My dog’s surgery.
Hi everybody
Today is my 8 year old Shepherd dog’s gall bladder surgery.
He is susceptible to tick fever and the risk increases around summer. When I took him to the vet a week ago, that’s what I imagined must be the case due to the heat wave when he was energetic but rejected his meal, then ate and vomited it.
His liver values were quite high. My vet suggested medication and retesting since the bilirubin was relatively stable. The next time, the values were still high. We got an ultrasound. He has sludge forming in his gall bladder that is putting immense pressure on his liver. The bilirubin has started to increase at a very rapid rate. Hence the surgery. It came out of nowhere, at least for me.
His surgery is scheduled today in the afternoon. He is losing weight rapidly because he can’t stomach his food and has constantly been on IVs. I trust my doctor, who’s treated him for 8 years.
I am beside myself. I have no idea if tonight will be like the night I just woke up from. This is my first ever dog. I started rescuing because of him. He has changed me for the better and has given shape to my entire perspective. Today, I have emerged an empathetic person because of him alone.
I hope the surgery is successful, but I have seen dogs passing away from sterilisation and seen them survive Parvo, so I’m not sure what to make of the stats.
What makes matters worse is that my mother is hell bent on taking a second opinion now when things are clearly quite grave.
She’s calling her relatives who’re all telling her to go different places. I believe the time for a second opinion is long gone, not to mention she gave up his responsibility entirely 3 years ago, citing she can no longer care for him and has found him a new place to live. I resisted and took him entirely under my wing, which wasn’t a big change since I was already doing a major part of the caretaking. I’ve been taking him for the last however many days and paying myself as well.
She’s asking me to delay the surgery, giving excuses such as, “today is Tuesday, don’t get surgery today”. Since today morning she’s been saying, “meri baat sunlo, I won’t take leaves to care for him” and other such things. She hasn’t anyway and there’s no such expectation.
For reference, his bilirubin has risen from 3.3 to 14.1 in just 2 days.
All I’m asking for is good wishes and any experience with how to deal with this anticipatory grief. Or any advice or encouragement, especially on dealing with my mother.
Thank you.