One of my Bostons had a dental appointment last week and vomited during surgery. Thankfully, the breathing tube and balloon at the base of it prevented aspiration¤ and she just had irritation to her nasal passage. After a lengthy discussion with the doctor, I learned that it is not all that uncommon for this to happen. He informed me that most times the tube and balloon do their job but there are cases where dogs aspirate. We also discussed the fact that many people do not fast dogs as requested and that this puts the dogs at a much higher risk of vomiting and aspiration. My girl was lucky. Doctors ask us to fast^¤ our dog prior to surgery to reduce the risk of vomiting during surgery.  It is important for people to realize that fasting can prevent things like this. I withheld food as directed by the doctor and my girl still vomited. But in many cases, fasting can prevent vomiting. Any surgery, even a routine dental carries risk of complications and I have witnessed this first hand. Getting a phone call during surgery informing me of vomiting was so scary. It took a while before the doctor was confident that there had been no aspiration. My girl was at the hospital longer than normally required for monitoring and it was an anxious wait for me. I have had Bostons all my life and many fosters have come through and this was the first time I have had experience with vomiting during surgery. I thought it might be great to remind people of the importance of fasting before surgery and that any surgery, no matter how minor carries a risk. “Puddy is seven years old, she was fasted and still vomited during surgery. It's so scary. Imagine how bad it might have been if I had not fasted her prior to her surgery.”

  Written by: Susan Patty Padro

BOSTON TERRIER NETWORK ADDS:

Terms used and other ideas and sources:
*Aspiration [as″pĭ-ra´shun]
Inhalation of some foreign material; aspiration of vomitus, blood, or mucus may occur when a person is unconscious or under the effects of a general anesthetic, and can be avoided by keeping the head turned to the side and removing all such foreign material from the air passages.
 
Since your dog relies on you for help, it’s important for you to find out all you can about the type of anesthesia that will be administered, the risks involved, and the success rate of the surgery that needs to be performed. ¹
Dr. Rachael Carpenter, a clinical assistant professor in anesthesia and pain management at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, explains that before a dog’s surgery, owners should take time to sit down with their veterinarian and ask questions about the procedure and the steps that will be taken to ensure the pet’s safety while under anesthesia. "It is important that the owner trusts the veterinarian and is comfortable with the procedure about to be performed," says Dr. Carpenter. Your veterinarian should be able to answer questions about how your dog’s vital signs will be monitored while under anesthesia and who will be responsible for monitoring your dog. Dr. Carpenter advises that if your dog is not feeling well it would be wise to postpone elective procedures until the animal is healthier. Even something as simple as a runny nose or a cough can increase the risk of complications under anesthesia as well as a longer post-surgical recovery time .²
^¤Fasting for several hours prior to anesthesia, as directed by your veterinarian, is important to reduce your dog’s risk. If your dog has not fasted prior to anesthesia, she could vomit and possibly aspirate food or fluid into her lungs, even with intubation (tube to keep the airway open). This could potentially result in a condition called aspiration pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. Make sure your veterinarian knows your dog’s complete history before the anesthetic event. Her vaccine history, lifestyle, and any medications she takes all influence how she may respond to anesthesia. Your veterinarian may recommend a presurgical examination and diagnostic tests that help identify any underlying conditions that should be addressed before your dog undergoes anesthesia. ³
Follow the doctor's instructions about eating. The night before surgery, your doctor will probably tell you that you shouldn't eat anything after midnight. This is one of the most important instructions to follow. Why? If you go under anesthesia with food in your stomach, you may vomit up some of this food and breathe it in. This can lead not only to aspiration pneumonia but then potentially make it impossible to get oxygen into your lungs during the anesthesia procedure -- and without oxygen, systems within your body fail and you can die. If you do eat after midnight, inform the surgical staff immediately; your surgery may need to be postponed or cancelled. Also, at least a week before surgery, you should stop your herbal medicines and any vitamins mentioned by your doctor; some of these can interact with anesthesia medicines.
While most dog breeds do well with anesthesia, brachycephalic dogs face a greater risk of complications. The term brachycephalic is Greek for "short head" and refers to dogs whose faces appear pushed in, such as bulldogs and pugs. Their unusual facial appearance can causes a number of changes to the dogs’ airways, a condition known as brachycephalic airway syndrome, which can lead to problems when they are anesthetized. According to Dr. Patty Khuly, more than half of dog deaths related to anesthesia actually occur post-surgery. In fact, she points out that the risks to brachycephalic breeds are greater during recovery than at other times in the process. Often the problem is caused by premature *extubation - the removal of the tube that kept the dog's airways open. With dogs that have brachycephalic airway syndrome, removing the tube too early can cause an obstruction and if the dog is not being properly monitored during recovery, he can die from a lack of oxygen. Instead, extubation should not be done until the dog is conscious and alert. ⁴
If you would like to learn more you might want to read these resources:

¹ www.vetinfo.com

² http://www.dogchannel.com

³ http://www.pethealthnetwork.com

⁴ http://dogcare.dailypuppy.com

Object Sucking in Dogs - an unexplained phenomenon

As babies, many humans become attached to a comforter or cuddle, which is usually a piece of cloth or a favourite soft toy. The image of a human infant clutching their comforter and sucking their thumb is a familiar one.

Blanket, bed or toy sucking in canines seems to be the doggy equivalent, and the behaviour seems to occur at a time when they are getting ready to sleep as in human infants.

This phenomenon only occurs in a handful of dogs, but, unlike human infants, it seems to be something they do not grow out of as they get older.

Dogs that do this usually select something soft and cuddly, often a soft toy or a piece of their bed or fur fabric or other soft material and curl up with it in their beds.

If it is not quite the right shape, they may push it around with their paws and mould it until it fits into their mouth.

Some just hold their favourite object in their mouths, while others actively suck on it.

A few dogs will even knead with their paws while they do this. This continues until they fall asleep.

Once they start this habit, it seems to continue throughout their adult life.

Dougal the Westie, is a 'sucker' and has been doing so since he was 3 months old and Sam the doberman is 12 years and still going strong.

Owners who try to get them to kick the habit are often unsuccessful.

Dogs deprived of their favourite 'cuddle' will often substitute another object if they can and, if deprived of everything, will go without, but will go back to doing it as soon as they can get hold of something suitable.

There seems to be nothing wrong with allowing dogs to carry out this behaviour.

The object used may need to be washed occasionally to prevent it becoming unhygienic, but no long term damage seems to be done, the behaviour is not disruptive and if the dog is comforted by the action, why not?

It may even be a necessary one since actions are seldom performed without good reason.

Without knowing what that reason is or why it comforts them, preventing it may result in unnecessary deprivation and distress for the animal.

Some owners may encourage the habit which tends to increase the dependence on the object.

One owner reported that the cuddly toy used by her puppy had to be taken with them when they went outside. Otherwise the puppy could not relax enough to go the toilet.

For this dog, the toy could have had a dual role, being used as a comforter at night and being used as a toy to demand attention and games during the day. This could get out of hand and these owners would be wise to restrict the use of the toy to times when the puppy wishes to sleep.

Object sucking can occur in any breed of dog; it has been known in working dogs like Border Collies, gun dogs like Springer Spaniels, terriers like Westies, hounds like Daschunds and crossbreds.

It does seem to be quite common in Dobermans, a breed well known for their flank-sucking behaviours.

Flank-sucking, which is a condition where the dog sucks on the very top of one of its hind legs, can become pathological in some cases where it is done excessively, almost with compulsion, and eventually causes damage to the skin.

Blanket or bed-sucking is, however, usually not harmful, but it may be a less exaggerated manifestation of the same syndrome.

The fact that flank-sucking does seem to run in lines and is seen in family groups suggests a genetic component to the problem.

Cassie is a 7 year old Doberman whose four brothers and sisters also do similar things.

Cassie's owner was eventually forced to buy her T-shirts especially for her 'habit'!

Cassie insisted on stealing things out of the laundry basket and lovingly shaping them into something resembling a cricket ball.

Several T-shirts, jumpers, underwear and even a King size duvet were given this treatment until her owners gave in and bought her several T-shirts.

Now there is no raiding of the laundry and a clean T-shirt is always available while the others are being washed.

Scent does seem to play a role in this behaviour.

Items which smell of the pack or the individual are more likely to be chosen and a clean object may hold less attraction than a smelly one.

Dogs that become fearful when left alone will often collect items that smell of the owner and may chew them until there is enough material to surround themselves with.

Perhaps sucking or holding something that smells of the pack leader or of something familiar is comforting for animals who sense of smell is so much more sensitive than our own.

Sweet-natured, gentle dogs seem to be more likely to display this behaviour than those with stronger characters.

Sensitive dogs also seems to be more prone to anxieties generally, especially those that occur when they are separated from their owners for short periods. They tend to be more clingy and are likely to follow their owners everywhere in the house, rather than being more independent and happy with their own company.

Dogs that have left their mother and littermates at an young age, or have been hand-reared, also seem to be more likely to develop the object-sucking syndrome.

It also seems to be quite common in dogs that have had more than one owner, particularly if they were rehomed at an early age.

Patch, a rescue dog, likes to suck his teddy until he goes to sleep and will take it with him to his bed.

So why do they do it?

Although there has been no research into this phenomenon and no one really knows the answer, it would appear to be more common in those dogs that have sensitive natures and who have retained a juvenile attitude even when they mature.

Such dogs are more likely to be loving and sweet-natured, to be more dependant on the company and protection of their owners, more unhappy about being parted from them and more likely to suffer from disturbances if rehomed or separated from their owners.

Object sucking or holding seems to provide the comfort needed by such dogs at a time when they are tired, perhaps in a similar way to puppies who feed first before sleeping.

Whether or not this action is a substitute for the comfort once provided by the mother is not clear.

Human infants often select their 'cuddle' even if they have ready access to their mothers so perhaps it is one of the steps towards independence that is necessary for some individuals.

That many humans can remember the name they gave to their 'cuddle' when they are adults, and that many children show acute distress if forcibly parted from it, is an indication of the importance they attached to the article of their choice.

Although humans usually leave behind their dependence on such things in the nursery, plenty of children suck their thumb and may even continue to do so into adulthood.

The fact that many adult bite their nails, smoke cigarettes or overeat points to the possibility that maybe some humans do not grow out of it after all but merely find more socially-acceptable substitutes!

Mum

The behaviour surrounding cuddles or comforters in both dogs and humans seen, seems to resemble the feeding behaviour in young animals, even down to the kneading action of the paws in puppies which adds further weight to the idea that it may be a way of getting comfort that was once provided by the mother.

Puppies which have been orphaned, or removed from their mothers at an early age, are more likely to have needed to develop strategies for acquiring comfort from elsewhere, and perhaps this is why they seem to be more likely to show this behaviour than others.

Similarly rescue dogs, especially those that have been through many homes as puppies, will have had to get used to being separated from their attachment figures and may have needed to find comfort elsewhere.

Whatever the real reason, this phenomenon remains an interesting topic of conversation for owners.

Most view it as an endearing feature, and is yet another example of how similar we are to the animals which share our lives.

Dogs that have left their mother and littermates at an young age, or have been hand-reared, also seem to be more likely to develop the object-sucking syndrome.

It also seems to be quite common in dogs that have had more than one owner, particularly if they were rehomed at an early age.

One of my first senior fosters 

Gizmo, a Boston with heartworm introduced me to a behaivor that untill

 then I had associated only with human babies and their pasafiers

likes to suck his teddy until he goes to sleep and will take it with him to his bed.

Source: Gwen Bailey –author and specialist on Dog Behavior

Tammy and Pink A True Story

Yes Amy and her Bulldog Pink saved my life!

The very first time Amy came for a home visit, my blood pressure shot through the roof. I know I keep saying it felt like electric going through me. My husband, Dave, thought I was having a seizure. Amy stepped in and had me look at pictures of bulldogs while having me take medicine and calming down. I have bad PTSD.

On Amy’s second visit, I was introduced to Pink. Pink is the best dog in my book. She comes over and can calm me down in a way that no person can. She is very loving. .. And the best therapy I get is from her. And her mommy (Amy) is also amazing. I think Pink should get award for what she does for me. My PTSD goes away when I see her.

Amy tells us “Timmy’s vital signs improve while Pink is there and the effects last about three days. Her blood pressure is reduced without medication. Many patients with hypertension alone would benefit from emotional support dog services.”

Just knowing that Pink can Lower my blood pressure and take my fears away even for a couple hours is OK.

My husband Dave wanted at Christmas to buy me a puppy bully. But I said no because of my 7 grandkids and wanting to give them the best Christmas ever. I put everyone before myself. I know if I'm meant to have one God will show me how.

If I got bully I want one who needs my love as much as I need theirs. Everyone wants a puppy but I think every dog needs a second chance. Maybe I am still here to rescue one like my grandson’s dog Batman.

He was abuse and in the shelter. My grandson saw his picture online and named him. We went the next day to the shelter. I tried to get him to see other dogs but nope he had his mind set. The shelter said he was shy, but once the 2 of them got home, Batman was not shy. Batman just wanted a little boy and a poppa to love him. My husband wrote on Tampa Humane Society and told them “We had a perfect match for both my grandson and Batman.”

Pink and Tammy

Robert Coriat and Oozy’s story are what gives me hope. I have talked to him and read his story. If it was not for Amy showing me his page and videos there are some days when not seeing Pink or talking to Amy my PTSD would of got the best of me when I have been hospitalized.

It's amazing that anyone would think I'm worth it. Now Amy and PINK are. I have to struggle to eat every day because of gp. But I know God has to have a purpose for me. He has taken some of the most wonderful people from us this year. But he let's me live. I'm not powerful not wealthy. But I was raised that you can always put another potato in the pot to help someone in need. Nothing like Robert or Amy!
Written by:  Tammy Lynne Dorotzak

EDITORS NOTE: We are constantly amazed how much the unconditional love of a dog can influence our lives. Tammy wanted to share her story with you. We have added links to our original stories from our good friend Robert Coriat who helped start us on this amazing journey of reaching out and touching in such powerful ways so many people who like Tammy have benefited from the unconditional love of a dog.

Other articles you might like to read:

The Power of a Dog's Unconditional Love Robert amd Akiles
The Power of a Dog's Unconditional Love:Part 2 Dedicated to Akiles,_Ozzy