Straydog UPDATE posted MONDAY 1/20/03 at ~9:21 p.m. CT

(Pat's Dog Log entry posted at 11:47 a.m. Tuesday)

Pat Arnold's Daily Dog Log

MONDAY JANUARY 20 2003

Lots of vet visits today

     Early this morning I took 10-week-old pups Melinda, Bonnie and Blake to the clinic for their vaccinations. Molly needed to go to have the doctor take out her stitches that closed the incision made to remove a big tumor on her thigh, which, thank goodness, turned out to be benign. Old Granny Snowflake went because I thought she might have a bladder infection, as she hasn't been feeling good for a couple of days.

     The news is good all the way around: The puppies checked out just great and got their vaccinations. Molly had her stitches removed and the incision is fine now, and best of all she can go back to her outside kennel with her best buddy, Max. Snowflake checked out okay too. The doctor doesn't think Snowy has an infection, but he'll run some tests. No medication given at this time, and Snow was very happy about that. She still had pink on her fur from Pepto that wouldn't wash off after yesterday's attempted dosage!

Big Boy has a seizure

     After I returned from the clinic at about 11 a.m. with all the above-mentioned dogs, all was going along fairly smoothly until 2:00 this afternoon when the loud panicked voices of Rhonda and Randy came over the walkie-talkies telling me to hurry to Big Boy's kennel as they thought he might be having a seizure! As I rushed outside and across the big play yard to Big Boy and Lisa's kennel, I saw Rhonda and Randy kneeling on the ground by Big Boy (the big Heeler mix fellow). Rhonda was cradling Big Boy in her arms trying to calm him, and Randy was petting him. Joel was holding Big Boy's companion Lisa and carrying her away from Big Boy.

     When I reached the kennel and went inside and got over to Big Boy, I saw that he was shaking a lot, and I realized he had probably indeed had a seizure. He had had one seizure before (that we know about) over a year ago when he was in a kennel by himself, before we were able to find a compatible companion for him, and Randy and I recognized the symptoms. Big Boy now shares a kennel adjacent to the play yard with companion Lisa. I sat down on the ground by Big Boy, and he laid his head on my lap. He continued quivering and was in a daze and very disoriented.

     Rhonda said she had been in the big play yard with Snowflake when she saw Big Boy standing on top of his shelter, as he always likes to do. Then suddenly Big Boy began shaking violently. Rhonda ran to him calling to Randy and Joel who were both nearby. They both called on the radio. Before Rhonda could get to the kennel Big Boy fell off the roof of his shelter onto the ground. When he tried to get to his feet, he fell again. Big Boy's companion, Lisa, immediately ran to Big Boy, and because she didn't understand Big Boy's actions, it looked to Joel as if Lisa was going to become aggressive with her best buddy and kennel companion, which is why Joel took Lisa immediately away from Big Boy.

One half hour later I had Big Boy at the vet clinic

     Dr. Morton saw us right away. He said it sounded like Big Boy had had a seizure. If Big Boy were in a kennel with no companion we would have done nothing as far as medication goes. Chances are that because his seizures are so far apart, he doesn't need medication. But because he has a kennel companion who could hurt him when he is seizing (if he should have another seizure), we would be taking the risk of Big Boy being hurt by Lisa.

     Now the choices we have for Big Boy are these: If we do nothing for Big Boy (as far as medication goes), we'll have to take his best buddy, Lisa, away from him so she won't be able to hurt Big Boy if (or when) he might have another seizure. (It is their natural instinct that causes dogs to attack other dogs when they are down.) If we took Lisa away from Big Boy just so Big Boy would not have to take medication, he would have no companion, and he would be miserable, and this would really affect his personality. Big Boy loves Lisa, and she loves him very much. The other option is to give Big Boy a mild medication (since his seizures seem to be very few and far between) to keep the seizing under control. This would enable Big Boy and his best friend, Lisa, to stay together, and they both would be happy.

All dogs need to have a dog companion

     Dogs are pack animals and they need dog companions, so I chose to use the mild medication so that Big Boy and Lisa could remain together because of the fact that he does have seizures and because of the fact that he is dog aggressive toward every dog we've introduced him to except for Lisa. Big Boy is not a fellow who will be readily adopted. He needs a friend to keep him company until the day some wonderful understanding person, or family, will open up their hearts to this special fellow, and give him a loving home.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) Old Davey goes to the clinic

     Davey continues to have diarrhea and trouble with bowel movements. Dr. Morton thinks it's best to bring him in tomorrow. Davey is not going to like this very much.