Gromit Wensleydale - One Profound Hound: May 2011

I wouldn't recommend eating rocks.

I guess I was just curious. Dad and Claire have always taken a great interest in rocks, so I thought I would contribute somehow - in the name of science.

My rock tasting experiment didn't go too well though, and at 5:00am Wednesday morning, while Dad was in the shower preparing to leave for his rock mine, I vomited three large pebbles off the edge of the bed. Mum couldn't believe what she heard, and only I knew the answer to her first question to me:

Gromit, are there any more rocks in you?

When Dad came back in the room Mum told him what happened and he could hardly believe it, but sure enough as he was cleaning my mess (he's the official dog-vomit cleaner in our house) he found one rock in my vomit (he's the official dog-vomit examiner in our house). Mum was quite sure she had heard more than one *plthunnkt* when my vomit hit the floor, and later that morning she looked again and found the other two more rocks which had rolled under the bed.

Dad put the rocks in a bag to bring to the vet, who could hardly believe her eyes when she saw my rocks. She kept them for the day to show all the other vets. When Mum and Dad got my rocks back the bag was labeled "Gromit"...which is how they will be kept forever in my memory box.

I wasn't well the rest of the day. I vomited a few more times - just grass and whatever food and water I tried to eat. My belly hurt, and every once in a while I would let out a sad little yelp, and Mum worried. She called Dad and said it was time to go to the vet..again. It was after hours by then, and the on-call vet advised that not much could be done until morning, so we spent the night snuggling with me tucked tight between Mum and Dad, who worried all night. I wasn't comfortable, and I vomited again in the night.

As the vet office opened, Dad rolled the car into his personal parking spot. I rode on Mum's lap - if you can believe that ..heehee I'm 52 pounds of floppy Basset Hound! I squish her but she doesn't mind. She loves me. .....Dad picked carried me into the office, and was greeted by the front desk staff - who do not need to ask my name, just asked,"what did Gromit do now?"

We took a seat. I did not want to be there, so I tried to hide under Dad. A Golden Retriever who looked surprisingly like Claire came along and sat next to us. She had a hot spot - go figure.
We didn't have to wait long...

Mum and Dad had to leave me there to have some x-rays taken, and when they came back they learned that I had two more rocks inside me. I could have told them that. ...At the time it didn't seem as though I had any distention or upset to the intestine, and the rocks were near the point where they could pass on their own (OUCH!), so they decided to keep me at the vet, give me intravenous fluids, some pain medication, antibiotics, and a laxative. It was about then that I started to really, really regret eating those rocks.

By the next morning the rocks had not passed and my inside Gromit parts weren't looking good on my x-rays. The vet called Mum to say that I had to have an operation to get the rocks out, who then called Dad (working hard at the rock mine, because somebody had to take care of my rather enormous vet bill..) ..she told me they were both very, very worried about me.

They waited hours to learn more. The operation took longer than expected - 3 hours! My poor intestinal tract was all torn up. They had to remove 7 inches of me, and repair four other tears. They took the rocks out and sewed me all up. I have 27 staples in my cute Gromit belly holding me all back together.

Mum was finally able to come see me yesterday. It was so nice to have a visit and it made me feel a lot better. Our vet office is the best, most compassionate - and allowed Mum to stay with me for more than an hour. We lay on the floor together, and she kissed my cute Gromit nose and rubbed my floppy paw and amazing ears. I wagged my tail briefly - just enough to let her know I was happy to see her, but otherwise slept. I feel miserable, and need all the rest I can get so I can heal. Mum promised we would go to the lake as soon as I'm better so I can run around and bark at Claire.

They gave me a green cast to hold my IV in place. I always look good in green. Mum also brought me my green frog blanket which smells like everyone in my family.

I'm still in very serious condition, and my family is very upset. Thank you to everyone on Facebook for your messages and concern. Keep sending the good vibes - I need all I can get.

To all my dog peeps out there:
don't eat rocks.