Brave Baby Busby

Hi. My name is Busby, as in Manchester United, you know, the English Football team? They were called the Busby Babes (in 1945), after their manager, Matt Busby. Anyway, my dad’s a fan, so I’m called Busby, and I’m a cattle dog.

As soon as I was 6 weeks old, my new parents picked me up. It was so exciting! I was allowed to explore my new home and there were heaps of cuddles and games. The next morning I woke up early and wore myself out exploring, cuddling and playing. The following morning I didn’t feel too good and didn’t really feel like playing. My new parents fussed over me and gave me loads of attention but I just didn’t feel up to it. Then I kept needing to go to the toilet, number twos if you know what I mean… and they were real runny. Mum and Dad were really concerned. I felt horrible. The next morning I started vomiting and they took me straight to the Wynnum Manly Veterinary Hospital. I was depressed and my stomach hurt. Dr Bob thought that I might have an intussusception, whatever that means. 

He asked Dr Tom to do an ultrasound to look inside my belly. They clipped some hair off, put some gel on and moved a probe around on my stomach while I lay on the table. They could see my problem, the intussusception. Dr Bob told me and my parents that an intussusception is a problem with the intestines, where part of the intestine folds in on itself. This results in partial or complete blockage, and can cut off the blood supply and that part of the in bowel can die! Dr Bob told my parents that he had to perform surgery straight away or I could die.

Everyone was really worried about me, especially Mum and Dad because I was so young. Dr Bob gave me some sedation and pain relief straight away and I had to have intravenous fluids because I was dehydrated. Then I went to sleep and woke up in a nice warm bed. Dr Bob explained things to my parents later on. There was a two centimetre area of my intestine that had died so he had to remove it and stitch my intestine back together! I also had antibiotics because the damage to the intestine wall could have allowed bacteria into my blood.

By that night I was already feeling much better. I wagged my tail and licked Dr Bob and the nurses to say thank you. The next morning was Christmas Eve. I felt heaps better, I even drank some water and didn’t vomit. By that afternoon I had eaten some very small meals of a special food, Mum and Dad came to take me home. I had to eat the special food for a while but now I just have puppy food. The vet took my sutures out and I’m growing up real fast! I’m a very lucky and happy puppy! 

Thanks, Busby.