I know, I know. We haven't been super active with posting recently, so I wanted to give you all a life update. If you’ve been wondering why things have been a bit quiet on the blog lately, please keep reading. You can see the full post with additional pictures on our BuyMeACoffee.
Our sweet (and reactive, of course) Saint Bernard, Jess, had a medical emergency in December and had to be rushed to the vets.
What sparked our initial concern was Jess' lethargy. She had vomited a couple of times, mostly after eating. This wasn't normal for her, but it didn't trigger our "something is seriously wrong" radar. And then over a couple of days, she began showing clear signs that something actually was going on -- she started drinking an obscene amount of water, had no appetite, was lethargic, and had very light-coloured bowel movements. On the morning that we were going to call the vet for their opinion, we noticed her stomach, ears and eyes had what we presumed was jaundice. We immediately called our vet in a panic.
We initially got her into her regular vets a couple of hours after that phone call, who then immediately referred us to one of the most fantastic Veterinary Specialists I've ever been -- Dick White Referrals.
When we took Jess to our regular veterinarian, they confirmed a jaundice diagnosis. And then, after some quick tests, everyone was concerned. Her liver numbers were exceptionally high, and we were caught in a cyclical conversation about potential causes, intervention options, associated costs, and also received the "we can give her fluids and keep her comfortable while nature does its thing" talk. I still shudder thinking about it. I could not stop crying. Luckily, my partner was an absolute rock during all of these conversations.
Upon discussing our options and despite not having comprehensive coverage due to Jess' puppyhood cancer history, we decided that no amount of money was too much, and that we'd happily go into debt to help her. We told our regular vet we wanted to get Jess an emergency referral to the above-mentioned Veterinary Specialists.
We drove there the same day (fortunately, we only live fifteen minutes away). The Veterinary Specialists had a private chat with us, took a look at her, did some tests, and explained that she would have to stay for a few days.
We left without her, and it was a very sleepless night.
The next day, we received a phone call update from one of the internal medicine veterinarians. She confirmed that Jess had an infection in her gallbladder, including the following points:
- Mild thrombocytopenia (low platelet count).
- Elevated neutrophils suggesting inflammation/infection.
- Significantly elevated liver enzymes (ALT 663 U/L, ALP 2699 U/L).
- High total bilirubin (Tbil 89.7 µmol/L), indicating jaundice.
- Elevated cholesterol and C-reactive protein (129 mg/L), consistent with systemic inflammation.
- Liver: Enlarged with signs of inflammation.
- Gallbladder: Distended with thick sludge and abnormal material — highly suggestive of septic cholecystitis.
- Bile: Confirmed septic cholecystitis (infected gallbladder).
- Liver: Showed inflammatory cells but also some large cells of uncertain type — chronic or underlying disease can't be ruled out.
I've included the scanned images on this post.
After chatting with the veterinarian, some, but not all of, my concerns had slightly eased. They still didn't know what caused the infection, and whether it was maybe a chronic underlying issue, but as the days went on, we got to visit Jess and give her cuddles, and fortunately, see that she was improving with their care. She hadn't eaten for over a week and still refused food on our visits, so she was definitely looking a little rough.
Honestly, during this time, blogging (and a lot of work and personal care) just had to take a back seat while we focused on getting her stable and comfortable.
After her stay at Dick White Referrals, we brought Jess home with a massive brown paper bag of medication, which she was on a strict regime for over three weeks. Her diet consisted of broccoli, boiled chicken, sweet potato, blueberries, and antibiotics, plus more.
She looked a bit dishevelled with her shaved legs and stomach, which 4 1/2 months later still hasn't grown back, and she had lost just over 4 kilos.
She more recently had a vomiting bout, which sparked concerns again, but for now, we're in the clear, and she's doing well overall. We're continuing to work with our regular vets to keep an eye out for whether this is maybe a chronic issue, and we have her next specialist follow-up soon, where we will see some updated numbers.
It's sometimes a difficult message to get across to people, but having a reactive dog isn’t just about extra training or management-- it truly is a relationship built on trust, patience, and relentless commitment. Our bonds with our reactive pups run so deep because every small step forward is earned through time, energy, and love. When you’ve weathered so many storms together, moments of crisis -- like this whole scenario -- hit harder, and the emotions run deeper. It's not just worry. It’s the weight of all the work, the growth, and the connection you've built together. Loving a reactive dog means loving fiercely, and being loved back just as fiercely in return.
While I feel a bit cheeky mentioning this to anyone reading, I will admit that I've felt the pinch of keeping the blog running. Our veterinarian bills racked up to just over £5,000, and Webflow hosting isn't cheap. I've been looking into alternatives to mitigate costs, but every little bit of support means that world right.
If you've ever found value in something I've written, a small gesture like Buying Me A Coffee helps more than you know. It will help keep https://thebarkblog.co.uk going and contribute towards paying off Jess' bills (and any future bills related to her health).
Thanks for being here and for caring. Not just about the blog, but about Jess, and this little corner of the internet I’m trying to nurture.
With gratitude,
Freya
