04/25/2023
Tragic Case of the Day:
******Update on the non-client emergency case we saw yesterday morning. While the pictures had no identifying information anywhere of the pet or owner, they were being used to show the public how something so routine and simple in theory can have catastrophic consequences. Post surgery care is extremely important and problems like this can be avoided the majority of the time with proper post surgery instructions and care. We decided to take the pictures down due to the sensitivity of the situation for everyone involved. We do believe pictures speak a thousand words and can relay the severity better than words ever could. This post also shows that when asked to step up, our veterinary staff in our clinic responds and reacts quickly to emergency situations for both client and non-client patients. And lastly and most importantly, this $5 cone could have prevented it all. This is why our clients get one every single time a surgical procedure is done on your pet.
Beware: Graphic pictures!
Life in veterinary medicine never goes as scheduled. This morning, without warning we responded to a case that was in desperate need of help in a timely manner. At 9:08 someone who was not our client walked into our clinic and visibly upset and asking for help. This was not a client that we had ever seen, and this dog is one we had never before seen. She had been spayed at another clinic a few days prior, and the owner noticed that her incision had âsomethingâ hanging out of it and called the clinic where surgery was done. It turns out that that âsomethingâ was several feet of intestines and massive blood loss. Unfortunately, there was so much blood loss and several feet of intestines hanging out of the abdomen that the extra 15 minutes it would have taken to go on down the road to another clinic, would have resulted in the dogâs death before any options could be discussed. One of our technicians is seen on security cameras going to the vehicle and returning with a dog wrapped in blood-soaked blankets. The dog was taken back immediately, and emergency stabilization was started, thanks to the help of our very efficient and well-trained staff. These types of stabilization measures include placement of an IV catheter, giving large amount of fluids in the vein, administering emergency hetastarch (which is a medication needed to help bring the blood pressure back up and stabilize the heart) and giving very strong pain medication similar to morphine to try and control pain. All of this was done within the first 6 minutes of this patient being within the walls of our clinic. By 9:18, one of our staff members was heading out to go pick up one of our staff dogs that is our blood donor dog so that we were fully prepared. The dog remained on heating elements, fluids, and medications while we discussed the options with the owner. Surgery was obviously a necessity, however the dog had to be stabilized with blood transfusions and medication first to get her stable enough to even try and put her under anesthesia and reattach her intestines. By 9:36, she vomited up 2 feet of small intestine that she had eaten prior to being presented to the clinic. Her prognosis for survival was very low even with all the emergency measures taken.
This is the reality of vet med. None of us planned for this today. Prior to someone randomly walking into our clinic at 9:08 we didnât know anything about this case or this dog. Unfortunately, the heart-breaking part of this case, is that the surgery required to remove dead intestines, reattach intestines that were no longer attached and give most likely multiple blood transfusions with a long hospital stay comes at a very high cost. These are not routine procedures; they are emergency measures. Luckily our staff is very well trained in these situations, and we always keep good stock of emergency medications. This case is so tragic because the only two options were either to humanely euthanize, or to perform a complicated and unpredictable surgery involving multiple blood transfusions and a lengthy hospital stay. While all of these discussions were had, the dog continued to be monitored by a licensed certified vet tech and on continuous doses of medication to stabilize it. The blood donor dog was being prepped for donation and extra doctors were being called in for an all hands on deck situation. However when all the details and options and poor prognosis was weighed, the decision was made by the owner 10:15 to humanely euthanize.
Please remember that no routine spay or routine surgery is ever just routine. Take this as a reminder of the importance of watching your pet very closely after surgery at all times. This is why it is our policy to always send a cone home with surgeries and why we recommend keeping it on always at all times for the first week. Pets are not like people, they donât stop chewing just because it hurts. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet post surgery, donât hesitate to call and ask questions. Our staff is available to answer any questions or concerns you may have.