My daughter called at 8 a.m. yesterday freaked out because Waffles the pug wouldn’t eat breakfast. If you know anything about pugs this is a serious sign something is wrong. I asked if she’d taken him for a walk and if he’d eaten some grass. She said, yes, he ate grass and threw up but he was still obviously in distress.
I asked if she was taking him to the vet. She said they were on the way to the emergency hospital.
It was a long day. They didn’t see Waffles until 2 p.m. My daughter missed work as a tutor which made me nervous. She’s been at this job less than a month. But what choice did she have?
That evening she called me crying hysterically. Oh no. They gave Waffles an ultrasound and found a mass in his small intestine. It wasn’t moving so they’d have to operate. They also told her it was risky because he’s a pug and they don’t always do well with anesthesia. They said he’d die without the surgery.
I haven’t been this worried since Friday getting driving through the hail storm. But this was worse. What would happen to my daughter if Waffles didn’t make it?
Waffles had surgery last night. The surgery was successful. The object was a piece of wood. What is it with pugs having to put everything in their mouths? They think anything on the ground is food. They are 100% motivated by food.
Last year when Waffles was with us during COVID shut down he ate half a package of pork chops that my husband put in the sun to defrost — styrofoam and plastic wrap included. He ate poisonous berries from the ficus tree and ended up in the ER. When my daughter was in college, he ate an adderall one of my daughter’s college friends had dropped on the floor. Another ER visit.
It’s not like he’s not well taken care of, but he is incorrigible. It literally takes one second for him to put something he shouldn’t into his mouth while you’re not looking. My daughter is blaming herself. I’ve told her it’s not her fault.
I’m relieved Waffles survived surgery. But now he’s having trouble with congestion with his flat nose. They want to keep him longer because they have to siphon out his nose every few minutes. I’m hoping for the best for Waffles and my daughter.
What happens if the emotional support animal doesn’t make it? That’s a question I’ve wrestled with overnight. My son told me this morning, “My view of dog ownership is setting yourself up for heartbreak in nine or so years.” He’s got a point.
Our pug is EXACTLY the opposite. He will not eat anything that is not his normal food or his normal snack. Period. And it took us a month to find a dog food he would not reject at light speed. I could throw a perfect grilled T-bone in front of him, and he would sniff it and then walk away. He MIGHT lick it once. I once accidentally dropped a piece of pork chop, it bounce near him. He looked at it, turned his head, and laid back down.
Nevertheless he is beautiful! You just have to watch those kids! Glad it was a good outcome, pardon the pun. Hope today is better.
They are like toddlers, you can’t leave them alone.
He is adorable! We have been luck with our pug, Iago. He is picky though, as my husband described. I love the black of Waffles face. Iago is going whiter as he grows older. He is 11 years old and still loves his morning walks. I wish him the best! As of yet, we have not had any problems with his nose or breathing. He was a lucky find as he came to us. We inherited him! He has been a good source of comfort.
Thank you! Waffles dad was black and his mom fawn. He has blacker features than most pugs. My daughter said the anesthesia caused a lot of mucus so they have to keep him another day. Then he spends two week in his crate to heal.
Poor thing…both dg and daughter….
Thank goodness he lived. My daughter brought him home tonight and called me crying. If she had decided to go to work instead of staying at ER he wouldn’t be here. So close.
Thinking of you all. I can’t imagine!
Thanks!
Oh, how scary that must have been! I know I would have been so worried. Our dogs are like our children.
As you know, we have a new puppy and we have to watch him constantly because he loves to eat the plentiful mulch in our backyard, so I know your frustration. Our dogs eat EVERYTHING too.
It was so scary. The problem with Waffles is he needs to be watched every single second — and that is impossible.
I understand this completely. It’s so stressful too.
We’ve always had big dogs. This is our first little guy. It’s unbelievable how fragile he is.