Eps recovery

[versicolor]

Hello fellow bulldog lovers. It's been 10 days since whoppers EPS surgery. He's doing pretty good. I'm still feeding him mushy food and was wondering when you all think it would be OK to go back to feeding him his regular solid food? And also how much longer before he can start playing, going for walks and generally getting riled up again? Thanks for your help and wisdom.

Paul

 

[Hankster]

Just cause I'm a scardie cat,,, I waited for his vet visit (we had 14 days as he also had entropian and nares so had to get stitches out) and so vet could give the ok. And then I was scarred cause now he had laid low for so long that I was afraid of 'over do'... He went nutzo that very day and has been fine ever since. Did your vet give a time frame? and Hanks food is soft so that wasn't an issue, but I tell you though, one other cool thing about that surgery for him was, when I did/do give him kibble now for his noonday snack, he no longer choked on them! That made me super happy..

 

[versicolor]

The place he had his surgery at said no follow up appointment needed unless there was a problem. I called on Monday and the vet said whopper had one of the most elongated palates he had ever seen. He never gave a time frame on regular food and I forgot to ask. Whopper seems to be doing good and is breathing much better and drooling has subsided a lot. He does still hack up and gag every now and again. I'm assuming it's just still healing.

 

[Hankster]

my paperwork said 4 days of soft food and 2 weeks of very low activity... I know one lady here lost her baby on the third day I think as she went barking and swelled it up.. Your way past that , but I would still be cautious... I know it's hard, but in the long run it should be worth it. Hank was a jerk by the 10th day, but I still made him go out on the leash as I just couldn't bear the thought. I will say too, that don't be disappointed if he doesn't seem perfect yet. It was still another week b4 I felt we had the full results. (meaning at least 3 weeks of healing)

 

[versicolor]

I think I will give the mushy food through the weekend and start back on his regular food on Monday. I feed him taste of the wild so it is very small nuggets but whopper doesn't understand the concept of chewing. He is definitely improved from before surgery but I think you are right that he needs more healing time because he still hacks and gags from time to time. I am considering nares surgery as well. I know it should have been done at the same time as EPS but I hadn't considered until it was too late. That and sometimes finances won't allow for everything at once.

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Thanks for your help and advice.

 

[Manydogs]

[MENTION=16981]versicolor[/MENTION] My dogs haven't had that surgery,but I would be cautious when starting him back on his reg. food. Stand with him,and give him small amounts at a time. Just to be certain he can handle it-sure don't want him to choke. It he has trouble,better go back to soft for a while longer.

 

[TyTysmom]

I think I will give the mushy food through the weekend and start back on his regular food on Monday. I feed him taste of the wild so it is very small nuggets but whopper doesn't understand the concept of chewing. He is definitely improved from before surgery but I think you are right that he needs more healing time because he still hacks and gags from time to time. I am considering nares surgery as well. I know it should have been done at the same time as EPS but I hadn't considered until it was too late. That and sometimes finances won't allow for everything at once.

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Thanks for your help and advice.

You could also feed elevated to help the food go down better. We feed Tyson elevated Its better on their joints too.

 

[Hankster]

I now/again feed elevated thanks to your advice to someone else just a bit back... I had always fed him that way and then have no idea why I stoped but we're back on it so thanks for that reminder

You could also feed elevated to help the food go down better. We feed Tyson elevated Its better on their joints too.

 

[TyTysmom]

I now/again feed elevated thanks to your advice to someone else just a bit back... I had always fed him that way and then have no idea why I stoped but we're back on it so thanks for that reminder

You are most welcome Hugs to Hank!

 

[2BullyMama6]

I think I will give the mushy food through the weekend and start back on his regular food on Monday. I feed him taste of the wild so it is very small nuggets but whopper doesn't understand the concept of chewing. He is definitely improved from before surgery but I think you are right that he needs more healing time because he still hacks and gags from time to time. I am considering nares surgery as well. I know it should have been done at the same time as EPS but I hadn't considered until it was too late. That and sometimes finances won't allow for everything at once.

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Thanks for your help and advice.

How is he doing? Gang has given great advice


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[versicolor]

Yes excellent advice and I appreciate it and thank all of you for the help. He is doing pretty good. Still some gagging from time to time. I really want him to have the nares surgery because he has some very pinched nostrils. But there is a very noticeable difference in his breathing. Much less drool, he doesnt get out of breath as quickly. I'm happy with the results so far.

 

[Hankster]

oh good!! yes! I wish that the timing had been good to have both done at the same time (and actually probably cheaper) but it is what it is. I think that you will be amazed at the nares part as well.. Hank is mostly so quiet it's scarry. No more struggle to suck that air in.. I'm surprised that the vet didn't suggest, but again, it is what it is and you'll deal with it when its time.. Glad to hear things are improving And, everything with hank seemed all nice and fast but I was surprised that that 'gag' thing carried out for longer than I would have thought... None now though so your still looking good!!

 

[versicolor]

This vet I found was definitely on the "cheaper" side of the range for EPS. I was not willing to sacrifice a safe and successful surgery for less money but the other end of the spectrum was extremely more. As in outrageously more money for the same exact thing. And I felt satisfied that this person was very comfortable and confident with EPS. But I am also thinking that although experienced in EPS that perhaps this vet is not a bulldog "specialist". And is why I'm assuming he did not suggest the nares surgery as well. I may set up nares for a place that I know for a fact are experts with bulldogs. I guess it will depend partially on price because "specialists" tend to charge extreme amounts from what I have seen. I am happy with the outcome of whoppers EPS so I may stick with this "cheaper" vet depending on if I get a sense that he has performed nares surgery enough to be considered experienced.

 

[Hankster]

I hope this is ok to post , and I know different states are different prices, but,,,,,,,,,,, I'm just going to throw this out there as I'm in California and think a more expensive state so ......... anyway, for nares, entropian, and the eps,,, and a return visit for removal of stitches and re check, it was right at a thousand... A lot of money I know, but I was pleasantly surprised as I have heard some over 2500. 00... I'm lucky as Hanks dad is also his 'benefactor' so what hank needs hank gets as his daddy couldn't really keep him with him, and I was willing to take him off his hands with that stipulation... I know it would have been lots extra to do separately so if you really think the nares are in order,,, check if anything else needs doing so less 'under' time, and cost effective ?? It angers me at how the heck can costs be soooooooooooo different!! I can see state wize, but within an area. I was blessed to be referred to this vet as I would never have known there was even an available 'bulldog' vet... thanks to this place here, and a neighbor who knew my vet, I went into this comfortably as you did. anyway,,, I sure went all around on this one,,, but just things crossing my mind... Glad all is going well, sounds great I just wish they had advised nares if that indeed needs doing ;/

This vet I found was definitely on the "cheaper" side of the range for EPS. I was not willing to sacrifice a safe and successful surgery for less money but the other end of the spectrum was extremely more. As in outrageously more money for the same exact thing. And I felt satisfied that this person was very comfortable and confident with EPS. But I am also thinking that although experienced in EPS that perhaps this vet is not a bulldog "specialist". And is why I'm assuming he did not suggest the nares surgery as well. I may set up nares for a place that I know for a fact are experts with bulldogs. I guess it will depend partially on price because "specialists" tend to charge extreme amounts from what I have seen. I am happy with the outcome of whoppers EPS so I may stick with this "cheaper" vet depending on if I get a sense that he has performed nares surgery enough to be considered experienced.

 

[versicolor]

$1000 is a great price for all of that. I paid $350 for EPS everything included. Surgery and everything involved, the overnight stay at the clinic and the the take home medicine. The next closest price that I found was $900. And that was just a "absolute least cost" without them knowing whopper or his history etc. I just couldn't justify paying that much unless that was simply the cost that every place charged. Obviously the health of the dog is first and foremost and if I felt that the extra $600 plus would have given me some guarantee that it was going to be a more successful and safe surgery and recovery and end result then I would have done it, but i really could not come up with a logical reason to do that in this case.