Agria App vet helps save dog’s life

In May 2024, Otis underwent castration, combined with a gastropexy, a surgical procedure to prevent gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), or bloat, in large breed dogs. If the stomach inflates, its attachment to the abdominal wall prevents it from twisting and requiring emergency surgery. During the surgery, a toy squeaker was discovered, so they had to remove that too.

Collapsed after surgery

The vet kept him overnight for monitoring because the abdominal wound was leaking. On Friday when Emma collected him he was bright and happy to be home. On Saturday, he began vomiting and wasn't eating so they returned to the vet who diagnosed the after-effects of anaesthetic, prescribing anti-sickness medication.
 
On Sunday morning, Otis collapsed. With difficulty, Emma got him to an out-of-hours vet, who checked his temperature, which was normal, and performed an ultrasound which revealed nothing untoward, so they returned home again. However, it took five people to coax and help Otis out of the car, after which he lay flat on the floor, giving her his paw for comfort (something he’s always done), and not eating or drinking.

Booked call on Agria app

Frantic with worry, Emma booked a call on the Agria app with vet Aimee Nudds. Over video Aimee could tell Otis’s heart rate was very high from his breathing, suggesting a lot of pain. His whole demeanour looked so unwell Aimee urged them to seek veterinary attention immediately. The vet couldn't come out, so Emma got six parents and neighbours to help lift Otis on a blanket into the back of her father’s van.

Perforated gastric ulcer

Otis’s temperature and heart rate were “through the roof!” They found fluid in the abdominal cavity so Emma gave permission to operate. Warned Otis might not make it, Emma and her partner gave him a big cuddle, telling him how much they loved him and let the surgical team get to work. Three hours in, the vet announced she’d found “a perforated gastric ulcer, one of the worst cases she’d ever seen, his insides were being destroyed by the stomach contents and acid, with necrosis of some tissue and lesions on multiple organs.”

Whilst they didn’t want Otis to suffer, they weren’t ready to give up on him, so after a further three hours of surgery, he was transferred by a veterinary team to Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists in Alton. Given a 50/50 chance of survival he underwent a further 6 hours of surgery. The ulcer was on the back of the stomach. They cut out the dead surrounding tissue and patched it up with viable intestinal tissue. They also performed a duodenopexy as the gastropexy was no longer in place.

After ICU for a week, Otis has slowly been recovering at home since. It’s been tricky keeping him quiet as his energy returned, but 7 weeks later he’s exercising normally.

Emma says “Agria has been brilliant and paid up to our policy limit of £15,000.”

Emma has also since set up social media accounts so people can continue to see Otis thrive. You can follow Otis on Instagram and TikTok:

Instagram: oaty_biscuits_adventures

TikTok: great_dane_otis

As Otis continues to regain his strength and vitality, Emma and her partner are recovering from their traumatic experience too, and we wish them all the very best.