Jack - Sheffield
Seven year old Old English sheepdog ‘Jack’ Taylor has twice visited the Vets Now clinic in Sheffield to be treated for a gastric dilation, a condition which is a true veterinary emergency.
The first time Jack visited was in December 2003. Jacks owner Mr Taylor had taken fed him and taken him out for a walk, unfortunately when Jack returned from his walk he was restless and trying to vomit. Mr Taylor contacted his vet who referred him to the Vets Now clinic as it was after daytime practice hours.
Having spoken with Mr Taylor on the phone the team at Vets Now were able to assess Jack’s condition and advise Mr Taylor that Jack should be brought down to the clinic immediately for treatment. When Jack arrived he was showing all the symptoms of a gastric dilation.
Gastric dilation is a medical condition where the stomach becomes excessively dilated with gas, causing it to expand, occasionally to three to four times its normal size. As the stomach swells with gas it may "float up" on other organs. A gastric dilation is a serious condition which can then become a life threatening Gastric Torsion, where the stomach twists and veins and arteries within stomach wall and other organs such as the spleen and liver become twisted and blood is no longer able to flow through them normally.
In Jack’s case as he had been brought into the clinic immediately the Vet on duty Fiona MacNee was able to take x-rays and asses how much gas was in Jack’s stomach and the size of his internal organs. His spleen was already showing to be very big so Fiona began treatment by emptying and flushing Jack’s stomach. Jack’s condition took quite a lot of work to relieve him however after a good night he was discharged the following morning.
Just over 2 years later in January 2006 Jack again became ill and at 9.30pm his owner Mr Taylor called the Vets Now clinic in Sheffield. On this occasion Jack didn’t have a swollen abdomen however he was pacing around and seemed very uncomfortable and Mr Taylor was able to tell the Vets Now staff that this was the initial symptoms Jack had in 2003. The team at Vets Now asked Mr Taylor to bring hack down immediately so they could assess Jack’s condition.
Because of Jack’s previous history and the symptoms he was showing the Vet John Wilson advised that Jack should be admitted for x-rays. Although Jack’s blood test looked normal gastric dilation was showing within his rib cage and there was food in his stomach. After a discussion with Jack’s owner to advise him of Jack’s current condition the decision was made to perform a gastrotomy to remove the gas and dry food from his stomach. Once Jack came round from his General Anaesthetic he spent a night in the kennel at Vets Now recovering and Jack was collected and taken to his own vet for further observation the following morning.
Jack’s back on his feet and enjoying life to the full!