Imperfect medicine

December 1st, 2014

I enjoy puzzles, mysteries, and riddles, which is  one reason veterinary medicine appealed to me. Additionally, all processes of life fascinate me. How is it possible for a polar bear to survive the arctic winter, a hummingbird to fly 500 miles,  your own dog to recognize your voice?

What I did not factor into the decision of becoming a veterinarian is how difficult it would be to treat my own pets.  Recently my dog Kiwi vomited a few times. Not a big deal, I would counsel owners. Dogs eat things they shouldn't (she was a 9 pound Papillion and had a penchant for cat poop among other doggy delights). I took a radiograph (X ray) which was normal. However, as she was an older small breed dog, and she did need to have her teeth cleaned  (an annual occurrence). Her pre-anesthetic blood work demonstrated some problems- and an ultrasound (performed by me) revealed a tumor.

 When our pets are ill, it is suddenly difficult to be the logical veterinarian. Everything we know, all the hours of education, have a way of disappearing.  I knew I was in over my head. Small dogs live forever... at least into their teens- I reminded myself.  My amazing colleague Kim Barron (DVM, owner Northshore Veterinary Hospital) biopsied her pyloric tumor (stomach).  Results indicated a tumor that is locally aggressive, but with complete removal , can be cured (leiomyosarcoma).  I called a surgical specialist, Mark Davis, DVM, DACVS. He performed a delicate surgery to remove 1/3 of her stomach. However , as the pancreas is adjacent to the stomach, she developed severe pancreatitis, and her surgery never healed. I had to let her go 5 days after surgery.

I have asked myself a number of times- what did I miss? Why didn't I notice something earlier? The answer is unknowable. I miss her dearly.