Little Man Clark
The picture is of Little Man after coming home from spending 1 month at the University of Missouri Columbia for treatment.
He was given to a friend who needed and wanted a companion to love. He was a puppy born to Isis Clark.
I brought him to my home when he was 2 years old due to the fact that his person was no longer able to care for him. His weight was only 52 lbs. Not an average weight for a male german shepherd. After carefully evaluating him it was discovered that he had a eating problem and was no longer able to bark. This was in November 2007.
Little Man became a member of our family again at this time.
After being seen at the University of Missouri Columbia Veterinary Hospital it was known that Little Man had some real problems. He had Megaesophagus, Bilateral Laryngeal Paralysis, and a Vascular Ring Anomaly. Most people probably would of just put him down, but I really felt this Little Man needed a chance in life. He was so full of love and wanted so much to please you. He was such a little sweetheart.
A plan was put in place and the first thing to do was put in a g-tube (feeding tube). After many challenges with this we now after 6 months have accomplished to get his weight up to 75 lbs. We needed the weight on him to get him ready for his next surgery which would have been in May 2008. At that time we would discuss whether to either address the Vascular Ring Anomaly or do a surgical procedure to tie back the flap of one side of his airway so he will be able to breathe a little better.
If we do the Vascular Ring Anomaly first chances of some swelling in the throat may occur which could block off the airway causing us to have to do a trach for a short time till the swelling goes down. If we tie back the flap first then we would have to carefully watch his eating/drinking so that he doesn't develop aspiration pneumonia.
Lucky for us, Little Man continued to do well and we felt that we would wait on the surgeries since there was no apparent emergency involved.
For the past 2 years he has been doing great for a dog with the problems he had. All his food had to be liquidfied due to the Megaesophagus problem. He was the runt of the litter and that is where is received his name "Little Man".
Late Monday evening, December 20th I had taken Little Man out to potty before going to bed. He had seen something on the ground and charged at it and ate it. Next thing I know he was foaming at the mouth and became somewhat disoriented. Called the emergency vets immediately and they told me he had probably eaten a toad and should be alright as the toads in this area are not poisonous - he just might have some bad taste in his mouth for a while and some stomach upset. Just rinse his mouth with water and he should be fine. His stomach acids should dissolve the toad quickly.
I had checked on him Tuesday morning, December 21, 2010 about 4 a.m. and he was resting and didn't appear to be in any kind of distress.
Because of the megaesophagus problem Little Man was not able to throw up the toad therefore leaving it in his stomach causing what we think may have been a blockage or the milky substance that a toad puts out which is considered toxic - which ended in his death.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 around 6:00 a.m. Little Man passed away.
Little Man your now at Rainbow Bridge. Running and playing. Always know how much I love you and you will forever be in my heart. I love you!!
A very special thank you to Sherri for sponsoring Little Man.
The picture is of Little Man after coming home from spending 1 month at the University of Missouri Columbia for treatment.
He was given to a friend who needed and wanted a companion to love. He was a puppy born to Isis Clark.
I brought him to my home when he was 2 years old due to the fact that his person was no longer able to care for him. His weight was only 52 lbs. Not an average weight for a male german shepherd. After carefully evaluating him it was discovered that he had a eating problem and was no longer able to bark. This was in November 2007.
Little Man became a member of our family again at this time.
After being seen at the University of Missouri Columbia Veterinary Hospital it was known that Little Man had some real problems. He had Megaesophagus, Bilateral Laryngeal Paralysis, and a Vascular Ring Anomaly. Most people probably would of just put him down, but I really felt this Little Man needed a chance in life. He was so full of love and wanted so much to please you. He was such a little sweetheart.
A plan was put in place and the first thing to do was put in a g-tube (feeding tube). After many challenges with this we now after 6 months have accomplished to get his weight up to 75 lbs. We needed the weight on him to get him ready for his next surgery which would have been in May 2008. At that time we would discuss whether to either address the Vascular Ring Anomaly or do a surgical procedure to tie back the flap of one side of his airway so he will be able to breathe a little better.
If we do the Vascular Ring Anomaly first chances of some swelling in the throat may occur which could block off the airway causing us to have to do a trach for a short time till the swelling goes down. If we tie back the flap first then we would have to carefully watch his eating/drinking so that he doesn't develop aspiration pneumonia.
Lucky for us, Little Man continued to do well and we felt that we would wait on the surgeries since there was no apparent emergency involved.
For the past 2 years he has been doing great for a dog with the problems he had. All his food had to be liquidfied due to the Megaesophagus problem. He was the runt of the litter and that is where is received his name "Little Man".
Late Monday evening, December 20th I had taken Little Man out to potty before going to bed. He had seen something on the ground and charged at it and ate it. Next thing I know he was foaming at the mouth and became somewhat disoriented. Called the emergency vets immediately and they told me he had probably eaten a toad and should be alright as the toads in this area are not poisonous - he just might have some bad taste in his mouth for a while and some stomach upset. Just rinse his mouth with water and he should be fine. His stomach acids should dissolve the toad quickly.
I had checked on him Tuesday morning, December 21, 2010 about 4 a.m. and he was resting and didn't appear to be in any kind of distress.
Because of the megaesophagus problem Little Man was not able to throw up the toad therefore leaving it in his stomach causing what we think may have been a blockage or the milky substance that a toad puts out which is considered toxic - which ended in his death.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 around 6:00 a.m. Little Man passed away.
Little Man your now at Rainbow Bridge. Running and playing. Always know how much I love you and you will forever be in my heart. I love you!!
A very special thank you to Sherri for sponsoring Little Man.
Little Man Clark
The picture is of Little Man after coming home from spending 1 month at the University of Missouri Columbia for treatment.
He was given to a friend who needed and wanted a companion to love. He was a puppy born to Isis Clark.
I brought him to my home when he was 2 years old due to the fact that his person was no longer able to care for him. His weight was only 52 lbs. Not an average weight for a male german shepherd. After carefully evaluating him it was discovered that he had a eating problem and was no longer able to bark. This was in November 2007.
Little Man became a member of our family again at this time.
After being seen at the University of Missouri Columbia Veterinary Hospital it was known that Little Man had some real problems. He had Megaesophagus, Bilateral Laryngeal Paralysis, and a Vascular Ring Anomaly. Most people probably would of just put him down, but I really felt this Little Man needed a chance in life. He was so full of love and wanted so much to please you. He was such a little sweetheart.
A plan was put in place and the first thing to do was put in a g-tube (feeding tube). After many challenges with this we now after 6 months have accomplished to get his weight up to 75 lbs. We needed the weight on him to get him ready for his next surgery which would have been in May 2008. At that time we would discuss whether to either address the Vascular Ring Anomaly or do a surgical procedure to tie back the flap of one side of his airway so he will be able to breathe a little better.
If we do the Vascular Ring Anomaly first chances of some swelling in the throat may occur which could block off the airway causing us to have to do a trach for a short time till the swelling goes down. If we tie back the flap first then we would have to carefully watch his eating/drinking so that he doesn't develop aspiration pneumonia.
Lucky for us, Little Man continued to do well and we felt that we would wait on the surgeries since there was no apparent emergency involved.
For the past 2 years he has been doing great for a dog with the problems he had. All his food had to be liquidfied due to the Megaesophagus problem. He was the runt of the litter and that is where is received his name "Little Man".
Late Monday evening, December 20th I had taken Little Man out to potty before going to bed. He had seen something on the ground and charged at it and ate it. Next thing I know he was foaming at the mouth and became somewhat disoriented. Called the emergency vets immediately and they told me he had probably eaten a toad and should be alright as the toads in this area are not poisonous - he just might have some bad taste in his mouth for a while and some stomach upset. Just rinse his mouth with water and he should be fine. His stomach acids should dissolve the toad quickly.
I had checked on him Tuesday morning, December 21, 2010 about 4 a.m. and he was resting and didn't appear to be in any kind of distress.
Because of the megaesophagus problem Little Man was not able to throw up the toad therefore leaving it in his stomach causing what we think may have been a blockage or the milky substance that a toad puts out which is considered toxic - which ended in his death.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 around 6:00 a.m. Little Man passed away.
Little Man your now at Rainbow Bridge. Running and playing. Always know how much I love you and you will forever be in my heart. I love you!!
A very special thank you to Sherri for sponsoring Little Man.
The picture is of Little Man after coming home from spending 1 month at the University of Missouri Columbia for treatment.
He was given to a friend who needed and wanted a companion to love. He was a puppy born to Isis Clark.
I brought him to my home when he was 2 years old due to the fact that his person was no longer able to care for him. His weight was only 52 lbs. Not an average weight for a male german shepherd. After carefully evaluating him it was discovered that he had a eating problem and was no longer able to bark. This was in November 2007.
Little Man became a member of our family again at this time.
After being seen at the University of Missouri Columbia Veterinary Hospital it was known that Little Man had some real problems. He had Megaesophagus, Bilateral Laryngeal Paralysis, and a Vascular Ring Anomaly. Most people probably would of just put him down, but I really felt this Little Man needed a chance in life. He was so full of love and wanted so much to please you. He was such a little sweetheart.
A plan was put in place and the first thing to do was put in a g-tube (feeding tube). After many challenges with this we now after 6 months have accomplished to get his weight up to 75 lbs. We needed the weight on him to get him ready for his next surgery which would have been in May 2008. At that time we would discuss whether to either address the Vascular Ring Anomaly or do a surgical procedure to tie back the flap of one side of his airway so he will be able to breathe a little better.
If we do the Vascular Ring Anomaly first chances of some swelling in the throat may occur which could block off the airway causing us to have to do a trach for a short time till the swelling goes down. If we tie back the flap first then we would have to carefully watch his eating/drinking so that he doesn't develop aspiration pneumonia.
Lucky for us, Little Man continued to do well and we felt that we would wait on the surgeries since there was no apparent emergency involved.
For the past 2 years he has been doing great for a dog with the problems he had. All his food had to be liquidfied due to the Megaesophagus problem. He was the runt of the litter and that is where is received his name "Little Man".
Late Monday evening, December 20th I had taken Little Man out to potty before going to bed. He had seen something on the ground and charged at it and ate it. Next thing I know he was foaming at the mouth and became somewhat disoriented. Called the emergency vets immediately and they told me he had probably eaten a toad and should be alright as the toads in this area are not poisonous - he just might have some bad taste in his mouth for a while and some stomach upset. Just rinse his mouth with water and he should be fine. His stomach acids should dissolve the toad quickly.
I had checked on him Tuesday morning, December 21, 2010 about 4 a.m. and he was resting and didn't appear to be in any kind of distress.
Because of the megaesophagus problem Little Man was not able to throw up the toad therefore leaving it in his stomach causing what we think may have been a blockage or the milky substance that a toad puts out which is considered toxic - which ended in his death.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 around 6:00 a.m. Little Man passed away.
Little Man your now at Rainbow Bridge. Running and playing. Always know how much I love you and you will forever be in my heart. I love you!!
A very special thank you to Sherri for sponsoring Little Man.
Family Members
Parents
