Reader Question
My dog went in for a dental. The next day he was not feeling good, took him back to the vet an x ray showed rocks in his stomach and high liver. The vet went in to remove the rocks but could not, so he was going to go to a specialist on Monday, because he was stable. 30 hours later he was taken to er because he was uncomfortable. He walked to the car, took a pee and walked into the vet. I told them what happened wanted the rocks removed, they said they were going to put him on supportive care to make him stronger, and if there were any changes would notify me. When I arrived back at the vet 10 hours later he could not stand up. When I saw the vet he said my dog had severely declined and did not respond to the support care, the ultra sound show something, but he was not sure maybe spleen, that he might have Cushing's disease, and that he had a 50/50 chance of survival. 3 1/2 hours later 14 1/2 hours after he arrived he got his surgery. During the surgery the vet sent his nurse out to tell me that part of the intestine had died and the septus and now had a 30% chance of survival. He died the next day. They told me that the toxins had caused him to go into multiple organ failure. I am very upset that he sat waiting for over 14 hours. I was told he would have died anyway, whenever he had the surgery.
Please tell me if the surgery had been done earlier, is it possible that he could have lived. How long does it take for the intestines to die and do the toxins spead quickly.
Answer from Our Team
We're so sorry for the loss of your dog. Losing him so suddenly, after what began as a routine visit, must be devastating.
When something blocks the intestine, it can press on the blood vessels in the bowel wall. Blood flows in but can't drain out, so the wall swells, loses oxygen and can die. Bacteria and their toxins can then pass through the damaged wall into the belly and bloodstream, causing peritonitis, sepsis and shock. There's no fixed timeline. It depends on the object, where it lodges and how tightly it presses.
One study found that dogs sick for longer before surgery were more likely to need part of the bowel removed, and some studies suggest this surgery carries a higher risk of death, though the evidence is limited. But no one can say for certain whether earlier surgery would have saved your dog, because it isn't possible to know when the damage began. Vets often give fluids and other care first, because surgery on an unstable or dehydrated dog carries extra risk.
If it would help, you can ask the hospital for a copy of the records and for a time to go through them with the surgeon, or ask another vet to review them with you. Many people also find pet loss support lines or groups helpful.
See bowel obstruction in dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
