Why Crusoe had surgery...

Why Crusoe had surgery...
Please consider making a donation to help research & advancements in animal healthcare: - OVC Guelph University, advancing minimally invasive surgery (the Crusoe Fund): https://ift.tt/3faMyUQ - Cornell University: https://ift.tt/2XXQGCd -- On June 5th, Crusoe underwent cholecystectomy to have his gallbladder removed. This video explains everything we learned about gallbladder disease in dachshunds and other dogs. We spoke with the top veterinary experts in North America in regards to liver, gallbladder, and gastrointestinal disease. Including, Dr. Sharon Center of Cornell University, professor of internal medicine. She made time in her enormously busy schedule to see Crusoe personally. Dr. Center’s colleague Dr. Mick was also invaluable in providing ongoing guidance and insights prior to and through surgery. We also consulted with Dr. Jody Gookin at NC State who has advanced a ton of research around gallbladder disease, and was kind enough to take provide her analysis of Crusoe’s case virtually. We also did continued tests with our local vet clinic and their internal medicine department (notable thank you’s to Dr. Cyrus, Dr. Bruce, and Dr. Gumley). Why We Chose Surgery: Gallbladder issues, when they become symptomatic, put pressure on the liver which increases liver enzymes in the blood. The more stressed the liver is, the higher the risk of surgical complications (especially related to anesthesia), and thus a higher mortality rate. As gallbladders start to fill with sludge and mucus, they get clogged with the stagnant bile and can over-extend to the point of actually rupturing. If they rupture and bile spills into the surrounding area, it causes peritonitis which is extremely dangerous and fatal if surgery is not conducted immediately to clean it up – and even then, there is a very high mortality rate. Granted, a dog would probably not go from being asymptomatic to rupture overnight, but it can all still develop rather suddenly. A lot of studies have indicated mortality rates for gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy) are MUCH lower while the dog is still asymptomatic. Dogs, like humans, can live fine without a gallbladder. It has no essential function is maybe the most fortunate part about all this. So, our options were: Wait-and-see while trying to medically manage with a bile thinner medication like ursodiol for as long as possible. This may prolong/stall the development of his galbladder issue, but there is virtually no statistical data right now that show this can be reversed medically. Opt for surgery within next 6 months, which is also what the collective recommendation was from the experts we consulted with. It’s incredibly hard to decide to do surgery on your dog when they’re asymptomatic and feeling fine, especially when you love them as much as we do. But if it’s a question of now or later, where later could mean riskier or emergency surgery, I think sometimes you have to take the more proactive decision. Even if we delayed or waited until the first signs of symptoms to do surgery – where it would still be relatively safe – that could be 2 or 3 years from now, and Crusoe who is already almost 11, could be 13 or 14 by that point. As Crusoe also has a mild heart murmur at this point, we also don’t want to chance needing such a large surgery when he’s much older. So ultimately, we decided the best thing for his long term health was to do surgery now while he’s asymptomatic and younger. We are so thankful that so far recovery has gone well. We hope for many more bright years with our happy pup. ---- Get official Crusoe merch here: https://ift.tt/2ol88LN ---- Follow Crusoe in more places! Instagram: @crusoe_dachshund TikTok: @crusoe_dachshund Facebook: https://ift.tt/1mtqHJl Facebook Fan Group: https://ift.tt/2eOYm2r Twitter: http://twitter.com/celeb_dachshund ---- Behind the Scenes Blogs come out at https://ift.tt/19i77bd