Aug2012_OLD MILL VET SURGERY PET OF THE MONTH
Please don’t give a dog a bone!
Whilst we might think we’re treating our dogs when we give them leftovers or bones, there is an unfortunate reality to this luxury.
Whilst we might think we’re treating our dogs when we give them leftovers or bones, there is an unfortunate reality to this luxury.
Meet Venus, a miniature Bull Terrier, who was so excited to get a brisket bone from her well-meaning owners, that she swallowed it whole. When it got stuck in the oesophagus, she became very ill – violently vomiting when she tried to eat, and showing signs of being in severe pain.
Venus was brought into the Old Mill Vet Surgery and upon x-raying, the bone was located still in the oesophagus, right in front of the stomach and behind the heart.
It was too large and too far down to be removed through the mouth, so a procedure was performed to push it into the stomach, which then allowed Dr. Annika to remove it via surgery.
Venus was not out of the woods yet though, as the bone had ruptured the wall of the oesophagus and xrays showed fluid accumulating in her chest. Phase two of Venus’ treatment involved placing a tube into the chest to drain this fluid, and another tube into her stomach to allow for feeding. With such trauma to her oesophagus, she cannot eat or drink like a normal dog, so instead the nurses give her six feeds per day through her stomach tube. Venus remains in the Intensive Care Unit and is on strong medication to treat for pain, infection and ulcers. Despite still needing to drain her chest up to six times daily, the vets note she is physically more comfortable and alert than before. Whilst the full extent of the injury to her oesophagus is not known, it is hoped that Venus will make a full recovery and can leave ICU in the coming weeks.
You can follow Venus’ progress on the Old Mill Vet Facebook page: www.facebook.com/oldmillvet and send your support to her through there.
Venus was brought into the Old Mill Vet Surgery and upon x-raying, the bone was located still in the oesophagus, right in front of the stomach and behind the heart.
It was too large and too far down to be removed through the mouth, so a procedure was performed to push it into the stomach, which then allowed Dr. Annika to remove it via surgery.
Venus was not out of the woods yet though, as the bone had ruptured the wall of the oesophagus and xrays showed fluid accumulating in her chest. Phase two of Venus’ treatment involved placing a tube into the chest to drain this fluid, and another tube into her stomach to allow for feeding. With such trauma to her oesophagus, she cannot eat or drink like a normal dog, so instead the nurses give her six feeds per day through her stomach tube. Venus remains in the Intensive Care Unit and is on strong medication to treat for pain, infection and ulcers. Despite still needing to drain her chest up to six times daily, the vets note she is physically more comfortable and alert than before. Whilst the full extent of the injury to her oesophagus is not known, it is hoped that Venus will make a full recovery and can leave ICU in the coming weeks.
You can follow Venus’ progress on the Old Mill Vet Facebook page: www.facebook.com/oldmillvet and send your support to her through there.
