Surgery for Checkers

[Ann]

Please send some good thoughts and prayers for my sweet Checkers. She will have surgery tomorrow to remove her gallbladder, and will be in the hospital for several days.

Checkers' gallbladder shows the beginning of forming mucoceles, an issue that is very common in Shelties and can very quickly be fatal if not treated immediately. We were lucky in that Checkers has been having regular ultrasounds (along with all of my other dogs over 5) to check her gallbladder, and we are catching this before it's a crisis.

Please consider having your Shelties checked by ultrasound after age 5. This is such a serious issue and emergency surgery requires specialized vets and is very expensive. If your vet doesn't have an ultrasound machine, ask for a referral to one who does for this.

I trust my my vet and the surgeon who will do the procedure, but I'll be on pins and needles until it's over and I can bring my precious girl home.

 

[ghggp]

Oh Ann, I am so sorry Checkers has to go for surgery!
I know only too well that gallbladder issues crop up in Shelties often! I lost my first rescue Billy to this disease! I wish I knew about Sheltie Nation back then with folks like you warning us ahead of time about it!
Mr Chance was on urilsol (sp?) to keep the sludge buildup down in his gallbladder after we did an ultrasound and he never had an attack. Maybe I just caught it early and the meds kept it under control!
My positive thoughts and prayers are with you and Checkers! Bless you both during this very difficult time! Please keep us posted on her surgery and recovery!
Can you post a picture of her?

 

[Ann]

Can you post a picture of her?

Thanks so much, Gloria. Checkers has been on Ursidiol for more than a year, along with Marin milk thistle, which is supposed to help gallbladder issues. She was doing well, but her last ultrasound showed her GB full of sludge and the early tendrils of mucoceles. I am so glad we're catching it before it's more serious.

These are some of my favorite pics of Chex, the ultimate and best ever show dog!

 

[Sharon7]

Awww, sorry to hear she's needing surgery but SUPER glad you caught this before a crisis. I heard somewhere that sables are a bit more prone to this problem, don't know if that's true. Will keep Checkers (what a gorgeous girl) and you in my thoughts and in my heart tomorrow, Ann.

 

[ghggp]

Just stunning!
Love the moving picture of her!

Virtual hugs to you both!

 

[Shelby's mom]

You are in our thoughts a prayers. I too know how quickly gallbladder issues can occur. We also lost our first Sheltie to a large gallbladder mucocele. I am glad you found this early and are able to have it treated. Sorry that she has to have surgery.

 

[corbinam]

Wow, Ann. So glad you caught this early! Sending good thoughts to your beautiful Checkers. Keep us posted!

 

[lumiina]

I'll be praying for Checkers too. How scary! I'm so glad you caught it early. I didn't know about that, so will definitely keep that in mind when my girl turns five. One of our vets does happen to have an ultrasound.

Checkers is so beautiful.

 

[Hanne]

Ann I will send good thoughts to your sweet Checkers
- she is really beautiful - but the last picture is so beautiful - she occupies the whole floor

Thanks for the warning, I have to make a new "important" folder

 

[Caro]

oh gosh, sending my best to you and Checkers.
I took Tully off Ursidiol because the sludge didn't settle down in the 3 months she was on it. Then I was meant to get another ultrasound done, which I havent with all my own health issues. I did ask a vet down here how much for another scan - it is $300 more than my regular vet. But now you have me worried so perhaps I should just come up with the money.
Did Checkers just have sludge originally that turned into mucoceles recently?