Dakota's Diagnosis

Yes!! We finally have a diagnosis to Dakota's stomach ailment!!

The veterinarian called last night and read the pathology report verbatim. As he went on reading her pathology report, my head started swimming from all the large words and I felt once again like I was sitting in my mammalian physiology college course with a heavy British accented professor. (Alas, I was a marine biology major. :))

Luckily he gave me the synopsis at the end. It is not cancer but rather an "inflammation and irritation caused by a foreign body or substance". What does that mean? Well, she swallowed something she shouldn't have - plain and simple.

We still have no clue what the "foreign body" was but the doctor said he found no physical bodies in her stomach or intestines... so, if it was a material object, it passed through her system but caused damage along the way. However, it could have been a clear substance such as ice melter or such - which would not leave a trace except the damage.

So, we are stuck scratching our heads at the possible culprit and owning it up to the fact that she is a Labrador Retriever and it is all too common for this breed to ingest a "foreign body" or two. Needless to say, she will make a full recovery and we will be keeping an even more watchful eye on her from this point forward.

With only two watchful eyes, I am glad I only have two Labs! *laugh*

Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes.