06/05/2024
Well, Zeus just may live to celebrate his 11th birthday on Halloween this year; however, Friday before the Memorial Day holiday weekend, I looked at Dr. Jenna and said, he’s struggling and I’m not confident he will make it through another surgery so am comfortable euthanizing. Zeus came to work with me that Friday morning not feeling well after swallowing exactly half of a sports bra. If you know him and our family, you know he has a love of socks…what you don’t know is he has a love of eating foreign objects at somewhat random times. We think it’s when he feels he needs extra attention or doesn’t like the feeling of being alone…separation anxiety. A caffeine high when he engorged himself on 5 sleeves (50) nespresso pods, 10-12 entire packets of Swiss Miss hot chocolate, parts of high school yearbooks, an abundance of mushrooms leading to mushroom poisoning…he’s been an adventure starting from his ingestion of a dog rope toy at 6 months old on through 3 foreign object procedures throughout the last decade. Yes, we put a screen door on our laundry room with a lock, socks are never allowed on the main floor unless on our feet, Zeus gets crated regularly…all precautions and more are taken but things still happen and random objects get eaten. My decision to euthanize was based on his pain and suffering…but thinking outside the box is my why of working where I do, Smith Ridge Veterinary Center. As a Hail Mary therapy, Dr Jenna planned out and we executed daily doses of pure vasoline, mini meals of pumpkin and crustless white bread, cerenia and gabapentin to keep the nausea and pain tolerable, as well as a balance of letting him rest and walking him. There were no guarantees or promises…just hope…10 days later, 15 post ingesting, his body did what it needed to do. His life was saved and he is recovering, wagging his tail and begging for treats. I can’t say more about what a special place I work for…Zeus is living proof of why. ❤️
