[Dailydrool] Pearl's surgery, details (long)

[Synthia and Hounds]

For those wondering about the surgery for Pearl, we have had several conversations with multiple vets as to the best approach for Pearl's problems. She could not have the mouth and abdominal procedures done on the same day as you can't do a "dirty" (mouth) and "clean" abdomen procedure together because of the risk of infection. There is no added risk with multiple anesthestics and two shorter procedures are going to be better tolerated then one long one. The mouth procedures shouldn't have been anything dramatic - here Pearl is her own worst enemy with her habit of face rubbing. She keeps rubbing and stirring up bleeding. With sedation that has settled down. She also really fights any kind of oral exam, so by doing the second procedure tomorrow, she will have her spay, gastropexy, and tumor removal as well as allowing a thorough oral exam to check the flaps in her mouth and allow for any cleaning or repair that needs to be done. 
All of these procedures need to be done - tumors have begun to break down and bleed, and she was in heat in March and soon will be again with a risk of pyometra. With a large abdominal incision for the tumors, obviously the spay will be done at the same time. Because the incision will extend up her abdomen, I am also having a gastropexy done to tack her stomach - Having been through bloat and torsion with a dog before, I feel strongly about tacking the stomach. Again adding very little time and no additional incisions over what is already being done.
As for the mouth, the fistulas were large enough for kibble to get in the sinuses. Pearl would periodically sneeze pieces out after eating. If she were to sniff in instead, she could aspirate the kibble and choke. A serious risk that needed to be addressed. The lower canines were perforating into her upper lips and gums. Very painful every time she closed her mouth and causing infection at the sites of the tears. The plan was to cut down the teeth and do root canals then seal them but the roots were too loose and they were extracted instead. A shorter procedure than the pulp capping.
All is being done at a specialty center with 24hr monitoring and emergency vet always available, by a board certified surgeon. If it had been done as separate procedures, specialists here are all 60-90 min away. The mouth could have been done at the oral surgeon. It would have been a day procedure and she would have been home, bleeding and agitated with no IV or help. It would have been months between procedures because of the distance and it would need to be during my vacation weeks. With multiple high risk problems needing to be resolved it was determined best and safest for Pearl to go to the specialists, stay the week where she could get the care and attention needed, have her problems treated, and have the services provided by a rescue friendly facility offering us a 25% discount on these very pricey procedures. (the reason for traveling the 4 hrs to MA rather than using the specialty hospital here in Albany)
We are closely monitoring Pearl and her care and comfort is the priority for everything being done. One week of managed/medicated discomfort will definitively address several health and life threatening processes for her. Then she can move into her retirement, finally pain free, able to eat without pain or bleeding or risk of choking, and no painful bleeding tumors dragging on the ground.  
I hope this answers any questions about her care.
Thanks to all for the drool - Pearl was perky, eating chicken, spitting out her pills, and walking around the yard at the hospital last night. Still face rubbing some, and fighting anyone trying to look in her mouth, but that is normal for her. Light sedation will continue to encourage her to sleep today and I will pick her up Friday afternoon.
Synthia 		 	   		  
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