Complications during surgery - dog nearly died
Discussion
My Pug has a blocked salivary gland (We think!) and had an operation yesterday to sort it.
Unfortunately he seems to have had a reaction to the anasthetic and his neck swelled up really bad and he couldnt breath so they couldnt even start the surgery. The vets kept him in overnight on a drip as they were really concerned for him.
After spending the night wide awake and crying my eyes out (not ashamed to admit it either - I love my Pug!) he is home this morning and appears to have got over the anasthetic issue, but the problem with the saliva gland remains.
They have taken a sample of the swollen lump around the saliva gland and have sent it off for some tests, to make sure it isnt anything more sinister I think. Assuming it is just the blocked gland, is this something that could be sorted by anything other than surgery? Or are there different types of anasthetic that he definately wouldnt be allergic to?
It started about 5 days ago when I first noticed a lump just under his jaw, and took him in where they gave him some antibiotics, but they had no effect and it got larger and lots of fluid accumulated in his neck. Im just scard it will continue to swell up and there wont be anything we can do about it if it cant be removed. Pugs dont have the best breathing ability in the first place never mind with a golf ball sized lump pressing against his windpipe.
He has wolfed down some food and is currently asleep on my knee so is comfortable and doesnt seem to be in any pain
Thanks
Tom
Unfortunately he seems to have had a reaction to the anasthetic and his neck swelled up really bad and he couldnt breath so they couldnt even start the surgery. The vets kept him in overnight on a drip as they were really concerned for him.
After spending the night wide awake and crying my eyes out (not ashamed to admit it either - I love my Pug!) he is home this morning and appears to have got over the anasthetic issue, but the problem with the saliva gland remains.
They have taken a sample of the swollen lump around the saliva gland and have sent it off for some tests, to make sure it isnt anything more sinister I think. Assuming it is just the blocked gland, is this something that could be sorted by anything other than surgery? Or are there different types of anasthetic that he definately wouldnt be allergic to?
It started about 5 days ago when I first noticed a lump just under his jaw, and took him in where they gave him some antibiotics, but they had no effect and it got larger and lots of fluid accumulated in his neck. Im just scard it will continue to swell up and there wont be anything we can do about it if it cant be removed. Pugs dont have the best breathing ability in the first place never mind with a golf ball sized lump pressing against his windpipe.
He has wolfed down some food and is currently asleep on my knee so is comfortable and doesnt seem to be in any pain
Thanks
Tom
I wish I could have an answer for you. The truth is the anaesthetics most commonly used today are very safe and we rarely get reactions like this. Not knowing what they used makes it difficult to assesss though.
Re: the swelling, these are often a bit of a mystery. Sometimes the swelling is just salivary fluid and can occasionally be sorted with external draining until the initial blockage settles (poss due to infection) but again without knowing your little dogs case it's difficult to know.
Hopefully the results will be back quickly and give them some more answers and thus a safe solution.
In the meantime enjoy having your little four legged friend back home and know that the vets did everything right and prevented a potentially devastating outcome.
Re: the swelling, these are often a bit of a mystery. Sometimes the swelling is just salivary fluid and can occasionally be sorted with external draining until the initial blockage settles (poss due to infection) but again without knowing your little dogs case it's difficult to know.
Hopefully the results will be back quickly and give them some more answers and thus a safe solution.
In the meantime enjoy having your little four legged friend back home and know that the vets did everything right and prevented a potentially devastating outcome.
He had a minor op a few years ago to remove a skin growth on his back, and was fine with the anasthethic then, but this is a bigger surgery so maybe they used a different type/bigger dose?
They have given his some different antibiotics (comes with a warning on the pack so must be stronger ones!) so will see how it goes.
Poor little thing!
They have given his some different antibiotics (comes with a warning on the pack so must be stronger ones!) so will see how it goes.
Poor little thing!
It is difficult to say because we don't know what they used, but there are a wide range of anaesthetic or sedative agents available used by vets so even if the chances of a reaction are low there are other substances that can be used. Could it have possibly been the premed they gave him/her rather than the gas?
I was quite worried about him today so got the vet out.
His test results are back and he has aggressive lymphoma.
He is on steroids to help his breathing and chemotherapy.
The outlook is bleak, but he is comfortable for now and has half a chance, so until he decides he has had enough we will fight it together.
From last week...
What you looking at?
His test results are back and he has aggressive lymphoma.
He is on steroids to help his breathing and chemotherapy.
The outlook is bleak, but he is comfortable for now and has half a chance, so until he decides he has had enough we will fight it together.
From last week...
What you looking at?
ali_kat said:
Spoil him rotten!! 
He is much better today than he has been, more awake and alert, and has been eating plenty (I bought him a chicken and he has eaten most of it today!)
I have been sleeping on the settee with him on a night and he seems more comfortable than he was sleeping etc, a few days ago it was awful listening to him breathing, but it was a fair bit better last night, I actually managed more than an hour without him waking me up
The swelling on his neck has also reduced considerably - at its worst it was like a cricket ball, now it must be a third of that.
bexVN said:
So sorry awful news, I rarely mention the nasties as so often it is just an infection etc, I really hope he has many more months yet but as others have said time to spoil him a bit. All the best for you both
Thanks awful news, I rarely mention the nasties as so often it is just an infection etc, I really hope he has many more months yet but as others have said time to spoil him a bit. All the best for you bothMedication wise he is on prednistone (steroid?) cyclophosphamide tablets (no idea what this is, but the vet said I had to wear gloves when handling them!) and vincristine injection.
To be perfectly honest I thought he had a matter of days left, so seeing him a bit better has really suprised me.
Thanks for the support, Ill keep you updated as we go on.
Preds are steroids. The others are chemotherapy treatments. Your vet needs to make sure you understand what's involved with these treatments and the safety precautions you must take.
Your dog should not lick you, be very careful when cleaning up after him (urine, faeces. vomit, blood)
And never be tempted to handle the drug without gloves and even then wash your hands after.
Good to hear that he has already perked up
Your dog should not lick you, be very careful when cleaning up after him (urine, faeces. vomit, blood)
And never be tempted to handle the drug without gloves and even then wash your hands after.
Good to hear that he has already perked up
bexVN said:
Your dog should not lick you, be very careful when cleaning up after him (urine, faeces. vomit, blood)
And never be tempted to handle the drug without gloves and even then wash your hands after.
Christ, is this stuff weapons grade or what. I take it it can be absorbed thorough the skin, hence the gloves? And never be tempted to handle the drug without gloves and even then wash your hands after.
Will he be ok around my mums dog?
Defcon5 said:
bexVN said:
Your dog should not lick you, be very careful when cleaning up after him (urine, faeces. vomit, blood)
And never be tempted to handle the drug without gloves and even then wash your hands after.
Christ, is this stuff weapons grade or what. I take it it can be absorbed thorough the skin, hence the gloves? And never be tempted to handle the drug without gloves and even then wash your hands after.
Will he be ok around my mums dog?
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