*This is not the real Jack but a representation of him and his breed only. Hook, line, and sinker! What Jack the Australian Shepherd thought was a tasty snack ended up being more than he bargained for! Jack the Australian Shepherd was out on a fishing adventure with his owner when he swallowed a liver coated fishhook. After a physical exam and radiographic evaluation by Dr. Rexroat, the fishhook was identified and located in his stomach. With an abdominal surgery looming, a radiographic monitoring treatment plan for the next couple days was agreed upon first, along with a diet of Royal Canin (RC) Fiber Response. This, technically, veterinary prescription diet, is used in cases of gastrointestinal upset and infections, hairballs (for cats), and other instances, as well as being a great everyday, well-balanced food option. RC Fiber Response has prebiotics and probiotics to also help create a balanced gut and, of course, fiber! The fiber’s “root-like arms” help bulk up stool and grab surrounding foreign objects, like, hair, grass, (and…fishhooks) to carry them out. At least the was the plan and the hope! Over the course of next couple days, as Jack ate his prescription fiber diet and Dr. Rexroat performed repeat radiographs to track the route of the fishhook through the GI tract, he never once acted symptomatic, painful, or like he had made the worst snack decision of his life! (He’s lucky his owners were alert and saw the whole event happen! It helped Dr. Rexroat spend less time on testing with Jack and more time implementing his targeted treatment plan.) Late on Day 1, a radiograph was thought to have shown that the hook had traveled to the back of the abdomen and outside of the bowel itself— meaning surgery was imminent. However, a repeat radiograph early on Day 2 showed better definition— that the hook was now in the colon and surrounded by stool— exactly what we wanted to see! Jack, however, was stubbornly keeping his new “catch” all to himself. Finally, on the morning of Day 3, Jack had his winning deposit! Eureka! His veterinary assistant carefully performed a bowel movement exam, retrieved the long awaited fishhook, and joyfully reported the results to Dr. Rexroat and his owners! Luckily, in Jack’s case, no emergency surgery was needed after all. These days, instead of a large mouth bass or other prized catch hanging up to be admired, Jack’s owners have his fishhook mounted. We bet it's been Jack (and his family’s) most extensive and adventurous fishing trip to date!
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1 Comment
Debbie Hall Sprowles
8/6/2024 04:39:09 pm
I see a movie of the week out of this. Thank goodness for no extensive surgery! Love this happy ending!
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