The 9 lives of Mercedes...

Most dogs like to eat dog food and especially people food.  Any kind of meat, ice cream, popcorn- all of it.  But some dogs, very special dogs (i.e.- shorter than normal bus dogs), like to eat other things- like sheets, rugs or cardboard.  Our lovely Mercedes is one such dog.  

This past week while Kyle & I were at work, Mercedes decided that the sheet we had put in her doggie crate to keep her warm looked oh so edible and delicious.  When we came home from work, we saw that she had eaten part of the sheet. So we did what we usually do and scolded her and then went about our day. This is normal, she tends to get into things and eat them and things tend to be fine.  But this time that lovely sheet got stuck in her intestines.  After 4 days of no eating and lots of vomiting, I took her to the vet on Friday morning.  After a few x-rays, it was confirmed that Mercedes had a "foreign object" blocking her intestines (yeah, I told them, I already knew that!). The options were surgery or dead puppy.  Nice options.  So, being the Jesus lovers that we are we choose life for our little dog.  Or as I like to refer to her as our very stupid dog.  

Doesn't she look pathetic?

That's a lot of staples! 

I'd like to say that this is the first time that Mercedes has had such a surgery, but that would be a lie.  About a year ago, she had to have surgery to remove another "foreign object" in her intestines.  You would think that she would have learned- but dog brains don't work like people brains, that much I have learned. The vet gave us a firm warning that Mercedes intestines would not fare well if a third surgery was ever required (she's missing about half a foot now).  I feel like a parent having to protect my child from themselves! 

She is resilient though.  Kyle & I lovingly refer to her as our "tough old bird".  Less than 24 hours post-op she is running around and laying all over Deacon just like before.  She's like a cat with 9 lives...maybe we are cat people after all. Who knew?

-Stacie