Swci (pronounced Suki) is a lovely little Cocker Spaniel who came to Moor Cottage Veterinary Hospital as she wasn’t feeling quite herself. She didn’t have her usual good appetite and wasn’t running around as much as normal.
We performed urine, faecal and blood tests, as well as carrying out an ultrasound scan and radiograph of Swci’s abdomen and chest. Her ultrasound scan and radiographs showed that she had some free flowing fluid. She was also quite painful and uncomfortable in her abdomen. We began treating her for Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Some symptoms of this would usually be loss of appetite, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Swci stayed with us in hospital and despite pain relief and medication to stop her feeling so sick, still wasn’t feeling right. She was tense, weak and painful. Tests were repeated, but the next step was for Swci to have an Exploratory Laparotomy (surgery to look at her abdominal organs and check for injury or disease). During this procedure, samples were taken and sent to the laboratory. After the surgery, Swci also had a feeding tube placed to help us to replace the much needed nutrients that she had been missing out on whilst she had not wanted to eat.
Swci was given intravenous fluids and various medications to keep her comfortable. She started to take her tube feeds well, which were given every 2 hours. She began to look brighter and happier, enjoying her little walks in the garden. Oral medication was started via her feeding tube which she tolerated well. Her owner was taught how to give tube feeds and her medication and she was discharged after a week’s stay in hospital. Swci is doing very well at home and we are all so pleased to see her recovering so well.
Beautiful Swci is very deserving of the Brave Heart Award for this month. She was so well behaved and tolerant of all of the different tests and procedures she had done during her stay with us at Moor Cottage Veterinary Hospital. Everyone here loves Swci. Even when she was feeling rubbish, she always tried to greet you with a waggy tail, which definitely got waggier as she started to feel better!
