To read the original thread please go here:
http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5720
This is what I wrote the day we collected Harley from the vet after his operation to remove the stones from his bladder (two days ago):
[[[ We got Harley from the vet about an hour ago. He was SO pleased to see us, and wouldn't stop whining and carrying on like a crazy dog - unfortunately he wasn't on his doggy-valium (he seriously needs it as he hyperventilates etc. pretty badly when at the vet), so he was extremely hyper, bouncing around all over the place (even though he has thyoriod tablets, which are supposed to slow down his activity). The vet showed us the stones ('crystals') that he took out of Harley and my they were big!! I would say they were the size of big peas! They looked really lumpy and sharp. The vet said that they were attached to Harley's bladder wall, so that's why they didn't pass through, and they didn't break down either (so there was no way they were going to get out on their own). The vet said the crystals were most likely formed from a build up of calcium and probably due to his hyper-thyroid condition. So, Harley will now be on a special Royal Canin wet-food diet (we usually just give him dry food). The vet also said we could check out what caused the stones, but that would involve sending the stones to America, where they slice them up carefully.. and apprently this is VERY expensive (and isn't very practical.. Harley's operation cost a lot as it is!), so we are hoping the diet works, and his urine will be tested every couple of weeks.
While Harley was under anasthetic we also got the vet to remove his dewclaws (he has them on both the front and hind legs), so Harley is now sporting two lovely blue bandages on both hind legs (it looks like he's wearing socks! It's really cute). The vet actually said he didn't want to remove the front dewclaws because they have a bone attachement and it's more complicated and kind of un-neccessary to remove them. The back ones were just dangly so it was easy to get rid of them.
When we were walking Harley back home he was looking very sorry for himself, and even though he just had surgery on his bladder he insisted to stop every two minutes to pee!! You could tell it was painful for him! He wasn't even cocking his leg, he was just standing there and half-squatting. Poor boy! When we got home he ran straight for the garden and continued to pee in every possible place, and he kept walking around the house as I'm sure he didn't know what to do or where to go because of his pain. Anyway, I've set him up with a nice warm bed, and hopefully he'll be able to get some sleep tonight. At least tomorrow he should be feeling a bit better. ]]]
Today:
Harley is in so much pain it is unbareable to look at him, and it makes me so sad. This morning when I went to let him inside I could hear him groaning and whimpering from inside his kennel.. It sounded like he was so uncomfortabe. So, I brought him inside and he was shivering so much and panting as well. I thought he might be a bit dehydrated (I really don't think he's drinking that much, but then again when he was well he never drank much anyway). I offered him his water but he declined it. I also offered him a small treat which I thought might help to keep his mind off the pain while he's eating it, but he declined it as well!
I feel so sorry for him, and I can only imagine how much pain his operation has caused him! He has a lot of stitches.
Earlier today Harley climbed up the stairs (!!) and I felt terrible but I had to send him back down, and he was taking his time going down because he was hurting, then he peed like four times in different spots in the house (all in a few minutes), which I know isn't his fault as he can't control his bladder right now. To me it seems like having the operation to remove the stones from his bladder is more painful for him than when he actually had the stones in his bladder! He has pain killers but they don't seem to be doing much for him right now.
To anyone who has a dog who's had an operation to remove stones (or has been around a dog who's had this done), do you know how long it takes for the dog to recover, AND was your dog in a lot of pain after the op? Harley is worse today than he was yesterday, and I hate to see my baby like this. I'm checking up on him every 1/2 hour to make sure he's ok.
Here are some photos I took of him yesterday:
Harley in his kennel-
Harley looking very sorry for himself-
http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5720
This is what I wrote the day we collected Harley from the vet after his operation to remove the stones from his bladder (two days ago):
[[[ We got Harley from the vet about an hour ago. He was SO pleased to see us, and wouldn't stop whining and carrying on like a crazy dog - unfortunately he wasn't on his doggy-valium (he seriously needs it as he hyperventilates etc. pretty badly when at the vet), so he was extremely hyper, bouncing around all over the place (even though he has thyoriod tablets, which are supposed to slow down his activity). The vet showed us the stones ('crystals') that he took out of Harley and my they were big!! I would say they were the size of big peas! They looked really lumpy and sharp. The vet said that they were attached to Harley's bladder wall, so that's why they didn't pass through, and they didn't break down either (so there was no way they were going to get out on their own). The vet said the crystals were most likely formed from a build up of calcium and probably due to his hyper-thyroid condition. So, Harley will now be on a special Royal Canin wet-food diet (we usually just give him dry food). The vet also said we could check out what caused the stones, but that would involve sending the stones to America, where they slice them up carefully.. and apprently this is VERY expensive (and isn't very practical.. Harley's operation cost a lot as it is!), so we are hoping the diet works, and his urine will be tested every couple of weeks.
While Harley was under anasthetic we also got the vet to remove his dewclaws (he has them on both the front and hind legs), so Harley is now sporting two lovely blue bandages on both hind legs (it looks like he's wearing socks! It's really cute). The vet actually said he didn't want to remove the front dewclaws because they have a bone attachement and it's more complicated and kind of un-neccessary to remove them. The back ones were just dangly so it was easy to get rid of them.
When we were walking Harley back home he was looking very sorry for himself, and even though he just had surgery on his bladder he insisted to stop every two minutes to pee!! You could tell it was painful for him! He wasn't even cocking his leg, he was just standing there and half-squatting. Poor boy! When we got home he ran straight for the garden and continued to pee in every possible place, and he kept walking around the house as I'm sure he didn't know what to do or where to go because of his pain. Anyway, I've set him up with a nice warm bed, and hopefully he'll be able to get some sleep tonight. At least tomorrow he should be feeling a bit better. ]]]
Today:
Harley is in so much pain it is unbareable to look at him, and it makes me so sad. This morning when I went to let him inside I could hear him groaning and whimpering from inside his kennel.. It sounded like he was so uncomfortabe. So, I brought him inside and he was shivering so much and panting as well. I thought he might be a bit dehydrated (I really don't think he's drinking that much, but then again when he was well he never drank much anyway). I offered him his water but he declined it. I also offered him a small treat which I thought might help to keep his mind off the pain while he's eating it, but he declined it as well!
I feel so sorry for him, and I can only imagine how much pain his operation has caused him! He has a lot of stitches.Earlier today Harley climbed up the stairs (!!) and I felt terrible but I had to send him back down, and he was taking his time going down because he was hurting, then he peed like four times in different spots in the house (all in a few minutes), which I know isn't his fault as he can't control his bladder right now. To me it seems like having the operation to remove the stones from his bladder is more painful for him than when he actually had the stones in his bladder!
He has pain killers but they don't seem to be doing much for him right now.To anyone who has a dog who's had an operation to remove stones (or has been around a dog who's had this done), do you know how long it takes for the dog to recover, AND was your dog in a lot of pain after the op? Harley is worse today than he was yesterday, and I hate to see my baby like this. I'm checking up on him every 1/2 hour to make sure he's ok.
Here are some photos I took of him yesterday:
Harley in his kennel-
Harley looking very sorry for himself-
