They say a lawyer who defends himself has an idiot for a client and a doctor who treats himself has a fool for a patient, and this possibly falls in the same catagory. Sunday, my bestest buddy "Gibson", an English bulldog I rescued 2 years ago, became blocked due to stones in his urethra (he could not pee). He has had bladder stones since I saved him due to a liver shunt which causes stone formation. These stones live in his bladder and occasionally try to pass out but can't due to them being too large, so they wedge in his penis. Fortunately my associate was able to put in a catheter so he could pee but not push the stones back (I was out of town). So tomorrow I am doing surgery on my own dog. He is a horrible anestheia risk due to his liver disease. He lacks the ability to normally and efficiently metabolize drugs like anesthetics, and is predisposed to seizures. Last surgery he had, he slept for 9 hrs and seizured for 8 of those. Needless to say I am concerned. Surgery should be a snap. I've done dozens if not more cystotomies but never on a dog with a shunt. But IF he survives surgery, he will be a far happier dog. Not sure I have ever been so nervous about a surgery in my entire career.
