Stomach tumor... GNT??

[Cuttlefishh]

Wow that sounds like it was rough on her - that can't be comfortable at all. I'm glad the vet was able to get in there and determine what was going on. It sounds like your vet is a real pro! I'm glad she got through the surgery and hope she heals up quickly and completely.

Thank you; im holding out hope!

I can't imagine what shes gone through; im horrified that i was force feeding her when she was that uncomfortable and having gastric blockage, my poor Taro.. I had no idea your insides were literally on the brink like that.. She hides it so well.

My vet is really good, she's very knowledgeable has a really good step by step approach of handling things and she always tries to push for the best outcome. She also calls and sends me photos daily (even today.. and it's a public holiday!!)

 

[Cuttlefishh]

Day 1 post op update:

Sms from my vet this morning; taros looking like her usual cranky self


im told we are looking at discharge to home on Monday!

 

[AHBD]

Taros is looking good ! She'll be happy to get back home.

 

[Cuttlefishh]

I know she will! I bet this was so scary for her but I really hope she's feeling better after clearing that blockage, she looked so miserable every time I would see her mouth open and full of mucous and she would "burp" puffs of air.

Day 2 post op; she looks to have a bit of food stuck on her haha

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Bless Taro, she looks so sweet, recovering. I am so happy the vet is so caring & is sending
you reports & pictures of her. She looks comfortable. It does look like she has food on her
little snout. LOL

Keep us posted on her. When do they expect to release her?

Tracie

 

[Cuttlefishh]

Hello,

Bless Taro, she looks so sweet, recovering. I am so happy the vet is so caring & is sending
you reports & pictures of her. She looks comfortable. It does look like she has food on her
little snout. LOL

Keep us posted on her. When do they expect to release her?

Tracie

Hi Tracie; yes they are really good to her; they send me twice daily photos and updates. She's likely used to being there by now with how often shes been!

She will be coming home tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to her coming home as I've missed her so badly

 

[Cuttlefishh]

Update; vet called to inform theres a lot of fluid buildup in her abdomen- they managed to drain a bit out. It's blood tinged but looks like old blood (most likely from her surgery)- they said it it can be expected but the worry is that if she is backed up on fluid somehow or if the gastric lumen takes damage she may pass away.


Being shes so critical (but presenting as stable and looking like her usual self) I was given a hard choice to either keep her another night while they observe her or take her home.. Vet said there's perhaps a 1 in 5 chance she could pass away in the next 24 hours. I asked to weigh the risks, she said many animals improve on going home.. but it would be also good if she remained to have close medical watch to be safe as they can x-ray her again and see how shes going with the fluid.

She passed another poo today which is good sign. But It was still ++ for yeast.. (which is weird.. I've been treating her with Nystat for almost 3 weeks now..) I'll make sure to ask them to please make sure they are giving probiotic as well.

I asked them to keep her to prevent movement stress if she's currently stable and please monitor the fluid.

I'm hoping I'm doing the right thing. Taro is such a fighter though im really shocked shes acting so normal. I feel insanely guilty for putting her through so much of this...

 

[AHBD]

Hm, hopefully all will turn out O.K. We never know for sure with major surgery but at least she looks reasonably alert and does not have a black beard. BTW, did you ever get the pre-op xray and can you ask them to circle the suspected calcified tumor ? And I know this is unrelated but my sister has a calcified tumor in her brain, so strange to think it's been there so long [ according to the specialist ] . Dr. said he won't operate + that it's not growing. She also has a mass in her nasal cavity. Makes us nervous but only symptom was bad headache a year ago, that's when the tumor was discovered. Anyway, 2 different subjects .

 

[Cuttlefishh]

Hm, hopefully all will turn out O.K. We never know for sure with major surgery but at least she looks reasonably alert and does not have a black beard. BTW, did you ever get the pre-op xray and can you ask them to circle the suspected calcified tumor ? And I know this is unrelated but my sister has a calcified tumor in her brain, so strange to think it's been there so long [ according to the specialist ] . Dr. said he won't operate + that it's not growing. She also has a mass in her nasal cavity. Makes us nervous but only symptom was bad headache a year ago, that's when the tumor was discovered. Anyway, 2 different subjects .

Oh no.. that sounds terrifying, I'm so sorry that is happening to your sister. The vet was going to email all of the bloods and diagnostics this week, i had asked them to do so in case I needed them later. I'll be sure to post as soon as i receive them. It's good that its not growing but i can understand the anxiety you and your family must be feeling. Its such a helpless feeling..


As for Taro, her outlook is not good. On the second checkin in the afternoon she vomited a lot of dark tinged sticky fluid. Vet suspects it could be old stomach contents or possibly blood. the indication is that it doesn't seem fresh. To me this is a very bad sign as she had a bad liver and the issue in her intestine. They did not open her stomach to see inside but they did feel it properly during the surgery and didn't identify any issues other than it was 4x the size of normal tummy.

The vet (different one than who was on over the weekend who did her surgery) said the outlook is not good. I broke down and cried, and asked what i should do. I was prepared to put my coat on and go there to be with her while we euthanize her, but the vet said now is not the time to be too hasty and they have given her some additional treatment to assist with the emesis and they will check in the morning to see if the fluid has built up or not.

To me though it sounds like she's in liver failure, having bad liver from the open surgery, ascities, enlarged stomach, dark emesis... I dont know what the right thing is To do at this point. I dont want her to suffer. But i would hate myself enormously if i put her down too soon and found the biopsy to identify its something potentially treatable and i denied her a chance.. I feel sick right now thinking how it's late night and shes alone there, she could very well die alone there. I feel so disgusting I just don't know what to do..

 

[Cuttlefishh]

Here is her most recent update. I miss her so much. She is a very unique dragon she has a very funny face and temperament. When she cuddles or relaxes she folds her arms under her tummy and looks like a sausage. I can't stand the thought of losing her but im starting to feel that I'm being selfish by holding on and trying to put her through all of this treatment if her organs are failing at this point..

 

[AHBD]

Aw, this is so stressful for you . No one wants to be in that position. I think maybe just fluids should be given for now, her insides are too tender to hold down food. It may be the food she threw up to begin with. She still looks stoic + sweet at the same time.

 

[Cuttlefishh]

Aw, this is so stressful for you . No one wants to be in that position. I think maybe just fluids should be given for now, her insides are too tender to hold down food. It may be the food she threw up to begin with. She still looks stoic + sweet at the same time.

I was restless all night thinking about it... waiting for 8:30am to come around and expecting bad news. They have been giving her slurrys of wombaroo and other things, not full solids but maybe more than she can handle. I'm not sure how things will be at this point.. I'll update later today.

 

[Cuttlefishh]

Vet tells me shes still throwing up A bit after feeds but not as badly as before. She also did another x-ray to see calcification in her stomach but they think its the food as it was not there the day before (they are feeding her soft diet.) They suspect there may still be blockage, but the small bit of hope is that shes still passing poo.

They feel they have done all they can, and ive had enough. They think her prognosis is not looking good but there is some small hope that its just inflammatory and it may possibly improve and she will stop the vomiting... They say a lot of animals improve when they get home and i agree too that its time she comes home.

I'll continue to treat her conservatively here as much as i can. If she starts to take a terrible turn I may take her for euthanization but she will be on pain medication so hopefully if she does pass away it can be here and with as little pain as possible.

A week ago i was able to cuddle her, now i cant and shes suffering. I feel insanely guilty for putting her through this.

 

[AHBD]

I agree on bringing her home, she may feel less stress. Stress can always make it harder to heal so it's best for her to be home now. Be sure to get all the pertinent xrays + such, you spent a lot of money and although that's not your real concern you want evidence of what was done and clear explanations of why these things were done. I'm not sure on the diagnosis tbh. Still, there is hope that she'll pull through so bring her home and let her settle in. Not TOO much handling since her abdomen will still be sore.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am so sorry tat you & Taro are having to go through all of this, poor girl.
I agree, she would likely be more happy at home, with you with less stress. Being in
unfamiliar surroundings can be stressful for them, even if she is getting good care. If
she is stable then it should be fine for her to come home.
Is she on a probiotic, to help with her digesting her food. I agree, she is going to need
to stay on a soft diet for awhile, for ease of digestion.
Please let us know how she is doing.

Tracie