Sega's Autopsy

[Kathleen]

Well, my heart just keeps getting more broken. I called my vet today to see if Sega's results had come in and they had. First, though, the clerk at the front desk wanted to know what I was going to do to settle my $95 balance from the autopsy before I spoke to the doctor! I could not even believe the gall of this woman! I've always paid my bill upon services and have NEVER had a balance in the past......I told her that they would get their darn money, just let me talk to the doctor! She could tell that I meant business:mad:

Well, the doctor basically told me that Sega had some sort of rupture in his stomach which caused his death. They said that he had a perforation in his stomach the size of a quarter. There was no evidence of an ulcer or cancer or any foreign body/object in his stomach. They're thinking that is was similar, if not completely bloat. I had gone over this a hundred times in my head how this could have happened. I drilled the vet on his eating, drinking, what his routine was. He said that the dogs are not allowed off their leashes for their potty breaks. Sega didn't have very much food in his stomach according to the autopsy. I don't get it and it still sounds very suspicious to me. The vet kept going on and on about dogs swallowing things and how they end up being fine. My instinct tells me that there is something not right about any of this, but I don't know how to find anything out.

What truly and horribly hurts me the most is to know how much excrutiating pain Sega must have went through during that night before he died and that it could have been treated had there been someone monitoring the animals at night. He didn't deserve what happened to him, he was the sweetest dog. The knowledge of how he died hurts far worse than the fact he is no longer here.

I am going tomorrow to get an original copy of the autopsy and pay that *&^$@&!! clerk her (%^$#&! money and never step foot in that clinic again so help me God. I am then going to fax a copy of the autopsy to the specialist that was seeing Sega as I trust him completely. Hopefully, he will be able to have a clearer answer for me.

Thanks to everyone who has given me support over all of this from the beginning to the end. Please give your babies an extra hug tonight from me.

 

[AlliesMum]

Hi Kathleen,

I am so sorry about not only losing a wonderful companion, but not getting satisfactory answers. Some vets seem to think the more they go one the clearer they are, it's just the opposite. I'm so glad you have someone else to take the results to that you trust. I hope you find some peace with this. Again, I hate that you're going through this.

 

[WAT]

My heart is still breaking for you. Again, I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[nanabear]

I am so sorry for your loss.
I have a question for you to ask though...when Sega was found was there a lot of blood in the crate? The reason I ask is that our Katie girl was diagnosed with Cushings not long before her death (although we now think she had it much longer than we knew) and it causes the release of excess amounts of cortisol. The night before she left us (unbeknownst to us) she vomited up 2 very large puddles of blood. An autopsy was not done but the vet said that she likely had eroded a blood vessel (from the excess cortisol) in her stomach, was bleeding into the stomach as well as into the abdomen. I asked why she would have vomited so much and he said that blood (from the perforation) is very irritating and nauseating to a dog and they vomit it up. Although, like all Boxers, she was very stoic, he said upon examining her she was in a lot of pain.
If your dog had a stomach perforation I would think there would have been vomited blood.
Again, my heart goes out to you - this is a horrible experience for you to have to live through.

 

[muttersley]

My heart goes out to you. My Gemma died an hour after coming out of kennels through neglect on their side. My baby had been suffering from the Thursday until we collected her on the Saturday afternoon' but they never contacted us to tell us either. The guilt was terrible thinking we weren't there for her so I know what you are going through. I hope you get the results you need. Try to remember Sega for the beautiful dog he was.

 

[mygirlmollie]

You poor thing and poor Sega............I just lost Mollie to bloat but it was 2 days after her surgery, I know how you feel worrying about how Sega was left unattended over night because I felt the very same way about Mollie........when I went to see on the Staurday and knew she wasn't getting better I was beside myself thinking she had to stay in overnight and would probably die alone, I wanted to bring her home but as it turned out she declined in health so rapidly during my visit I had to put her down in the middle of a seizure.....
I hope Sega didn't bloat because it is painful (im sorry I know you dont want to hear that) Could they not see more evidence of bloating such as did the stomach twist, had he suffered reperfusion injury, can't they tell all these things during autopsy????

Im so sorry you really are no wiser since his death, I hope your specialist can help you out more.
Once again sorry for your loss (((hugs)))

 

[danelle]

My heart is also breaking for you. It's bad enough to loose a furbaby but then to not completely know what the cause was is worse. I would call the office manager of that vet's office and let them know how she treated you. But just know we are all thinking of you and Sega and all will get better in time.

 

[Sandi]

Kathleen, My heart has broken once again for you and Sega. I am upset that you've not found clear cut answers to very simple questions. Albeit these may not be answers we want to hear but we need to hear them all the same.

Keep us updated on any further developments.

Oh, BTW was this vet's office (clerk asking for autopsy fee) the same whom kenneled Sega? Would asking for Sega's chart be of any consequence? Would his chart contain any info. that someone else may see as a danger flag?
Kathleen you may have already asked these questions, I was just curious. Never have worked in a vet's office so I don't know what is pertinent or not in a furbabies chart.

 

[tingoddess]

I know that kind words don't change things. They don't ease the grief or make the pain go away. I hope your specialist can find something to tell you to help you deal with this sad loss. I have lost two dogs to bloat. One almost 19 years ago and my Dobie on May 12th of this year. I was so glad to have my other dog and my cats to comfort me.
Please, don't berate yourself too badly. You felt that boarding your pets with these people was the best thing. We cannot see into the future and know what lurks there and it is just as well we can't. All we can do is learn and move forward, which in time you will do.
Sega will be a part of your life history forever. His life force is not gone just changed form and he is now free of pain, disease and infirmity. I truly believe they wait for us in the mean time they watch over us.
Sorry if this got sappy at the end
We are here for you when others don't understand that Sega was more than just a dog, we understand and we know. Blessings to you and yours and a Happy Yule Tide to all

 

[karens]

I feel so bad for all you have gone through. Hopefully your specialist will give you some setteling news, as this whole ordeal, I can imagine, has been a shock to your system. Then to be treated so rudely, that's wrong. We'll keep you in our thoughts, my heart goes out to you.