[P Hudson]

Annabelle, our four-year-old Yorkie, had a series of events. Saturday she got hold of a plastic bottle cap from a small soda bottle and had eaten a small portion of it--maybe a seventh?--before I saw her with it. So we began watching her, hoping it would pass or that she'd throw it up.

Sunday she seemed to feel good, wanted to play as usual. We took her to the groomer, a woman she and her brother's been going to since they were puppies and someone I trust. I reminded her not to give them treats because Annabelle has had pancreatitis and been hospitalized twice.

She did, however, give them each a long toy that at first I thought was the kind that had no stuffing or squeaker--until we got them home and left them to play for a few minutes. When I came back in the room Annabelle had the plastic casing of a squeaker (minus the squeaker) in her mouth, and there was that stuffing from the toys pulled out all over the place. I took the plastic squeaker holder out of Annabelle's mouth, cleaned up the stuffing, pulled any remaining stuffing out of the toys.

That night one of the dogs threw up--don't know which--so my husband and I threw the toys out. Twice in the night Annabelle vocalized a short yip--once when I was pulling her to move her so I could get in bed too; I thought maybe I had hurt her leg. She vocalized again another time when I was turning over while she had been sleeping against my back. I thought maybe she was frightened that I was rolling over on her and letting me know she was there. She sometimes does this, but I was now suspicious.

The next morning (well, actually afternoon since my husband and I have our nights and days mixed up and our pups have adjusted to that schedule as well) we were awakened by Annabelle throwing up in the bed, followed by her rolling onto her back and wiggling around like usual, scratching her back or whatever, and she cried out again. So we got dressed and took her straight to the emergency vet. (Our regular vet said it was too late in the afternoon in case she needed surgery plus they don't have anybody there at night.)

The emergency vet X-rayed her, did bloodwork, etc., and said her lipase was 4,000 and more than 1200 is high. She said there was no obstruction but her bowels were very full and she would have just given her an enema but for the high lipase. She added that because she was a small dog she (the vet) could see her heart and it looked "large." She said she couldn't hear any heart murmur and that "it could just be the way she's made," but that we should follow up with an ultrasound to check it out.

She stayed overnight and received fluids, an anti-emetic, and something for pain. I was so scared and sad I couldn't stop alternately obsessing and crying, so three hours after we left her, I called and asked how she was doing. They said she was resting peacefully and had had a normal bowel movement. This morning we were able to pick her up and we're so glad to have her home. Giving her bland low-fat diet in small increments throughout the day.

But . . . she cried out in pain again, a short little yip--and I can't even remember what was happening at the time. No vomiting, but she's lethargic and wants to stay by my side, barks if I leave the room. And earlier today she felt warmer than usual (Note to self: get thermometer.) She feels normal now.

So why have a written this book? I did not get a definitive diagnosis. She offered to do the specific test, and at that point since they were keeping her anyway, I asked about the costs so far. The vet went to write up an estimate, and never came back. We were called out to the main area and asked for $626.

Don't know how she could have gotten pancreatitis again as we're strict about their diet now. No treats except green beans, sugar snap peas and on rare occasions some blueberries. And though the vet sort hedged about the fact that "her heart looks large," I'm slightly closer to my right mind and decided to ask Dr. Google tonight about an enlarged heart in a dog and was taken to all these links on congestive heart failure with it's six months to 24 months life expectancy. I know we have to take her to her regular vet or a specialist to investigate further, but the time between tonight and whenever we can get an appointment seems so long. Anybody have any thoughts, other than what kind of mommy would let her baby get hold of a bottle cap? I'm just scared.