On March 11th, our Australian Shepherd Kojak began projectile vomiting blood, mere minutes before our family was set to leave for a birthday camping trip. After a few months of what our primary vet had thought to be simply a case of increasing acid reflux, considering his blood tests and a full wellness panel had come back with completely normal and healthy results, we rushed Kojak to the closest Blue Pearl Emergency Pet Hospital.

 

Nearly one thousand dollars later, we were left with more inconclusive tests and told the blood was likely due to irritation from vomiting. Our next step was to observe him for 72 hours, and if Kojak continued to have issues within that timeframe, to bring him to another Blue Pearl for an ultrasound to examine his pancreas. Until then, he was given the all-clear to come on the camping trip with us since it was simply a matter of observation to see whether or not he improved.

 

Needless to say, he didn’t.

 

Over the course of the trip, Kojak managed to go on a hike with us, which made us feel hopeful that he was getting over whatever had been ailing him; there was pep in his step and he was climbing up rocky terrain without any trouble at all. However, as the weekend continued, his appetite rapidly declined, which was tremendously concerning (he’s a dog that typically begs incessantly for food and has never shown food aversion in his entire life). He was also salivating heavily, indicating that his nausea was still present despite being on strong medication to prevent it.

 

Upon returning from the trip, I called Blue Pearl to schedule an ultrasound for him. Their earliest opening for an appointment was Wednesday at 3:00 PM, but they offered that he could be brought in first thing Tuesday morning as a “fit in,” i.e. they would squeeze him into the ultrasound schedule at some point during the day, but there was no guarantee. We planned to wait it out as best we could—but as Monday went by, Kojak rapidly declined: he wasn’t eating, he wasn’t drinking water, and he had reached a level of lethargy that we had never, ever seen in him before. After a particularly terrifying moment where I went into the bedroom to check on him and he didn’t respond, simply lying still with his eyes staring blankly, I made the decision to call the emergency vet for their opinion. Once I had described his symptoms, they said to bring him in immediately, and so we found ourselves sitting in the hospital waiting room at 10:30 PM as they took him back for evaluation.

 

Three hours later, we were told they would keep him for an overnight stay and get him an ultrasound first thing in the morning. A brief discussion with the doctor on staff had us all agreeing that he likely had acute pancreatitis, as his symptoms seemed to line up with that condition. We left that night, worried but hopeful. Much of the next morning was spent anxiously awaiting his ultrasound report, but when the call finally came in, it was far more dire than anyone anticipated.

 

The ultrasound had revealed a gigantic mass of foreign material that had built up in his stomach and begun to filtrate into his intestine, threatening to rupture it. There was no way to discern the type of material via the ultrasound, but if he didn’t undergo stomach surgery immediately to remove it, there was little chance he would survive the next 24 hours. Considering how large the mass was, there was also the risk that he wouldn’t survive the surgery itself; multiple incisions in his stomach and intestines could be necessary if they did not have to remove part of his intestine entirely.

 

Kojak has saved my life from attempted suicide not once but twice, and I was prepared to do anything I could to save him, regardless of the cost. After quickly paying the operation fees upfront and out-of-pocket, he was able to enter surgery within the hour, and after that, it was simply a matter of waiting to hear whether or not he survived.

 

Thankfully, our strong, brave boy pulled through without complications. They were able to remove the mass through a single incision, and his intestine was repaired. (As for what the material was? They honestly couldn’t tell, but it had apparently been digesting in his stomach for 2 to 3 months. Blech!) He was kept overnight once again until he finally began to show signs of an appetite, and at long last, he was sent home with us on Wednesday night to recover.

 

So far, he’s been doing just fine after coming home, which is an unbelievable relief. I was prepared to accept that Monday night was the last time I was going to see him alive, so to wake up to puppy kisses on Thursday morning was my greatest wish come true. We will be spending the next two weeks caring extensively for him as he recovers from his surgery, and hopefully by the time his fifth birthday rolls around in April, he’ll be back to his usual crazy, wild self. ♡

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, due to the dire emergency of the situation, covering his medical expenses completely obliterated our savings and took up a large amount of credit. My partner and I are asking for any help possible in covering these veterinary bills:

 

 

TOTAL: $10,027.42

 

We know it is a challenge to find a little extra to give, especially during such uncertain times, but any help at all is sincerely appreciated. No amount is too small; we’re grateful for any generosity offered. Kojak is an incredible dog who has brought so much joy to our lives and the lives of our family, friends, and online communities. Thank you to anyone who can offer him (and his moms) your support!