Owner: So is it bloat Doc? Is my Midnight Star going to need surgery?
Me: I'm afraid it's a full blown gastric torsion. She's twisted her stomach and it's filling up with gas. It doesn't look good at all.
Owner: Oh no! She's my best show dog. I'll do anything for her. She's precious to me.
Me: Surgery is the only way. We need to get that stomach out and untwist it. It's a poor prognosis even with surgery. Because of the twist, it cuts off circulation to some parts of the bowel and spleen which may die. Sometimes we do surgery and the patient might die despite intensive treatment. She'll require several days in hospital afterwards. An estimate would be about $1500 all up.
Owner: I'll do anything for her. She's my best show dog. She means so much to me.
Me: Of course. I'll get her prepared for surgery right now. Sign here.
Owner: Absolutely no fur clipping please. *writes it on the form in big letters*
Brain: Sure. Your precious dog who you'll do anything for is probably going to die, but at least she'll look nice.
Brain: ...I am a professional. I am a professional.
Me: I strongly advise a wide clip for this one.
Owner: What? The other vets always respect my request for minimal clipping!
Me: This time we need to fully take the stomach out, and we really don't need fur going into her abdomen and setting up a peritonitis on top of everything else.
Owner: I wash her once a week, her fur is perfectly clean! Hmph!
Brain: ...Sigh.
Me: I'm afraid it's a full blown gastric torsion. She's twisted her stomach and it's filling up with gas. It doesn't look good at all.
Owner: Oh no! She's my best show dog. I'll do anything for her. She's precious to me.
Me: Surgery is the only way. We need to get that stomach out and untwist it. It's a poor prognosis even with surgery. Because of the twist, it cuts off circulation to some parts of the bowel and spleen which may die. Sometimes we do surgery and the patient might die despite intensive treatment. She'll require several days in hospital afterwards. An estimate would be about $1500 all up.
Owner: I'll do anything for her. She's my best show dog. She means so much to me.
Me: Of course. I'll get her prepared for surgery right now. Sign here.
Owner: Absolutely no fur clipping please. *writes it on the form in big letters*
Brain: Sure. Your precious dog who you'll do anything for is probably going to die, but at least she'll look nice.
Brain: ...I am a professional. I am a professional.
Me: I strongly advise a wide clip for this one.
Owner: What? The other vets always respect my request for minimal clipping!
Me: This time we need to fully take the stomach out, and we really don't need fur going into her abdomen and setting up a peritonitis on top of everything else.
Owner: I wash her once a week, her fur is perfectly clean! Hmph!
Brain: ...Sigh.
"How many shows do you think your dog will win if it's dead? I'm pretty sure there's a 'dog must have pulse' clause in the evaluation process somewhere."
ReplyDeleteHow did she react when she got the dog back with a nice bald patch on its belly??
ReplyDelete