I love this photo that Tamara (who was also "visiting" the clinic last night!) took of the Ripster a couple years ago. He looks so happy! Hopefully he'll be looking that way soon. Poor guy.
Anyways, turns out the little brat ate a SOCK!!! Just a small exercise-type sock, but it successfully made it's way through his intestine and started to get lodged in his colon. They worked it out, and massaged it through because apparently cutting into the colon is very risky. There is only a 20% chance of survival after that. Thanks to the wonderful vets here for taking care of this guy and suggesting many courses of action along the way. A musher's best friend just may be their vet!! God knows Tamara and I spend enough time with them! :)
That reminds me... I need to talk to the other vet about Gabe's medication...
Anyways, as I think back - I now recall taking a sock from Ripper's mouth one night in the cabin a week or so ago! He must have snagged the other one. Damn. That'll teach me to leave my socks on the floor...
He'll spend one more night at the clinic (he's going to think it's his new home!) so they can keep an eye on him. Hopefully I'll be taking him home tomorrow.
Thanks for all the good thoughts out there.
7 comments:
Scene: At the vet's house as the vet returns home from work.
Spouse: What did you do tonight, honey?
Vet: Oh, I massaged a sock through a dog's colon.
Glad to hear that Ripper's recovering. But I do have one question...will you be re-covering your foot with that sock?
hahahaha at meandering!!!
hope the ripster pulls through!!!
ellen
I would have loved to have been there to observed the treatment. Sounds really interesting.
A good wash and the sock should be good as new.
OH my goodness, Stacie...I'm SOOOO happy he's okay!!! He and Bear are total brats and we need to have an intervention with the two little garbage gut boys!
I am so relieved to hear the update and that the sock is out and they were able to not cut into the colon...what a PUNK!!!!
Our world has changed b/c of Bear's eating habits...we're SO much neater now ;)
Give the silly boy a hug from me and some wiggles and slurps from his fuzzy admirers!!!!!!
LOL Michael! You forgot to add "and then I pulled it out his butt!"
No, wait. The vet tech was yanking while the vet was massaging. Yes, I got the glorious play-by-play of the operation today and even got to see the gnarly sock!! Ewww....
Apparently that little sock (and items from Ripper's bowels) ripened up the otherwise sterile fragrance of the clinic this morning! As for cleaning it Susan, I was barely able to keep from hurling when they stuffed the ziploc baggie in my face.
The even better news is that Ripper is looking good - he was up and standing and starting to get his normal crazy-arsed self back when I visited tonight. Don't think I'll be saying "Ripper! Calm down!!" anytime soon.
Oh, I'm also thinking of getting the clinic a card from Ripper that reads: "Thanks for pulling that sock out of my ass!" :)
I saw Dr. Kim tonight. (He now has your URL) I was proud to shake his hand. It's not everyone that can ease the gastro-intestinal suffering of a sock-eating dog.
Hey Stacie
Glad Ripper is going to be ok. Dogs just have no sense when it comes to what they eat! My Mom tried to leave you a comment, but couldn't get it to work. She asked me to tell you about our old dog PW. PW spent most of his time in my Dad's shop. (PW stood for Pipe Wrench). He wasn't the brightest dog who ever graced our family, but he was sweet. One day he ate several golf balls. Not one, didn't stop when he realized they weren't fodo! He kept going. I did not pay the vet bills back then, but my Mom assures me it was extremely expensive to remove golf balls from a dog's intestines!
Hope Ripper is driving you crazy again soon!
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