BLOAT IN DOGS--PI COMES THROUGH

 I know this is not about Pekingese, but this is an important health issue.  Bigger dogs usually have this happen-- but it can happen to smaller dogs, so I wanted to have a blog to teach you more about this condition.   Pi is my granddog but has been at my vet for care and several surgeries. 

 She had a lump removed almost two years ago and it was cancer-- but they got it all and she was back to herself quickly.  She was 14 then.   She doesn't have much gray, and looks much younger.

 They all came for Thanksgiving.   

 We got up Wednesday morning to begin baking and Pi was not doing well. 

 We took her in to have the vet check her out.  You see, Pi is 16 years old, but she is the best dog ever-- even if she isn't a Pekingese.   (She is Lab, Chow, and a little Llasa Apso-- where is that??!  That's what the DNA test said-- maybe they made a mistake!) 

 Because she is an old girl, we thought she had something pressing on her heart.  She was panting heavily and was stiff and had trouble laying down.  She stopped eating and we could tell she was in great distress. 

 Even Gigi,her sister, knew something was off.   X-rays were done and it showed she had bloat.   Bloat is VERY SERIOUS.  It's considered an emergency and without a surgical procedure (using a tube to go to her stomach to try to get the stomach turned back to normal) or surgery, a dog can quickly go into shock and die.  https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/gastric-volvulus-bloat-dogs#1

 We had the surgical procedure done to try to turn her stomach with the tube, not the abdominal surgery due to her age.  With the surgery, the stomach is turned and tacked to the abdominal walls to keep it in place.   There is a chance this can happen again, but we really hope it doesn't. 

 Pi immediately stopped panting after the procedure.   She was able to stand up again the next day-- the blood supply had been effected with the bloat. 

 During the procedure, the stomach was emptied with the tube and the contents showed that this was recent, and no stomach damage had occurred-- another good thing.

 Pi came home the next day-- yes, on Thanksgiving, and was able to do SHORT walks.  She ate a tiny bit of canned I.D. stew.   (Acredale Animal Hospital in Virginia Beach is 24/7 now.  I pay a small fee to have access any time of the day or night, at regular prices, for my dogs and my foster dogs.  It is worth EVERY penny!)

 She will now be on more frequent, smaller meals.   If she has dry food, it must be moistened to fully expand before she eats it.   We bought a case/flat of the I.D. stew for her to use for the first week and to add to her "dry" later.

 Granger, her Peke brother, was so glad she was okay. 

We are so glad Pi is back with the family-- she is the best dog ever!  Even if she's not a Peke!  We love our girl.