Thursday, June 11, 2020
Brought Athena to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center. Due to Covid-19 we needed to wait in the car while they evaluated her. Following are some of the things from the write-up they gave us.
"Athena is a 13-year-old, female spayed, Labrador retriever who presented to the VMC Emergency Service on 6/11/2020 for a pneumothorax."
"The owners first noted that she was coughing with a terminal retch starting about 2 weeks ago. About 2 days later she stared groaning when she turned and was grumbling. Since then, she has been restless and doesn't seem to be comfortable unless she is lying on her side. Her breathing has gotten significantly more labored in the past few days which prompted her presentation. Athena is lethargic at home but had a good appetite until 2 days prior to presentation when she was less enthusiastic about eating. Athena hasn't had any vomiting or diarrhea."
"She was evaluated but the Minnehaha Animal Hospital where chest x-rays were performed and she was diagnosed with a pneumothorax. She was then referred to the VMC for continued care."
"There is a neighbor who gives Athena... rawhide treat[s] and Athena choked on [a] treat about 2 weeks ago. She was eventually able to swallow the treat forcefully. This happened just before the coughing started. There isn't any history of trauma."
"Athena has been having progressive weakness of her back legs due to arthritis but was otherwise healthy prior to the onset of this signs. She has a history of urinary incontinence. She takes carprofen, gabapentin, and proin."
Photos taken Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Athena's condition of pneumothorax basically means that somehow air is escaping from her lungs into her chest cavity causing discomfort. When we dropped her off at the U we believed they would finish tapping her chest and removing the air released into it and that we'd be able to bring her home. The vet eventually called us as we waited in the car to tell us they wanted to keep her overnight to monitor her. We agreed and as we drove home we began to assume the worst and it began to dawn on us that if euthanasia was to be the eventual outcome we might not see her again due to not being able to be present for the that due to Covid.
"She was evaluated but the Minnehaha Animal Hospital where chest x-rays were performed and she was diagnosed with a pneumothorax. She was then referred to the VMC for continued care."
"There is a neighbor who gives Athena... rawhide treat[s] and Athena choked on [a] treat about 2 weeks ago. She was eventually able to swallow the treat forcefully. This happened just before the coughing started. There isn't any history of trauma."
"Athena has been having progressive weakness of her back legs due to arthritis but was otherwise healthy prior to the onset of this signs. She has a history of urinary incontinence. She takes carprofen, gabapentin, and proin."
Photos taken Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Athena's condition of pneumothorax basically means that somehow air is escaping from her lungs into her chest cavity causing discomfort. When we dropped her off at the U we believed they would finish tapping her chest and removing the air released into it and that we'd be able to bring her home. The vet eventually called us as we waited in the car to tell us they wanted to keep her overnight to monitor her. We agreed and as we drove home we began to assume the worst and it began to dawn on us that if euthanasia was to be the eventual outcome we might not see her again due to not being able to be present for the that due to Covid.
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