06/20/2022
TLDR: Emergencies happen to veterinarians too.
What a week it was for me last week. 😅 My personal dog Olive, in true Olive fashion, at the ripe middle age of 8 she decided ingesting a M.A.C. lipstick cap would be the right journey for her (unbeknownst to me for about a week). Tuesday June 14th 7:00 PM- Olive vomits promptly when I get home from work. No big deal, I give her cerenia (the most powerful anti-nausea medication that I keep on hand in tablet form for such times as these).
10:00 PM- Olive vomits bile and some food. For all the non-Veterinary folk out there: vomiting through cerenia is 🚩 🚩 🚩 causes of this generally indicate a GI obstruction or severe pancreatitis. This is a litmus test, vomit through cerenia and it’s time for diagnostic work up.
My dog’s timing is impeccable. Naturally this would occur at night when my team is sleeping and I, the pet owner and veterinarian is tired and scared and emotional. But, I the veterinarian and the pet owner also have PET INSURANCE and an EMERGENCY PET SAVINGS ACCOUNT because emergencies happen and contrary to popular belief, I cannot just dish out thousands of dollars casually. Even with some of the discounts I receive in the field, an emergency is costly, financially, emotionally and physically. So small soap box, please do yourself a favor and get pet insurance, save $10 from each pay check in a savings account for pet emergencies, get care credit, do something besides berating your veterinary team about the cost of their services. I witnessed this in the parking lot of the ER while waiting for news on my own dog. It was infuriating to see how my colleagues were being treated by the general public. Please be kind, and realize the value of these services. Gas is expensive, food is expensive, meds are expensive, everything is expensive in this economy. It’s our job as pet owners to be prepared.
Wednesday June 15th 4 am: object lodged and has not budged with fluid therapy, elected to proceed with surgery.
6:00 am: lipstick cap removed from where it was lodged in the jejunum and Olive is recovering from surgery.
Thursday June 16th: Olive is discharged from the ER.
I am beyond grateful to the veterinary ER Team who got my dog the care she needed and gave me a gift I can’t put a price on, more time with my girl who is a diva and ridiculous and dramatic at times but an absolutely sweetheart and blessing in my life. I feel blessed that this team, that night led by my wonderful friend, Dr. Blair and technician Codi, among many others was there to help Olive when I couldn’t. Their quick action and efficient, precise, individualized therapy plan including decompressing her stomach, fluid therapy, pain management, gi protective medications, emergency surgery and anesthesia saved my dog’s life. I’m also thankful for supportive colleagues at my work who understand and offer their expertise and assistance when a seroma (fluid under the incision formed) because naturally she’s my dog so this occurred. It’s truly a team effort when your pet needs care like this. I’m thankful for pet insurance, shout out to Trupanion for paying 90% of this bill just like they said they would. I am proud to be a part of this field and experience it from both aspects (the pet owner and veterinarian) and strive to do my best in both roles.
My sweet girl is on the up and up. We had a talk about not ingesting lipstick caps as a new side hobby. She’s considering it.
Please be kind to veterinary staff, if your pet isn’t being rushed in and you have to wait awhile, it’s a good thing. I think of the pets rushed in ahead of her and owners who didn’t get to bring their pets home from the hospital. I am grateful that Olive was stable when I brought her in so that she did not have to be rushed in on a stretcher. Pet owners: do not wait to have your pet seen if you feel it could be something life threatening. The longer you wait, the more expensive the bill. Please make a pet savings account and consider pet insurance at adoption not after something bad happens. I assure you that no insurance company covers your pet in the middle of an emergency.
I am happy to get back to regular vet med life where I get to be complained to about $150 bills for treating UTIs or doing preventative care is a rip off and such; how I’m just in this for the money and if I really cared about animals I’d do it all for free. So I’ll just nod and say “I’m sorry you feel that way”, as my techs look at me knowing I just spent $3000 prior to insurance reimbursement at the ER and we’ll nod at each other acknowledging how we value time with our pets and helping these creatures we love more than anything else and that’s why we’re here.
