I miss my doggie

[TorchTheWitch]

Puppy went for surgery this morning to be neutered and have a voluntary gastropexy done at the same time (by voluntary I mean I wanted it done not the doggie). For those that don't know what a gastropexy is it's where the stomach is tacked down so that the dog isn't subject to having a stomach torsion which is a vile and horrible thing to happen, must be caught quickly and the dog rushed to the ER, and a terrible and painful death if you're too late. Large sized dogs are much more prone to a stomach torsion, but it can happen to any dog and at any time for really no reason. My first Akita got a stomach torsion and I was very lucky with him that I was there and knew what to do, so with the second doggie I had him have a gastropexy as a preventative at the same time he was neutered (which the vet did VERY inexpensively) and never had to worry about him ever having a stomach torsion.

This morning I took Yoshi to have the same thing done for him, which I will be very glad of once he's recovered. I got the call this afternoon that the surgery went very well and he was resting comfortably, but he has to stay at the vet clinic overnight. Oh man, I reeeeeally miss him! I know I can pick him up tomorrow morning, but I'm having a hard time getting through tonight without him. I've only had him since mid-September but I bonded very strongly and almost instantly with this dog.

I know it's stupid, but I'm afraid he feels like I abandoned him at the vet and don't want him anymore. Although in truth other than not feeling so good because of having the surgery he's probably enjoying himself... he loves to go the vet for some reason.

I'm going to have a rough night, and I'm just not going to feel better until he's back home with me even if he does have to wear the silly Cone of Shame.

I know, I know... I'm being ridiculous. I know I am, but it's how I feel nonetheless. :cry:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

1. Not ridiculous- say instead beautiful.

A person/pet bond is for life. Never try to diminish it- can't be done! (Typing this with a kitteh tail waving in my face...)

[PETRUS]

2. Hang in there.

[Withywindle]

3. Aw. I totally get it.

You're having a rough night, and so is he (and you know that his is worse than yours). Unfortunately, you have to be apart.


I think a stomach torsion might be what my "doggie sister" died of? German Shepherd, my parents got her as a puppy when I was 3 and she died when I was 13. She was running around with my dad in the yard at night as usual, playing, and started having what seemed to be stomach pains, and was dead before I got up in the morning. They called it "bloat" then, but holy shit, was that traumatic for all of us. (My dad still doesn't like to talk about her much or he gets weepy. She died in 1983.) If there's something to prevent that now, good for you for acting on that opportunity!


It's hard to have a night without your best friend, though, especially when you know your BFF is in an unfriendly-seeming place. But you'll be back together soon. :hug:

[TorchTheWitch]

4. yup, bloat is the layman's term for a stomach torsion

It's REALLY scary how fast it can happen and how fast it kills. I was REALLY REALLY lucky when it happened to my first Akita that I was right there, noticed the symptoms, what it meant, and knew what to do. Once a dog gets it and is rushed into surgery after fixing the problem they automatically do a gastropexy to keep it from happening again since 80% of dogs that have it happen once will have it happen again. That's how I first found out what a gastropexy was... the first Akita that got the stomach torsion/bloat had the gastropexy done during the ER surgery that saved his life.

That's what got me thinking with the next dog that maybe he could have a gastropexy done as a preventative since I was absolutely terrified of it possibly happening again with him... what if I wasn't so lucky again??? That scared the hell out of me. I thought the vet was going to think I was a nut asking him if a gastropexy could be done as a preventative, but I'm soooo glad I asked because he loved the idea. It was agreed that it be done the same time he was neutered and only charged me for the surgical time for the additional gastropexy procedure... since it's a very quick and simple procedure the additional charge for the gastropexy was VERY insignificant (and I mean VERY!). He happily agreed to do the same thing with the same payment agreement with Yoshi. I would think any good vet would be willing to do the same especially since the bulk of the whole surgical payment is all the other stuff (anesthesia, pain meds, pre-op bloodwork, etc., etc.) rather than the actual surgical time for the gastropexy.

I would urge anyone with a large breed dog or any dog that may have a genetic history of bloat or any other factor that may make them prone to look into having it done as a preventative especially if you can have it done at the same time some other surgery is being done like neutering/spaying. The peace of mind is DEFINITELY worth it.


OMG, this night is CRAWLING! I'm hoping I can sleep through most of it, but it always seems that those times you want to sleep through something you can't.