FAIRFAX, VA – Rusty, a local 4-year-old labrador retriever who had a few episodes of vomiting, was sent to the emergency department last Friday afternoon by his primary veterinary provider (PVP) after his owner called the office requesting advice.
“They told me they couldn’t work him in, since it was 3:15 p.m. on a Friday. They said to take him straight to the ER because he could have appendicitis. I asked which hospital, and they said St. Mary’s. I told them I didn’t know of a St. Mary’s Vet Hosptial, and they replied that I should just take him to the St. Mary’s that cares for people. I thought that seemed strange, but I loaded up Ol’ Russ and we drove on over.”
While in triage, Mc Murphy mentioned to the nurse that her PVP had recommended lab work, IV fluids, and a full-body CT scan. Rusty then had to wait for 3 hours to be seen, as there were 29 patients (including 2 other dogs, a kitten with a fever, a gerbil covered in lube, and a comatose parakeet) in the ER waiting room.
“They told me that you guys could sedate him for the scan,” McMurphy reported to the ER physician on duty.
“My vet also said that he probably needed to be admitted, and that you should just call the hospitalist on duty when his tests come back positive.”
At press time, Rusty was licking his balls on the medical ward, awaiting a nuclear medicine gastric emptying study. Just two short days into his admission, he learned to press the nurse call bell when he needed more Dilaudid for 10 barks out 10 pain.
As a vet who’s spent many a night on call, I guess I should be a little offended by the insinuation that us vets can’t be bothered to see animals out of hours, but this post actually made me smile :-)
Yes Amanda it’s deadly serious………… Wow
I wonder if the critters owner bothered to reference Web M.D. for taking the trip
True story….A Memphis ER nurse performed CPR on a monkey somebody brought to the door.
Take better care of animals then humans. Tell relatives of seniors that they’ve lived a full life( for ages 75 and up) and what do you want us to do for them. Just heard this story again- person was 85, alert, active, driving a car and working part time. So sad that hospital it’s get to tell us whether we live or not. Insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies have too much to say and monies to back up these hospitals
Did he recently travel outside the U.S. In the last 3 weeks?
Bwahahahaha
My favorite part is the report on him licking his balls in nuc med…
Meghan Bohlender…you’re welcome. Might want to empty your bladder before reading.
“gerbil covered in lube”
If a dog came in, i would call a priority 1 and give him all the dilaudid he wants!
I’m sure there is some discrimination going on here causing the delay in lab work and CT. Everyone knows that Labs get quicker labs and kitties get quicker Cat Scans.
“Lab work”… Lol
Matt McCauley
Matt McCauley
LOL! Shawna Jackson? ;-)
LOL! Shawna Jackson? ;-)
No clue, but that sounds like him! Lol Super sweet!
No clue, but that sounds like him! Lol Super sweet!
A likely story Shelley Ellerd. But seriously didn’t one of the ER docs take a stray that wandered into the ER at Bay & hook him up w IV fluids, feed him & give him a makeshift bed? I think maybe it was Schwirtlich but not sure. Very sweet of whoever it was!!!
I would prefer animals to some of the patients and parents we get!!!!
A young military couple was renting our house on Akee Street while we were stateside and our dog was hit by a car. They took her to Gorgas where her broken leg was set! May have helped that my mom was a nurse at the hospital
He’s a cute one for sure
Gotta love the gerbil covered in lube, lol
Poor Rusty! He needs some love though
Yes!
What about the STAT flea and tick bath? And those licked balls? They gotta go.
This one’s just dumb
Omg seriously??
Amanda
Yeah , they should probably quarantine him and close down the vet clinic that took the call for a thorough haz mat cleaning.
10 barks out of 10….lol!
Might be ebola! Gotta keep him under observation!