For good results – Trust your vet.
At Pittwater Animal Hospital we find it very rewarding that our Northern Beaches clients generally trust our judgement. Nearly all of our vets have been with us for over 10 years so when you come to the vet you see a professional you know and trust.
In the last month this good judgement has been life saving for Bohdi and Lola.
Bohdi was not himself and seemed nauseous. Blood tests showed his pancreas may be inflamed but despite treatment he wasn’t improving. To check for an intestinal foreign body his abdomen was repeatedly palpated, he had two X-ray sessions plus an ultrasound. None of these tests showed definitively that Bohdi had and intestinal foreign body.
Dr Jen Stewart explained to Bohdi’s owners, that despite the evidence not being conclusive, there was enough chance of Bohdi having an intestinal blockage that surgery was indicated. The surgery is a major step. It involves a full general anaesthetic, a sterile incision into the abdomen of approximately 10 cm in length then a thorough examination of the gastrointestinal tract from the stomach to the large intestine.
Bohdi’s owners trusted Dr Jen’s advice and we proceeded with surgery. Once Bohdi’s intestine was examined it was revealed there was a purple bruised segment containing a foreign body. The intestine was opened to remove a very black peach seed. Without surgery Bohdi would have developed a ruptured intestine then septicaemia.
Bohdi has recovered well and is back with his family.
Lola, a usually ravenous cat was not eating and trying to vomit. Xrays were suspicious of a problem in her stomach or intestine but not at all diagnostic. Lola also had a history of eating balloon string.
Dr Jill King explained to Lola’s owners that there was enough concern with Lola’s history to open up her abdomen. Dr Juliet performed the surgery and after examining all the gastrointestinal tract no blockage was found. The first part of her intestine was however looking a little red. With more examination and palpation of Lola’s stomach, Juliet could feel the hard edge of balloon tape. An incision into Lola’s stomach showed the balloon tape caught between the stomach and intestine blocking all outflow. The tape was removed and Lola has also recovered well and is back with her family.
Sometimes your vet can’t always give you an exact diagnosis, but they can still advise you on the best way forward.
At Pittwater Animal Hospital, we are very grateful for the trust our clients show in our judgement.
