Retchin' Gretchen

Yesterday, Gretchen did not touch her food.  Not one sniff.  Then she laid around all day and actually peed in the house!!!  Also not her usual behavior.  Mom found a chewed on package of Castor Bean Seeds and FREAKED OUT.  Took her punkness to the vet.  X-rays showed an obstruction in her tummy.  Only half full, of a non-metal "something" (Personally, I suspect it's underwear.)  Better than castor beans, which are highly lethal and have no antidote.

Doc gave her a relaxant to stop the vomiting (every time she drinks) and advised Metamucil, VERY thick....with a turkey baster.  So we got some Metamucil and a turkey baster and Dave tried mixing it up 4:1...it set up like joint compound and could not be forced into the baster even with a spoon--Laughed harder than the situation warrented.  I haven't laughed that hard since the blown-in insulation debacle of 2004.

When it was firmly set, it peeled off the bowl like a rubber pancake.  We threw it in the trash, afraid to let it go down the sink, and started over.  This time we had a nice thick pudding consistency that made gross farting sounds as we loaded the turkey baster.  We hauled Gretchen out to the back porch and put the loaded turkey baster into her throat for blast #1.  She didn't know what was coming, but still managed to squirm.  The second blast met with firm resistance and a clamped jaw, but she really didn't have a whole lot of fight left.

Dave made her a bed covered in towels-just in case.  About 4am, I freaked out since Gretchen was not in her lovingly made nest, but she'd just climbed down to the floor so she could lay in front of the fan.  This morning she woke me to a mild retching sound...just water (from the toilet?  All other water sources removed, far as I can tell.)  I had to carry her outside, not because she was weak, but because she wanted to hide under my desk.  Outside she gave a small urp of yellow liquid and made no effort to poop.

So, back to the vets we go, have a call in at 8:45 to arrange the "next step" which will likely be surgery...and it's already cost over $200.  Just when I thought life had a chance of getting boring....guess not.