I think its fair to say that the start of 2020 has been difficult for us on every level, but just recently we had another turn of bad luck that nearly cost one dog his life.
Despite a very checkered past and a stubborn streak that matches no other in the kennels, Taz has always been a firm favourite. There is always a race to get him and his girlfriend, Solo, out for a walk.
It was on a walk that one of our volunteers, Paul, noticed that Taz didn't seem himself. He looked lethargic and refused a piece of cooked chicken, so clearly something serious was going on. It was blizzarding down with snow, so maybe it was just the weather, but to be sure Paul told Rachel after returning him to his kennel.
I didnt like the sound of it and rushed to see him immediately. Taz was lying in his bed, all around him was frothy vomit, nothing more than saliva and something I have seen before. I knew instantly he was suffering a stomach torsion (twisted stomach) the froth rather than sick was because the stomach had flipped and the entrance was twisted so any food couldn't make an exit.
I rushed him straight into my van and made the journey to the vets. Rachel rang ahead to make them aware, whilst the rest of the team stepped up to make sure all the other dogs got out for their second walk. All anxiously keeping an eye on their phones.
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| Taz looking so flat as we get ready to leave for the vets. |
The vets rushed him straight in and my worst suspicions were proved correct. Taz's stomach had indeed twisted. He needed emergency surgery.
Nobody knows why it happens, but German Shepherds are prone to the twist. That along with CDRM and splenic tumours have taken so many of our the wonderful Shepherds over the years. The fact we caught it so early was a huge advantage.
I'm happy to say that the emergency surgery went well, but there was also another horror waiting to be discovered. Taz had a 5cm mass on his spleen. I agreed with the vets that it would be best to take the spleen out during the same operation. I couldn't believe that he was suffering two out of the three killers we all dread.
The hope is that the mass is benign, in which case Taz will just adapt and live a normal life. If it is malignant then we have to make the best of the very short time we have him for. As the spleen filters the blood, it will mean that secondary tumours could be anywhere in his body. It is also a very aggressive form of cancer.
The first three days are critical after a stomach twist, as if the stomach has been damaged in anyway, it will die off and all the digestive acids leak into the abdomen, poisoning the dog from the inside. I felt that before we took things any further with the spleen we had to get him through the next 72 hours first.
Step forward another volunteer, Gillian, who collected Taz with me on day 2 and offered him a foster home to go to for a week or so, so she could keep a very close eye on him. A huge thing to take on, but also a huge change for Taz.
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| Taz helping Gillian with the washing up |
I'm delighted to say that Taz has been signed off from the vets today regarding his stomach. The operation only has a 50-50 chance of survival, so it is such a relief. We now need to make a decision on whether we do further tests on the spleen, but that will all cost even more money and wont change any prognosis.
The bill for Taz's surgery is below. February is the worst month of the year for donations as everyone is still recovering from Christmas and the pre Christmas donations have been spent. It really couldn't have come at a worse time and I have to be honest and say that finding the £2,800 is going to be a real struggle. We had to try all we could to save Taz, that is what we do and seeing him living and breathing today is proof that we did the right thing.
The whole team has pulled together on this, it has been quite incredible to be part of, but having helped Taz, we now need you to help us and be part of that team.
If you can donate anything towards Taz's vets bill, then you can do by the following ways:
A cheque made payable to SHAK and posted to SHAK HQ, Greenwell Road, Alnwick, NE66 1HB
Dropping a donation into our shop at 12 Bowes
Or of course by the PayPal link below (Please mark your donation Taz)
paypal.me/shaksanctuary
Thank you in advance. We really need your help on this one.