This is my first photo for my Pet Photography class. This photo is also special to me. I took this first thing this morning, approx. 6:30am, just as the sun was rising. This was to be most likely last day. We thought she had a tumor/cancer in her stomach, so we were anticipating the vet calling from the exploratory surgery saying the worst. We were going to put her down then so she wouldn't suffer. Well, the good news is that she swallowed something - no clue what yet, the vet could not identify it, other than it is soft, and it had absorbed the Barium and the dye making it look like a huge tumor on the X-Rays. An hour and a half later, my little girl was out of surgery, and she should be coming home tomorrow evening. What a roller coaster of a day.

I love happy endings...great portrait, too.

PJ,
nice portrait and even better results from the exploratory. Congrats on having your model home and healthy.

Jim

Very pretty photo and great news to go with it!
Diana

Thanks Preston, Jim and Diana! My model had to go back the vet a day after getting home- Throwing up again, listless, so I rushed her back up. We did X-Rays, and the vet and I both looked at each other and said "What the hell?" The X-Ray showed what looked like a Razor Blade in her stomach! Once again, she was back in surgery. The vet called later to say it was not a razor blade, but part of a metal window corner. Where did she get that from? But, my little model is home now, after spending a week in the hospital ( he was not taking any chances this time) she is back to normal, chasing squirrels, chipmunks and bunnies. Her incision looks great, even if it is 8" long, no swelling, no puffiness, no redness or weeping. She goes in next week to get her stitches out.

Wonderful portrait and even better news!!!

Penny,
I totally understand. A few months ago, Moxie was showing the same symptoms and we took her to the vets where they Xrayed and showed something was blocking her intestines. So, we decided to open her up. Now, our "show" vet has no issues with owners being in the operating room during surgery so I sat there while she took out Moxie's intestines and examined every square inch of them. Believe me, there's something weird about seeing your puppy's insides outside her body!

The surgery found that she had displaced her spleen -- probably from the vomiting -- and whatever else had been in there was gone. So, after 37 staples and emergence from the anesthesia, Moxie and I drove home. Fortunately, she had no further issues, recovered completely and quickly and I removed the staples myself. But you can bet that we keep our eyes on her wherever she is. I would rather remove stuff from her mouth than from her insides.

Keep an eye on Abby. Like Moxie, there may be Beavers in her family tree !

Jim

LOL! I love that comment Jim! You can bet that after this little trip to the "Spa" that the old lady will have No alone time, she is going to be supervised 24/7.

Hi Penny,

Beautiful photograph..and a great end to a difficult story.