in to take over from me. (I work at Highway, for anyone confused.) Today, however, is orientation day for my PhD program, so I had to leave him there after helping to hold him for Dr. Elise to examine him.

 

PCV/hematocrit/CBC/Chem 12 look to be within normal range when they were done around 9 this morning. The rectal exam indicated no hard stool in his colon, just a bit of blood on Dr. Elise's glove, and Dr. Elise said his bum smelled like bloody diarrhea. I left to go to orientation, and luckily, they didn't have any surgeries scheduled, so they set him up in the surgery room and put a baby gate across the door so he could watch and be watched from the treatment room. Dr. Elise later reported that when they walked him the first time, there was a bunch of grass, mucous, and blood in his stool, and knowing we are raw feeders, opted to have his fecal material sent out for culturing. She did see some rod-shaped bacteria in his stool sample. The second time was all red blood.

 

I asked her to get abdominal radiographs and start IV fluids. She called back a little later and asked if I knew why there were staples in his abdomen. Now, he had had exploratory abdominal surgery a little less than a year ago, so I thought they could be from that, and that may be the case - they did use surgical clips to close off some bleeders when they were in there. Still, I have been in contact with Dr. Patty and she said surgical clips and paper staples don't look alike, and suggested I take bread to Blitz and feed him, which I will at least take along with me when I go back to Highway in a few minutes to give Blitz his eye medication, since I forgot to take that with me this morning. Unfortunately, Patty is working late at another clinic - she was going to have me borrow the radiographs so she could look at them this evening.

 

Anyway, the feeling right now is hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. His discharge is scheduled for 7:20 this evening so they can get all the fluids into him, and then I am to take him back tomorrow morning for a repeat of the PCV/hematocrit and probably more IV fluids.

 

Fingers crossed that HGE is the correct diagnosis and this all goes away quickly. We are, unfortunately, "on schedule" to lose a hound - the last three times we've ordered pictures from Marc and Furtography (Dewey Beach and Adoption Expo), we've lost a dog around the time the photos arrived in the mail - and this year's photos arrived yesterday. I try not to be superstitious, but it's a little hard.

 

I'm on my way to go see him and take care of his eyelid.

[Guest trevdog]

Sending lots of prayers......hoping he recovers quickly. Could he have gotten into some office supplies?

 

 

 

 

[Burpdog]

Sending lots of prayers!

[Guest RooRoo]

Positive thoughts ONLY!!! Hang in there. Hugs to Blitz, poor baby.

[iluvgreys]

Oh dear. Sending light and prayers to Blitz. He's been through so much lately.

[Guest mountain4greys]

Lots of positive thoughts for Blitz!!

[Batmom]

Big prayers, Deanna & Brian.

[patricia]

Chanting for good news and a quick recovery.

[grey14me]

:hope

[KingsMom]

Sending prayers and good thoughts for Blitz! Hoping for a quick recovery!

[turbotaina]

Oh, no, Deanna! Hope it's nothing too serious and he's back on the mend soon!

[Guest moremoney]

Good luck.

[CaliforniaGreys]

Lots of prayers coming from here. Blitz has been through so much! Not to mention you!

[Fiona3]

Fingers crossed here that they have found the correct diagnosis and Blitz will be healing quickly. Keep us posted when you can on his progress.

:goodluck

 

[Guest greybookends]

:hope :hope :hope

[Guest 2Brindles]

Sending healing thoughts to Blitz. Poor guy, I know he's been through a lot, and so have you.

[Guest PiagetsMom]

Try not to be superstitious and think that way, Deanna.......it's said that what you "put out there" tends to find it's way back to you.

 

Sending only good thoughts your way

[Guest Pat2003]

Oh Deanna, hope the diagnosis is correct and Blitz will be on the mend soon.

[carronstar]

Positive thoughts only!! Blitz, feel better soon!

[dmswartzfager]

LOTS of gas - he's belching like crazy, they said, and lots of gas on radiographs. I sat with him through the thunderstorm. I don't believe he's had any more BM since this morning, but it was thundering when we walked him (with his IV bag still attached) to pee, and he wasn't interested in hanging around outside.

 

We go back in an hour or so to pick him up.

[Lilysmom]

poor boy just can't catch a break and neither can you or Brian. Deanna I have told you and Brian this many times, it's amazing how these special pup end up with you and the amazing care you give them (yes I know all of us greyhound owners take special care of our pups, but it's different with you and Brian). I hope and pray this is not a big set back for Blitz and I refuse to believe that any hounds will leave your family any time soon.

 

 

Please give Blitz lovins from me.

 

Please let us know how he's doing once home and calmed down.

 

Karen

[Guest vahoundlover]

oh no Poor fella. Sending lots of prayers.

[GreyPoopon]

Poor Blitz.

 

I hope he feels better soon.

[Guest ss556]

Poor sweet Blitz. Sending prayers for him.

[Xan]

Blitz and you need some chanting!!

 

*Staples are for paper, silly dog! Eat some bread, and pass it all on out! Then go home and have some cookies! Staples are for paper, silly dog! Eat some bread, and pass it all on out! Then go home and have some cookies! *