Help: Major Surgery and Anesthesia

MunasG · Sep 16, 2016

So mine and Nellie’s struggles continue regarding the vomiting/regurgitation. The last update I gave was after her first diagnostic testing. She had gone in for a day to do, an ultrasound (stomach), x-rays and a barium test. The x-ray and ultrasound show normal stomach and esophagus from what they could test. The barium test also was 80% normal with the exception of two scans that showed liquid and a bit of food coming back up from the stomach into her esophagus. So based on their medical opinion, she has a Hiartal Hernia (see link: Hernia (Hiatal) in Dogs). So their best course of action is to get the hernia fixed via surgery. And she is 7 months now and needs to be spayed they strongly suggest doing the hernia surgery during her spaying. Given that the animal hospital we have been dealing with is a referral and emergency clinic, I expected it would be a bit pricey as when she was there for parvo we had a $6000 bill for two weeks.

Anyway, an added issue is that no insurance company will pay for a spay so trying to get them to cover the spay and hernia surgery would be a bit hard. So the hospital gave me two estimates one with and one without the spay. So $4300 with the spay and $4400 without the spay (which makes no sense but any way). If I go with both procedures, I still pay $1700 out of pocket and $970 out of pocket for the hernia only! I love my dog and have spent in the thousands since I’ve had her out of pocket but I can’t truly afford any of the above options. So I left having to figure out options to fix this issue because she is now losing weight and still vomiting every day. I have been looking at different vet clinics and found one that can do the spaying for a mere $315 with anesthesia and monitoring included. They can also do the hernia surgery once they review her records and it’s not an extensive surgery. So I am wondering if anyone on here has had their Frenchie go under more than once for surgery in a short time frame. Is anyone familiar with Hiatal Hernia surgery and what in involves? I ask because she needs to be spayed ASAP and I can foot the bill for that and get it out of the way but if there are no other affordable options for the hernia surgery, I will have to wait and save up some money and then do it, which means her having to go under twice. I will much prefer someone who can do both at the same time but that may not be possible. I am also very nervous as I know how risky it is putting a Frenchie under anesthesia, but I have not much choice. Any advice is much appreciated.

KimB3384 · Sep 16, 2016

Ugh. I'm so sorry to hear this. Beezy had a hernia when we got her (not Hiatal, but I have one myself so I know what you're dealing with) and the vet took care of both the hernia and the spay at the same time. Then, maybe a year later she had to have surgery to have a mass removed from her leg. So, not super close together, but she was under anesthesia twice without any problems. I think the biggest risk is for dogs that have issues with their breathing already or have enlongated palates.

Let me see if I can find the list of questions I asked the last time she was having surgery. I'm sure the vet was rolling his eyes, but I felt slightly better.

In the meantime, can you give something like Prilosec or Nexium? That's what I took for my hernia. Worked like a charm.

KimB3384 · Sep 16, 2016

Here you go: Questions To Ask Before Anesthesia.

MunasG · Sep 16, 2016

KimB3384 said:
Here you go: Questions To Ask Before Anesthesia.

Thanks a lot for this link! I had no idea where to start with questions but this is a good list and will calm my worries. Nellie is currently on an anti motility drug .. Never remember the name. Is there a Prilosec version for dogs? Or can she take the regular?

KimB3384 · Sep 16, 2016

You can give the regular. Here's an article that talks about dosage and explains that it's not tested on dogs so there can be issues, which they basically have to do so they can't get sued, but it also says that vets have recently begun to prescribe it. It also talks about using slippery elm but I don't know that SE would work to keep the acid and food down and out of the esophagus.

If that would happen to work for you, it might possibly buy you a little more time between surgeries. I know they say not to use Prilosec for more than two weeks in a row, but I took it every day for twelve years and I'm still here

MunasG · Sep 16, 2016

KimB3384 said:
You can give the regular. Here's an article that talks about dosage and explains that it's not tested on dogs so there can be issues, which they basically have to do so they can't get sued, but it also says that vets have recently begun to prescribe it. It also talks about using slippery elm but I don't know that SE would work to keep the acid and food down and out of the esophagus.

If that would happen to work for you, it might possibly buy you a little more time between surgeries. I know they say not to use Prilosec for more than two weeks in a row, but I took it every day for twelve years and I'm still here

I have heard about using slippery elm bark! I have to take it myself because I developed some major food sensitivities 6 months ago to gluten, eggs, dairy among other things. I'll try that and see. And thanks for the Prilosec article

KimB3384 · Sep 16, 2016

Absolutely! Good luck with everything. Fingers crossed that the SE works (at least temporarily). Keep us posted

WeeDex · Sep 17, 2016

I was just wondering yesterday how you were getting on!

When we had Dexter neutered, they did the first exploratory surgery on his head lump at the same time, and also nare surgery, to save him being anaesthetised twice. The vet was able to apportion the exact amount for each procedure, including how much anaesthetic was used, disposables etc. as they time each procedure closely. That then allowed us to claim on insurance for his head lump only. I'd be surprised if your vet couldn't do the same thing maybe?

He went under again relatively soon to have his head lump removed. While it didn't cause him any issues as such, I was of course worried sick.

That list of questions is excellent. You need to be extremely comfortable that the vet you choose to help you is bull breed experienced. You will feel so much better after asking the questions - I was endlessly at them before his surgeries and they were more than happy to answer anything. They know they are our fur babies

Mavis · Sep 17, 2016

[MENTION=1917]MunasG[/MENTION], I am so sorry that Nellie's problems are continuing. Do you have to get her spayed right away? I mean, if she is never around other dogs or unattended, maybe you can wait a long while before having to have this done (?). Good luck.

davidh · Sep 17, 2016

So sorry to hear this about your pup, and hoping for the best with the surgery. I would shop around for a good Frenchie vet and see if they would be cheaper, but at least if they do surgeries on Frenchies, that would make you fell a little better for the out come.

MunasG · Sep 20, 2016

davidh said:
So sorry to hear this about your pup, and hoping for the best with the surgery. I would shop around for a good Frenchie vet and see if they would be cheaper, but at least if they do surgeries on Frenchies, that would make you fell a little better for the out come.

Thanks all! So she is going in for surgery next Thursday. I had to go with a different vet who is a bit more affordable. So she will be spayed and have the surgery for the hernia done. Its called Gastropexy. Does anyone on here have any experience with that? I am trying to do all the research i can. They will also do a biopsy of her stomach to see if she has inflammatory bowel issues. They are hoping the gastropexy will help but theres no guarantee.

Is there a specific type of anesthetia i should ask for? Thanks for your tips

Mavis · Sep 21, 2016

[MENTION=1917]MunasG[/MENTION], I came across the following when I was reading about Frenchies and surgery.

Good luck next week!

"Make sure your vet uses only the most modern anesthetics (such as isoflurane) and insist on a heart and blood pressure monitor. Many vets are NOT careful enough when anesthetizing short-faced breeds."

Squishy Walnuts · Sep 21, 2016

I'm so sorry she has to go through this surgery but hopefully once it's all done she will be 100%!! I don't know anything about hernias in dogs but I wanted to say good luck to her, and you!!!

MunasG · Sep 22, 2016

Squishy Walnuts said:
I'm so sorry she has to go through this surgery but hopefully once it's all done she will be 100%!! I don't know anything about hernias in dogs but I wanted to say good luck to her, and you!!!

Thanks all! Means a lot. I spoke to the vet and they are indeed using isoflurane as an anesthetic, and they will have someone monitoring her. I will ask about the heart and blood pressure monitor too. I will keep you all posted

Jakeyjake · Sep 22, 2016

Good luck to you and Nellie!

2bullymama · Sep 26, 2016

sending lots of prayers and positive thoughts all goes well and she has a quick recovery.

MunasG · Sep 29, 2016

Thanks all! SO the surgery had to be moved to next Thursday because the new vet i went to after speaking to the specialists at the emergency clinic didn't feel confident that he could do the surgery. He strongly suggested that i go with the specialists because that are the best at this. i did know that already but i guess i was trying to do whatever possible to safe some $$. But now we are back at the place where it all started TVEH. They are really great and brought her back to life when she had parvo at 9 weeks. They have now decided to do the spay, hiatyl hernia repair, her soft palate and nares and do biopsies of her stomach and intestines to cover all the bases. It is a lot and i am terrified! But they offer 24 hrs care and she will be with them for two days post surgery for monitoring. I really hope we get to the bottom of this with all the $$$ am going to be spending after the insurance. But more importantly i hope she makes it through the surgeries and recovers well with no further issues. Please pray for us. They said the prognosis is really good after a surgery but as with most surgeries there is not guarantee. The risk still exists for anesthesia but they do have a heart monitor and are very advanced with anesthetia. They say that the risk from nares and soft palate surgery will be greatly reduced because they will do that procedure first and the swelling from the inital snip would have gone down by the tie they finish the other procedures which makes transition from anesthesia easier.

Jakeyjake · Sep 30, 2016

Well it's a good thing your vet was honest enough to tell you he was not comfortable performing the surgery. Sending pawsitive vibes your way. Good luck to you and Nellie.

Squishy Walnuts · Oct 3, 2016

That does sound like a lot and I think it's a great idea to go with the specialist. We will send a ton of prayers and good thoughts on her surgery day! Please keep us posted!