[Gpdd] RAINBOW BRIDGE: Teddy

[Anneli Cochrane]

It is with a heavy heart that I have this update. Tonight after visiting
with Teddy and cuddling him, I made the decision to euthanize. Teddy's
surgery became more complicated because when they opened up his bladder,
the stone wasn't there, it was in the worst possible spot to get to, in the
penis. Unfortunately they can't tell from the X-ray just exactly where it
is. They called me during the surgery and asked if I wanted to proceed with
trying to get the stone out, of course I said yes. They tried to push the
stone back up into the bladder so they get it with the endoscope and
failed, the stone was just too big. Therefore, they did something they had
never tried before, they made a small incision on the penis (similar to
what they would do during a castration) and removed the stone. Because of
this complication in getting the stone, Teddy had to have more anethestic
then a surgery like this would have normally, and we all know that GP's,
especially Shelties, don't usually make as good of surgical candidates.
Teddy awoke from the surgery and I was overjoyed at this news. However,
they kept updating me that he was having trouble coming out of the
anethesia and they wanted to keep him overnight. A kind vet tech took him
home with her that night and kept him hydrated and on pain meds. They
called me this morning and told me that he looked a little stronger and had
munched on a little bit of veggie and was peeing out of his penis with no
problem, the stitches were holding, but he was still very weak and they
wanted to make sure he was eating on his own and moving around before they
released him. This afternoon I went in intending to take him home. As soon
as they brought him to me I knew that it was bad, he had gone downhill
quickly and the critical care they had been trying to feed him just ran out
of his mouth. I spent some time with him holding him and petting him and
talking to him, and I would like to think they he knew I was there. He was
lying on my lap on his side and there was no life in his eyes, no reflex
when the vet touched his eye. He was probably already going into renal
failure. After we snuggled for a bit he began the death run. He stopped
running and was still alive, but I knew I had to put him to sleep. In spite
of the astronomical amount of $ this all cost, I wouldn't have changed a
thing. I am happy with the vet and staff and I feel that they did all they
could do. Teddy was such a beautiful pig with his long orange ringlets and
such a sweet boar, I will miss him so much; 1 year and 4 months was much
too young. Mom Flower and sister Clover will not miss him, but I think they
will notice that something is different. Thank you to everyone who offered
advice and support, I really appreciate it. RIP Tedmund 3/17/2011 to
7/17/2012.
Anneli