Willow is a typical young Golden Retriever — smiley, people-loving, and always getting into mischief.
In September last year, Willow ate something she shouldn’t have (likely carpet or weed matting).
After two days of vomiting and not being herself, her worried mum brought her in for assessment. A clinical examination and diagnostic testing strongly suggested a foreign body obstructing her intestines.
An intestinal blockage is extremely serious. Left untreated, it can lead to sepsis (a life-threatening infection), intestinal rupture, peritonitis — or all three. Any of these can be fatal.
Our team performed emergency surgery under general anaesthetic, opening Willow’s abdomen to locate and remove the obstruction. This procedure is called an exploratory laparotomy and enterotomy. Without surgery, Willow would not have survived. Instead, she made an uneventful recovery and returned to life as a happy, normal Golden Retriever.
The really good news? Willow was insured. While the costs weren’t fully covered (as her own “naughtiness” caused the issue), insurance significantly reduced the financial burden for her family.
Then, just before Christmas, it happened again!
Willow suddenly became uncomfortable and clearly unhappy in her tummy. After careful monitoring at home, her family noticed she began whimpering and refused food — clear signs that something wasn’t right. Because this happened after hours, she was taken to the Hawke’s Bay After Hours Clinic and transferred to us first thing.
Mia, the consulting vet, immediately knew something wasn’t right. She could feel an abnormal mass in Willow’s abdomen and Willow showed clear signs of pain. Radiographs taken overnight supported concerns of another intestinal blockage.
Willow went straight back to surgery. But what Sharon, our surgeon, found was unexpected and far more serious. Instead of a foreign body, Willow’s intestines had twisted around themselves, cutting off their blood supply. The affected section had swollen dramatically — like a balloon animal — and parts of the intestine were already dying. This was a critical, life-threatening situation.
The only option was to remove all of the damaged intestine and surgically join the healthy ends back together. This is an extremely complex procedure, made even more challenging by the fragile, swollen tissue.
During surgery, Willow went into shock as her body struggled with both sepsis and anaesthesia. The anaesthetic team worked intensively to stabilise her while Sharon completed the surgery as quickly and carefully as possible. Willow remained critically unwell for the rest of the day, requiring IV fluids and constant nursing care, before being transferred to the After Hours Clinic for overnight monitoring.
Over the following days, Willow returned for several rechecks — each time stronger than the last. Once again, she made a full recovery.
Despite her cheerful Golden Retriever smile, Willow had been hiding just how sick she truly was. Thankfully, her mum trusted her instincts and sought veterinary care early.
Given the severity of Willow’s condition, we firmly believe that acting quickly saved her life. Waiting even three or four more hours could have had a very different outcome.
This story has a happy ending — and two important lessons:
If you think your pet isn’t right, don’t wait. Acting early can make all the difference.
Pet insurance matters. Willow’s second surgery was classified as a medical emergency, meaning insurance covered a much greater portion of the costs. This allowed her family to focus entirely on her recovery — not the bill.
And Willow? She’s back to doing what Golden Retrievers do best… smiling, loving life, and trying her very hardest to stay out of trouble.
