Lark was supposed to go in for a few vaccines on Wednesday evening but that morning, at about 4:15 am I was awakened to *hork* *hork* *hork* *bleaarrgghhh* coming from Larky's crate. Shoot out of bed, take her outside, clean up the little pile of vomit and everyone back to bed. 5:15, repeat performance; 8:00 am repeat performance. I was working that day so all day I'm worried that I'll come home to find Lark passed out in a puddle of puke. Nope, she looks OK.
Take her to the vet and ask that she be checked over before doing any vaccines. "Well, her belly feels... not quite normal, but she doesn't seem to be in pain, but something's still not what I would expect, I think we should do x-rays." Since both my labs have had surgery for an obstruction, I'm a bit hyper-ready to believe she might have eaten something in the yard, sticks, a hickory nut brought in by a passing squirrel, an old bone fragment carried in by the neighborhood fox, you name it.
OK, x-rays inconclusive. Got a shot of Cerenia. Endured a short speech about what crazy things labs will eat- toys, underwear, dishtowels, blah, blah, as if I was not acutely aware of their tendencies. Was told that if she continued to have problems, like if she kept vomiting or didn't poop, she'd need barium. Quiet night but then, of
course, she threw up again in the morning- hadn't eaten anything but a legit vomit. Back to the vet for barium on Thursday morning.
Nothing on barium study. I got a call on Friday morning, saying she was ready to go home that afternoon. Another call a few hours later, she just threw up again, do I still want to come to get her? Yes, please. Two more episodes of vomiting Friday night after eating tiny amounts of rice and finely chopped boiled chicken- ugh! But by Saturday morning, no alien squeaking coming from her belly any longer, no vomiting, wants to eat! Yay! She does better when I give her overcooked rice and baby food chicken rather than chopped up real chicken so I usually keep a supply of baby food chicken on hand. Slowly but surely we're making progress.
If these crazy dogs hadn't had obstruction surgery already, I wouldn't jump on x-rays and barium so quickly. As it is, looks like Lark had a $350 tummy ache!