The Further Adventures of Frodo the Faller – an overnight stay

The dogs had minced turkey for breakfast yesterday morning. It’s not something they’ve eaten before and I thought it would be a pleasant change. Gus wasn’t very keen on it and kept looking round to see if there were something more appetising. Jenna finished hers happily and wanted to help Frodo with his but he didn’t require her assistance. Then, fed, watered, medicated (Frodo) and comfortable, they all settled down for a well-earned nap.

When supper time came they all followed me into the kitchen, expectation etched on their faces. I produced more turkey mince and Jenna tucked in. Gus looked rather disgusted then ate it but Frodo sniffed it and turned away. This is a most unusual reaction from perhaps the greediest dog I’ve ever known so I tried him again. No, he wasn’t at all interested so I decided to leave it. 

Dogs are like children – when they’re hungry enough, they’ll eat, and missing one meal does no lasting damage. However, he needed his medicine. As usual, I proffered it in peanut butter but he wouldn’t take it. I looked more closely at him. He was wagging his tail and appeared quite normal except that he looked rather portly. I knew he hadn’t been scavenging so watched him for a while. It became apparent that the lumpy stomach was not lessening in girth and it definitely wasn’t as it should be. Though it wasn’t drum tight both Barry and I began to suspect that the cause might be the onset of gastric torsion so we made an urgent appointment and took Frodo to the vets.

In the reception area at 17:30 Frodo continued to wag his tail and point his nose to the exit. When Phil-the-Vet called us in Frodo attempted to leave and once we were in the consulting room he turned to face the door, his intention to depart being apparent to all. The tail didn’t stop wagging and he didn’t seem to be in pain. Phil-the-Vet’s diagnosis confirmed our suspicions and instead of returning home with us, Frodo was taken in for surgery. By 18:55 he was in recovery, his stomach having been untwisted and a stitch put in to prevent it happening again.

It’s almost a year to the day that Buddy underwent the same procedure, though the onset of his condition was much more rapid and dangerous. He enjoyed the vets’ hospitality for three days and nights. Frodo is coming home tonight. Phil-the-Vet phoned this morning to update us and said that Frodo was chirpy and ready to leave but that they would keep him in for observation for the day. We wondered just what he meant by ‘chirpy’. Frodo is a great groaner and persists until he gets what he wants. I just hope he’s not howling! We shall find out later.

It felt odd to walk last evening without my Velcro dog at my side!