Posted: 6/22/2010 5:26:02 PM EDT
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First, let me say, if you have anything negative to say, keep it to yourself. I don't want to hear it. Mrs. Birddog and I don't have kids, so our dogs are our kids.
I woke up at about 3 this morning, and heard our Chocolote Lab, Finn, crying. Thinking that he just wanted to go out, I let him go out for the bathroom. About 0630, I fed all of the dogs breakfast. I knew something wasn't right when he wouldn't eat his food at all. He had some water a few minutes later, and promptly threw it up. To keep the story short, it turns out he was severely blocked by two softball sized clumps of grass, of all things. He's recovering from surgery, but may not be out of the woods yet. They're doing a biopsy to check on things, and also explore the fact that he has pancreatitis as well. We're at $5400 now, and I expect the bills to go over $6K. I may have to sell a bit of my collection. Has anyone used pet insurance before? Just got the update that they found some sort of dense cotton blockage in his lower intestine, and the vet believes that Finn was eating all of the grass to try and clear that out. Won't get him home until Thursday, now. |
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Quoted:
First, let me say, if you have anything negative to say, keep it to yourself. I don't want to hear it. Mrs. Birddog and I don't have kids, so our dogs are our kids.
I woke up at about 3 this morning, and heard our Chocolote Lab, Finn, crying. Thinking that he just wanted to go out, I let him go out for the bathroom. About 0630, I fed all of the dogs breakfast. I knew something wasn't right when he wouldn't eat his food at all. He had some water a few minutes later, and promptly threw it up. To keep the story short, it turns out he was severely blocked by two softball sized clumps of grass, of all things. He's recovering from surgery, but may not be out of the woods yet. They're doing a biopsy to check on things, and also explore the fact that he has pancreatitis as well. We're at $5400 now, and I expect the bills to go over $6K. I may have to sell a bit of my collection. Has anyone used pet insurance before? Just got the update that they found some sort of dense cotton blockage in his lower intestine, and the vet believes that Finn was eating all of the grass to try and clear that out. Won't get him home until Thursday, now. I hope he pulls through ok. I had to put down the Lab I grew up with this March, I still get teary eyed when I think about him. I'll never forget you Ben. 
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Quoted: Yeah we spent even more than that on our GSD when she got addison's. She is still with us. Hope your friend gets well. Glad to hear that. God knows how much we've spent in the last 12 years on all of our dogs. But Finn's got plenty of life in him, and I wouldn't consider putting him down because of a financial difficulty. |
| Hang in there, he will be fine. One of my Goldens had a blockage removed when he was 8 months old and fully recovered and lived a great life. I have 2 Goldens now and one ate mushrooms over the weekend and got very sick. She is gonna be fine, but Goldens and Labs will eat damn near anything so you have to watch them all the time. They had a rock eating contest last year. Fortunately no surgery needed but several thousands in vet bills none the less. They are our kids as well so I understand completely. |
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Cotton? Did the vet say what it could have been? Good luck, man. I have a ChocoLab, and she is just great. I feel your pain. If Finn is anything like mine, the cotton could have been: toy stuffing, pillow stuffing, pet bed, fresh harvest from cotton plant, etc etc.  If it can fit in their mouths, they will at least try to eat it.
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Thanks for all of the well wishes. I'll read them to Finn when he comes home. The vet saved what ever was causing the blockage, so we'll see if we can identify what it was. Dogs will eat anything, and that is compounded in Labs, which are very orally fixated, as so many here know. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Dogs will eat anything... Except their antibiotics and pain meds, unless bribed with cheese. Glad to hear your guy is going to be ok. Our black girl, Ceili, has always been the problem pup when it came to this. Not even cheese will work. But, cover it in peanut butter, and it works like a charm! |
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The dog in my post above ate a pair of green silk boxer shorts once, completely unbeknownst to me. I found out when I recovered the 20" inch long green silk turd from the yard. How that did not end in a bowel obstruction I have no idea...maybe because it was silk and not cotton. |
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Sounds like everything's working out for you Birddog. We're right there w/ you. Our dogs are our children as well. We're probably up to $5k or so in vet bills over the last 2 years, and that's with taking care of all but the most serious health issues ourselves.
Best wishes. Your pups are very lucky to have such great parents. ETA: All our dogs are labs / lab mixes. I empathize. They will eat anyting. Garbage disposals w/ legs. |
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Our pits eat everything and anything....I can't figure out how we haven't had to do surgery over some of the stuff that's gone through them. Their favorite is the clumping cat litter....they just won't stay out of it no matter where we put it. There poop is blueish green for a day or two after they eat it too....it's gross.
Hope your pup fully recovers. |