*TOBY anesthesia reaction update
 

Thank you to all of you for your words of kindness and advice. After a long 12 hours at home through the night, my little Toby is at a 24 hour vet clinic. through the night, he had very brief moments of snapping out of this reaction he has had to anesthesia. This morning his limbs were rigid and I took him directly to my vet. The vets do not seem to understand or be able to figure out what has happened? He did not have low blood sugar. Before I left the emergency clinic, I was allowed to see him, and he was more responsive than I had seen him since I picked him up. I could even see that he was trying to move his little legs. I cannot share with you my grief, worry, and concern. At seeing the estimate of the bill, I have to say, that I feel that we are asked to choose between life (agreeing to the bill) and death. Of course, we want our babies to live....but a 3000 vet estimate for the weekend? I almost feel like the victim of a crime. So, any advice or words of wisdom regarding rigidity not due to hypoglycemia? There is a lean toward a LS by the vets. I am in shock that my 4 month old puppy is so sick.....and all because I took him to be neutered. Thank you in advance for any information you provide to help ease my concerns.

I am so sorry about Toby! I am also so angry your vet didn't insist on pre op bloodwork for Toby! :mad:

As I said in your other thread, I think a liver shunt is a real possibility. If he has a shunt, his liver wasn't able to process the drugs from the anesthesia.

I will pray for your sweet Toby. Please keep us posted.

I am so sorry you have to go through this. What are they doing for your baby right now is there anyway you can bring him home safely and watch him yourself. Hopefully they can do a bile acid test on him to determine if he has a liver shunt. I can understand how upsetting it is to be faced with a sick baby and such high vet bills. I hope he can recover quickly and the bill will not reach the quoted amount. I will keep him in my prayers

I'm so sorry Toby is sick and I agree with Ladymom about the possiblity of LS.

Here's some info on LS.

Liver Shunt Research

I don't know where you purchased Toby, but Florida has a strict puppy lemon law. You may be able to recover not only the purchase price but his vet expenses.

Florida Pet Lemon Law

Sending prayers for you and Toby.

I will keep you and Toby in my Thoughts and prayers!! Please keep us updated on his progress!! Blessings, :hands::love-hug3:nursing::getwellso

I know it isn't much comfort, but if it is a shunt, the symptoms probably would have appeared sooner than later even if you hadn't attempted the neuter. You were trying to do what is best for your dog by having him neutered, so try not to beat yourself up over that decision!

Bloodwork really should have been done before the surgery-- I'm one of the people who very strongly thinks that vets should require bloodwork every time a pet is put under anesthesia. I think a lot of vets fear making it mandatory because they will lose clients to the cheap neutering clinics if they don't give people a choice, but that doesn't justify less than thorough care. Even animals that have zero clinical signs of illness can have issues that just haven't surfaced yet, and owners cannot be expected to understand that possibility and the importance of the bloodwork if they are not properly educated by the vet or his staff.

Keeping Toby in my thoughts today. I really hope that he gets better for you.

I did approve the bloodwork & BILE

It will probably take a few days to figure this out and of course, there is always the possibility that I might never have the answers I seek. The only thing I know is that this puppy was everything I have dreamed for. In the two months that I have had him, I would have never thought he might be sick nor did any of us in my famly witness anything abnormal. I am so confused by this situation.

How is Toby doing now? Have you gotten any updates?

I am soooooooo sorry for you and Toby. Please dont feel guilty about any decision you choose. I know you love him very much.
About the rigidity, could it be a posturing thing from lack of oxygen when they were trying to revive him? If you can talk to your Vet that began the procedure I would ask how long did he not have a heart (or do you already know this?) Is the 3000.00 to run test, IV's and watch him? Or what exactly are they doing for him? Maybe it could be a liver shunt like others mentioned. It is really hard to give advice not knowing all the details but do know ..I am sorry you are going through this. I will continue to pray for Toby.

I have now gotten more details about incident at the vet's office on Friday. The vet is sure that he noticed his negative reaction immediately. He says he immediately adjusted the oxygen and was massaging his heart while he was reviving him. Fast forward to the 24 hour vet, the $3000 was a bill for the weekend, a high estimate for every test that could be run to "diagnose" my baby. After speaking to my vet, I approved labs/bile test, ICU/IV therapy for the weekend, and the bill was adjusted to remove the tests that were not necessary right now, and came down to $1200. The bloodwork came back normal, the bile acid test has not been performed due to my baby's inability to eat/swallow. 730pm-My children (17,12,10) and I went to visit Toby. He was much more responsive than he was when I took him in his morning. He is still rigid, was wimpering and very upset that he could NOT sit up. He was also licking his lips (he mouth was quite tight and clenched). The nurse that took care of him all day, advised that she has seen worse recover, and tried to be positive. This is my update at of tonight. however, could you please tell me...What is a posturing thing and is it something reversible? Thank you....

I hope your baby will get back to his normal self. Sorry I don't really know anything about the posturing. Thanks for the update. I will keep him in my prayers

I'm so sorry :( I can't imagine how worried you must be. Most dogs do just fine with anaesthesia, but there are always possible complications too and I'm so sorry your baby was one of them. I really hope he makes a full recovery. Please keep us updated. I hope he's able to come home soon.

I think it sounds good that he was more responsive to you and your kids. The muscles that tense up create the posturing and could possibley (not for sure) be a result from the lack of oxygen during the event he had. If he didnt have to perform CPR very long and his oxygen levels were maintained then this shouldnt be the cause. Is the muscle tensing continuous or does it come and go? I am not a Vet only a NICU nurse. I wish I had some answeres for you. I do think it is good news that he recognizes you and is more responsive. Time really does wonders and I pray that with every day he improves. Is there any other way to perform the BAT test besides having to eat? Will he be going back to your normal Vet after the weekend? It is also reassuring that the Vet nurse said she has seen worse recover,this is her field and she knows more of the situation. I would continue to ask ALOT of questions. It is good they lowered the price. Hang in there!

How is Toby doing today?

I am keeping him in my prayers.

9:00 am-The emergency clinic vet called and advised he felt TOBY had 30-40% improvement since admission. My personal vet called and advised that he would go by and see TOBY by tomorrow morning and give me his honest opinion-regarding further treatment so that I could make a decision. He is worried that TOBY needs 24 hour nursing care, and that his clinic does not have facilities for this type of need. He did advise that maybe even 1 more day in the ICU could make a huge difference.
10:30 am- I visited TOBY with my children. He did recognize us...and he began to whimper and try to get up. He still had not received any nutrition, only IV fluids. His hind legs were not as rigid. The vet and TOBY's nurse both spent a lot of time with me. I did question the vet at length about posturing. He did not feel that the rigidity was due to posturing and he was optimistic. The plan for today was to begin syringe feeding and try to complete the BAT.
5:00pm. TOBY was holding his head up as he was brought to me. I was happy to see this. He was able to tolerate 4ml of nutrition at the first feeding and 2ml at the next feeding. He seemed a little out of it...but I am trying to be positive. The BAT was done today, so the results should be available by WED. The ICU nurse also performed some physical therapy throughout the day, since he cannot stand up on his own. Will status again on Monday. Thanks for all of your prayers and suggestions-I am not sure how I would have gotten through this weekend, without all your support and prayers!

Just dropped in to see an update on Toby! I see he's much more responsive and that the Vet bill wasn't as high as was expected!! Hopefully on Weds. your Vet will be able to run the BAT test! Keep us up to date!! Blessings...:hands::goodluck::ghug:

That sounds encouraging. :thumbup:

Is your ER clinic open 24 hours a day? You're lucky. Around here, they are only open nights weekends so if you have an animal who needs 24 hour care during the week, they have to be at their regular vet during the day, be moved to the ER at night, and back to the vet in the morning. Been there, done that.

Thanks for updating us. I have little Toby on my mind and in my prayers.

So glad to hear Toby is doing better.

Oh that really is good news! I hope that tomorrow he is even more improved. Try to find some comfort in knowing you are doing everything possible for him. More Prayers sent.

I am just seeing this, I will be praying for you & your little Toby to get well soon. I am so sorry this happen to you.:(

I am just seeing this. Our thoughts and prayers are with little Toby and your family.

TOBY-Monday update (2/16/9)
 

9:00am My primary vet called to advise that he had gone by to see my baby himself. He asked that I consider leaving him at the ER VET for at least 1 more day. He said 1 day could make a very big difference. He said that if TOBY does get discharged, he could keep him at his clinic during the day and provide his care during the day and I could pick him up after work and take care of him at home until he re-opened the following morning. He also mentioned that TOBY now seemed to have nystagmus.
1:30pm I visited TOBY at the ER VET. He whimpered & cried very much while I was there. He seemed like he was barking, without opening his mouth? He was also trying to get up. He continues to not be able to get up, he cannot sit or bend his little legs. He is able to hold his little head up and move it around with no problem. I had noticed yesterday evening that it seems like he does not "see me". I spoke to a new vet while I was there. She also suggested that he needed time. She was the first of everyone to mention 'quality of life' and that she would advise me when and if she felt she needed to advise me. She felt that TOBY is not in pain, and that he just just not understand what is happening to him. She also told me that it might be that he might recover somewhat and be a "special" pet. She also volunteered to help me with the support care he will need, if I will need help.
5:15pm I called the ER VET to inquire about my baby's status. The same vet I had spoken to in the afternoon took my call. She stated that his condition was about the same. She also mentioned that TOBY had been seen by a vet neurologist in the afternoon. There is now a concern that he might be blind, and that we should know tomorrow.
8:30pm I called and spoke to tech that is TOBY's nurse. I asked if he had eaten today and how he was. I was advised that he swallowed 4ml at one feeding and a little bit at the next. My TOBY now weighs 2.2 lbs (from 3.0 lbs on Friday). I thought he was being fed via his iv, turns out he was just being given fluids, from SAT am to SUN pm. I just want my little TOBY back ...:( Thanks to all of you for your prayers and advice.

Thank you for updating us. I pray that one more day will make a difference for your Toby. It must be so heartbreaking to see your baby so helpless and confused. :big_hug:

I\'m so sorry. I really hope he makes a turn around

Praying for your little Toby.

Thinking and praying for little baby Toby.

I am praying little Toby can continue to fight to get better.

Poor little lamb...sending prayers for him and you.

I just wanted to tell you temporary blindness is another symptom of liver shunt. Hopefully you\'ll learn the results of his bat and can proceed to the next step.

Checking for an update on Toby. I pray the little guy continues to improve.