Toby goes to the hospital

It started on Tuesday morning.  The first thing Toby did was throw up a piece of paper with a staple in it.  After that he refused to eat anything at all.  His favourite treat couldn't tempt it.  He just lay in his usual spot on the couch.  By early afternoon we were at the vet.

Toby loves going to the vet.  When we walk by on the sidewalk he pulls to go in.  Same with the groomer.  But in both places he starts shaking as soon as we're inside.  This time he had to stay and ended up being there for 3 days and 2 nights.  An x-ray showed a "foreign body" in his colon and he continued to refuse food.  He was fed intravenously.  I imagine the x-ray looked like this though they had no clue what he had swallowed.

I have to confess that at first I kicked up my heels.  Fancy free with no dog.  I slept in to 8 both mornings and then lounged about in my long undies.  That didn't last long.  After a day I could feel myself reverting to old ways of anxiety and withdrawal.  Of course I was worried about Toby but I had a hard time holding on to the enormity of any potential disaster.

The vet called me in on Wednesday evening to see if I could entice him to eat.  He refused even me.  However the next morning he finally pooed and another x-ray showed the thing was gone.  They never found what it was.  Too bad.  It might have helped my guilt.  I have to be even more vigilant on our walks to make sure he doesn't pick up anything.  It's a battle sometimes because he loves to sniff about.  Sometimes he walks with his nose along the sidewalk like Sherlock Holmes.

I brought him home last evening with 3 medicines for the next several days.  He ate his dinner and we had a walk.  And then at about 1 in the morning he vomited once more.  (Or I hope it's ONE more time.)  I'm assuming it was eating after so long that upset his stomach but it was pretty scary during the night.

After medicine, breakfast and two walks Toby seems himself again.  Back to his favourite spot on the couch.