The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire

[Boogie]

I’m here in Germany before you! I love it here and life is soooo much more normal, Covid-wise albeit ‘new normal’.

And there’s a puppy to play with!

 

[Jacqui-S]

And there’s a puppy to play with!

A puppy?

 

[Stacia]

Yes, a puppy? Glad you have arrived safely.

 

[Boogie]

Charlie

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

@Boogie adorable! You must be in heaven with son, grandbaby and puppy!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Spent all day at two different vets. Carbon now has a catheter and a wee spigot sewn into his willy. This is really not good. On the other hand, open the spigot and the wee comes out, so...progress? Surgery to clean out the stones and widen his willy (dear god I wish my German was better because that can't really be what they meant) is on Wednesday.

Carbon is having his first experience with wearing a cone and fun drugs. I'm sure he'll have lots to say one this later.

I'm off to go learn a bunch of willy/bladder/boy bits surgery vocabulary so I know what questions to ask. Welcome back to Germany?!

 

[Jacqui-S]

Oh Emily!
This doesn't sound great.
More of what happened before???

 

[kateincornwall]

Oh no , poor lad and you too , what a blasted return for you , hugs xxxx

 

[Lisa]

Yeesh...sounds completely stressful for the both of you. Hope you are both ok!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Oh Emily!
This doesn't sound great.
More of what happened before???

Yeah, he'd not been wee-ing 100% normally in Cornwall, but mainly just taking longer than normal to go. As the Cornish vet said it wasn't a UTI and he didn't have crystals or blood in his urine, I'd planned on just having him checked out once we got to Germany by his normal vet who understands the Leish complications.

However things started to go south Saturday afternoon during our trip back to Germany and had slowed to a trickle by yesterday during out last drive day, so I called bright and early this morning to book an emergency appointment. Our vet said he needed emergency surgery because she couldn't even get a catheter in him. She sent us off to a clinic and they did manage a catheter which avoided the emergency surgery and emptied his bladder. Vet said she'd never seen stones like that before so they've sent them to the lab and will get the results before surgery.

Of course Carbon being Carbon is still happy as a little clam and loads of energy even though his regular vet said today he was in danger of his bladder exploding. I feel seriously guilty. As he was still eating, drinking and behaving otherwise normally, I thought it could wait until we got back to Germany.

 

[Atemas]

Oh @Emily_Babbelhund - don’t feel guilty. You did everything for him in Cornwall

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Just went to take Carbon for the last wee walk and noticed what looked like a string dragging underneath him. Yep, catheter out. He was wearing a cone plus I was with him the whole time. He didn't lick it, it just fell out. I snipped out the stitches in his willy and took off his cone. Of course he's thrilled.

I don't have a good feeling about the vet or this procedure planned on Wednesday. It's not his regular vet but she referred us to them. His regular vet was in hospital with COVID and doesn't have the strength yet to do surgery, poor lady.

 

[Stacia]

Yes, don't feel guilty please, you trusted what the vet in Cornwall said, I afraid it was what I expected, having seen male dogs having this when I was a vet nurse many moons ago. I am sure all will go well, you are prepared now to recognise the symptoms and Carbon seems happy. The surgery should solve the problem, though maybe it is due to the Leish diet he has to have? I am sorry you are having to go through all this, but we will be all sending you xx

Oh wrote the above before your post above came in! I am sure the other vet will be ok to do the surgery, it is a question of opening the bladder and taking the stones out and sometimes putting an opening elsewhere, but wait and see what they do. I don't remember any problems or a dog coming back and vets in those days were not as skilled as today's vets.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Oh @Emily_Babbelhund - don’t feel guilty. You did everything for him in Cornwall

You did @Emily_Babbelhund
You went with vet advice.
You couldn't know what they did not.
Glad you are both now on the right track

 

[kateincornwall]

Could weep for you , we both could , so just sending lots of virtual love and hugs xxxxxxxx

 

[SwampDonkey]

Poor Carbon. You've decided me everything you can for him. Hope everything goes well for his op XXX

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Yes, don't feel guilty please, you trusted what the vet in Cornwall said

To be fair to the vet in Cornwall, he said to come back for an ultrasound if it got worse. Carbon didn't seem 100% better, but not really worse so I let it go in favour of seeing my vet in Germany. The Cornish vet wanted to do a full GA for the ultrasound and have me leave Carbon all day, and I have to admit the idea of that scared me, which is another reason I let it go.

Oh wrote the above before your post above came in! I am sure the other vet will be ok to do the surgery, it is a question of opening the bladder and taking the stones out and sometimes putting an opening elsewhere, but wait and see what they do. I don't remember any problems or a dog coming back and vets in those days were not as skilled as today's vets.

Thanks, Sonja, this helps. I'd gone to this clinic before and walked out before they could treat Carbon - kept me waiting 2 hours with no one else there plus the tech on reception was straight up awful. I went today because it was recommended by my vet, but very reluctantly. Rude receptionist still there, still kept me waiting without letting me know what was going on. When I asked I was told to be quiet that they'd tell me when they were ready. I wanted to punch her in the face and grab my dog and go. It wasn't a nice day to say the least. I don't like the idea of leaving Carbon there, but I'm trying to trust my normal vet.

If I understood, they will make a cut along each side of the penis sheath, clean out the stones and widen the area. That last bit I don't understand yet. They may also go into the bladder to clear out stones if it looks like it's needed. Apparently his urethra is full of stones.

Silly boy is sure feeling peachy tonight now that the catheter came out. Sweet little man.

 

[Selina27]

Oh Emily rotten for you, and of course Carbon. What a bummer.

No wonder you don't like going to that vet, how very rude that receptionist sounds. It's upsetting enough when they are unwell.

Here's hoping the procedure will be as straight forward and effective as Sonia experienced.

Cassie sends loads of love to Senor Carbon

 

[Aitch]

Emily, if he is feeling fine then there is time to get this done and dusted. Have you talked to your vet since the catheter fell out?
I'm not going to tell you to not worry because I know you will. Any of us would. What I will tell you is that you and he are strong together. He trusts you and loves you as you do him. This gives you both super powers. He can come through this with you by his side. He can because you will fight for him and he knows this.
I know how hard it is to have a sick dog. Many of us here do. We will be here to support you as you support him.
Love and hugs. X

 

[Stacia]

There is no need for the receptionist to be so unpleasant, I am sorry, like you I would want to punch her in the face and leave. I would write a rude letter when this is all over, or accidentally on purpose trip her up! At a time like this we need support and understanding, not rudeness. I am not sure exactly what their plan is but I would have every faith if your normal vet referred you to this practice, she must trust them.