We had been awake for 30 hrs.
My once healthy and happy 10 week old puppy was now too weak to stand, could not eat or drink and was gasping for breath.
The day before, she got hold of a remnant of a rib bone and swallowed it.
The bone became a life-threatening EFB (Esophageal Foreign Body); basically making her trachea resemble a pinched straw - barely enough of an opening for stertor and stridor (inefficient, sound-producing breaths).
I administered canine Heimlich maneuvers, but no success.
The following morning, we were the first clients when the vet clinic opened.
The X-Ray showed the EFB. It was too deep to remove by scoping and over three times the size of her esophagus!
Since she was only 10 weeks old and the EFB was so deep, surgery had a VERY POOR prognosis.
Stubbornly, I was planning to roll the dice with the high-risk cardio-thoracic puppy surgery - until the vet told me that the procedure and post-op in-patient care would cost at least 50,000 -60,000 Philippine pesos (1,000- 1,200 U.S. Dollars)!
I admitted to myself that, all things considered, the surgery/aftercare was not an option for me.
The only kind thing to do now was to euthanize her.
In spite of feeling terribly sad, I maintained a stoic demeanor.
My girlfriend, however, portrayed how I felt inside - she was in tears.
The vet brought in two vials (an anesthetic and potassium chloride) and the euthanization syringe/needle.
Before he began the procedure, I asked him what my total, current vet bill was WITHOUT the euthanasia?
He had the desk tally the total and it came out to 2,000 pesos (~40 USD).
I looked in my wallet and realized that all I had was 700 pesos (~14 USD).
Because of rampant defaults, the vet clinic had a strict "No Credit" policy.
Since the clinic did not accept credit cards, I realized that I didn't have the money to pay for the visit, vet and surgeon consult, plus the X-Ray.
I was honest with the vet and gave them the 700 pesos from my wallet.
They had no choice but to accept my word that I would pay them in a few days after my next pensions, stock dividends and IRAs posted in my bank accounts.
We took the struggling puppy home and waited for her to die.
It broke my heart to see her suffering so much.
My girlfriend decided to make our puppy as comfortable as possible.
Every 2-3 hours, she gave the puppy water with added amoxicillin and a rice/broth mixture via a syringe.
Our puppy vomited it all up.
One day past and the puppy's condition was unchanged - BUT SHE WAS STILL ALIVE.
Two days past and some water and rice/broth would stay down - AND SHE WAS STILL ALIVE!
Three days past and the puppy began breathing better and holding down the water and food.
Four days past and the EFB (rib bone) was passed in the form of tarry stools.
Five days past and the puppy begins to breathe normally, can lift up her head and can walk around without losing her balance.
Six days later and our puppy is playing with her sibling as though nothing happened!
She is now back to her healthy, happy and adorable self.
[A rare, signed, higher resolution and non-watermarked version of this image is available for download at: https://creary.net/digitalart/@jaichai/youshi-the-miracle-puppy]
Youshi: "The Miracle Puppy", indeed!
And this is the first time in my life that I'm so grateful for being temporarily broke!
May you and yours be well and loving life today.
In Lak'ech, JaiChai
(JaiChai 2 APR 2022. Simultaneous multi-site submissions posted. All rights reserved.)