Help My Bugg Nola

Last one is Nola getting a (mini) belly rub!!! 

The surgery went well!!! Sorry for not posting this yesterday but it was a very long day (just like many of the past few days have been).  Before surgery, the vet had to take another set of x-rays just to make sure the stones were in the same location as before.  The doctor had to cut open her bladder and remove four large stones. The doctor gave us the stones which I will post a picture of later today). They sent the largest of the stones away for analysis to see what type of stones these are and what caused Nola to get them.  

She also found what she called a sludge in her bladder and urethra that consisted of tiny, multiple stones that she compared to as gravel, which was also cleaned out.  There is still a tiny amount of sludge left in Nola that the doctor wants to work out with new food and a new diet.  Yesterday Kev and I were thrilled to have our little lady home.  When I picked her up, she was still coming down from the anesthesia and was definitely not herself.  She cried the entire car ride home:( After we got home, I had to cover all of the downstairs furniture with sheets.  It seems like where the incision was made is leaking a bit. She is also is excessively urinating which means she has to be taken out just about every hour even in the middle of the night.  It is just a little frustrating because she doesn’t have full control over her bladder yet.  That means she may have to go but she may not be able to go.  A few times yesterday I took her out and when she came back in and sat down, it would just come out of her.  

I’m worried about tomorrow and not being able to let her out.  I have work from 7a-3:30pm and Kevin is working a double all day.  I am going to try and make it home on my lunch break to let her out but I don’t want her to go all day without going to the bathroom.  The doctor said if the bladder stays filled for a long period of time, her sutures could pop open and we do not want that!!!! I’m working things out to see if someone could stop by and possibly let her out.  The sleepless nights are still occurring but they are totally worth it having Nola by my side.  :)

Thank you again to everyone for making this happen for Nola.  Kevin, Dexter, Nola, and I love you all!!!!! xo 

This photo was taken in the car after I pick up Nola from the vet.  She had her little bandage on and you can see a little bit of discoloration on her belly from where they operated.  The vet originally told us that she would have to have a cone for two weeks-eeeeekk-she decided against it due to Nola’s inability to reach the incision.  So yey to no cone! (Nola would’ve soooo been BUMMED OUT!)

I will post more pictures later!!

xo

Amanda

We were in high spirits after Nola’s morning visit to her vet; Girard Veterinary Clinic.  She is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday at 8:30am.  She seemed to be fine this morning after last nights hospital scare and today’s vet visit.  She was going to the bathroom and although she seemed a little lethargic, it seemed like she was getting back to her normal self.  As soon as I got home from work I took my Boston’s for a walk-so used to spelling it out loud!  I squealed when I saw Nola peeing, I’m talking about out loud cheering, everyone on my block heard me and thinks I’m nuts kind of squeal.  

Well, I shouldn’t have celebrated so soon.  She hasn’t urinated since then at 3:45pm.  It’s been about five an a half hours and still nothing.  I called the emergency vet to see what I should do; hold it out until she goes into surgery in the morning or take her to get drained again.  Kevin should be getting home soon from work and we are going to take our pups for a walk with a flashlight to see if it is definite that she is unable to urinate.  If she doesn’t, it looks like we are heading back to the animal hospital for another emergency visit. This is adding up reallllll quick, too quick.

I don’t have any other option.  When I walked in today she was so happy to see me; tail wagging, tons of kisses- it made all of the worrying go away.  Once I got done making dinner for myself I tried letting her out back and stood out there for a while.  I could tell she wanted to go but couldn’t.  After 15 minutes of circling around the yard, I brought her back into the house.  I sat on the couch and pet her for a while.  She came up and snuggled her head into my lap and started to whimper. This is absolutely breaking my heart into pieces.  I hope she will be ok and I’ll keep posting updates.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU….

to EVERYONE who has been reading, re-posting, re-blogging, tweeting, and especially donating money just to make this possible.  Fingers crossed we will not have to take her again tonight and we can just wait for surgery in the morning.

Kevin, Dexter, Nola, and I really appreciate everyone’s compassion and concern.  My friends, family, and even strangers have played such an important part in getting Nola healthy; and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

For now, it is just time to wait.  I’m waiting for Kevin to get home, waiting to get a call, waiting for Nola to pee! For now, I will be on watch and waking up in the middle of the night checking up on my Nola bear.  Although it KILLS me that I will not be the one to take her into surgery (Kevin is), I can’t afford to miss a day of work so I can pay her bills. 

Thank you again and please repost this tumblr if you haven’t already!

xoxo

-Amanda

ps. I came down from upstairs and I saw this….Nola sleeping on her favorite chair and Dexter just watching over her.  It made my heart warm:) I have the best boyfriend, friends, family, and of course….dogs.

also thank you to fybt for posting our link!!! You should follow them if you’re into cute photos of adorable Boston terriers!!!   http://fuckyeahbostonterriers.tumblr.com

Yesterday had a great start to it.  Kev and I got up early and got the pups all ready (dressed in sweaters and Halloween costumes!) to walk in the Lupus Loop to raise awareness and funds for Lupus. (www.lupusloop.org)  Despite the cold weather, we had a great time and everyone got a kick out of Nola and Dexter in their Halloween costumes!  After spending the afternoon out, Kevin and I came home to find that Nola had an accident which is not like her at all.  She hasn’t had an accident since her first few months with us; that was the first indication that something wasn’t right.  Later on that night we noticed that Nola had trouble sitting down and when doing so she had started to shake.  Kevin took her outside to try and urinate but noticed that nothing came out when she tried.  I started to think back to the course of the day and came to realization that she had not gone to the bathroom since the accident in the house after we came home from brunch. 

Immediately we googled her symptoms and three results showed: 1. urinary infection 2. kidney stones 3. tumor.  Of course I was already thinking the worst and started freaking out.  It didn’t help that after those results (on multiple websites) it stated that Nola’s symptoms could be life threatening even if it wasn’t a tumor.  So off to the Animal Hospital we went, leaving with a tear stained face and a jealous Dexter behind (he wanted to go for a car ride too!).  We took Nola to Red Bank Veterinary Hospital on Rt. 70 in Cherry Hill (formerly Cherry Hill Animal Hospital).  Their office is open 24 hours and they treated Nola with the best care.  Here’s the link if you need emergency care:  http://www.rbvh.net/ 

Nola had to have xrays done to see what was causing all of this and sure enough…there they are! They found what they think are kidney stones in her bladder and one in her urethra. (They are circled in the above photo)  She had to have a procedure done where they put in a catheter and flush out her bladder.  The doctor said her condition was life threatening and without this procedure her bladder could rupture and she could die.  My poor baby had to get sedated! After the procedure, the doctor said there is no other option than surgery because of the location of the stones.  They wanted $4000 for the surgery alone, not including the procedure and x rays we had that night.

I asked about emergency pet insurance and quickly found out that wasn’t an option.  Her procedures and surgery wouldn’t be covered if the condition was preexisting to the application for insurance. 

Kevin is wonderful and called out of work in the morning to take her to our veternarian Dr. Cindy Balzer at Girard Veterinary Clinic linked: http://www.yelp.com/biz/girard-veterinary-clinic-philadelphia 

Nola is scheduled to go into surgery Tuesday, tomorrow morning, to get her stones removed.  Everything was well worth it because I still have her.  She is still here and I (and Kevin) would do anyhting in our power to keep it that way. 

Sadly, we are in need of a little help from our friends and family to help cover some of Nola’s medical expenses.  If there is anything we could do in return of a donation would be GREATLY appreciated.  If anyone has a room to paint, a lawn that needs mowing, a print they would want to buy, specialty cupcakes or a birthday cake they need baked please turn to us.  Kevin set up a PayPal account for donations.  Click on the website: www.paypal.com , click the tab: Send Money. Follow the site’s instructions and you can send it to Kevin’s email address kevsomm@gmail.com  (Thank you for all of you who have donated!!!) 

We will be holding a pie fundraiser to help with Nola’s medical bills.  I’ll be posting more information on that later.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  Nola means the world to us and we appreciate anyone posts our blog or even clicks on our link! Thank you for your time and we will keep you posted on Nola’s status!!!! xoxo

-Amanda

minusamanda@gmail.com