In my last blog I wrote about the death of a pet and the emptiness it can leave in one’s life. Within a few days of writing that piece, my own dog brought me very close to thinking I was going to lose him.
Pets are just as prone to illness and accidents as their human counterparts and sadly, like babies and small children, are often not able to communicate what is wrong. In the course of my fifty- some years of pet companionship, they and I have had our share of health issues and scares. Shantih, my intrepid terrier, was one such case.
I was out snow-shoeing with friends and our dogs when suddenly and for no apparent reason their massive German shepherd attacked Shantih and pushed him to the ground. We pulled them apart, saw no apparent wounds, and carried on.
Terriers are notorious for being pain tolerant or should I say stoic and it wasn’t till I looked down on his back later that I saw the large gash. He had carried on for an hour or more on our walk as if nothing had happened. The gash required numerous stitches from a Veterinarian and an all- night vigil because of the need for an anesthetic. I slept beside him that night afraid he wouldn’t wake up.
Another time my new rescue pup Ikwé was out at a park playing with my friend and her dog. Ikwé was a stick chaser and in her excitement jumped just as a stick was about to be thrown. A sharp whine and we knew that she, and the arching stick, had connected. I carried her home and she lay on the couch barely moving, her breathing erratic.
We headed to the local Animal Hospital and to our dismay discovered her hind leg had been fractured. She needed a full length cast. For the next few weeks I had to carry her up and down stairs day and night in order to pee and poo.
Not all injuries or accidents are so easily treatable. Luca my present canine, is a case in point. Luca is now a senior and has slowed down considerably but he has also displayed a variety of other issues. Last year his breathing was more laboured, he was off his food and he had various skin problems. The first diagnosis was that he had Cushing’s Disease which required a very expensive maintenance treatment.
I wanted another opinion and the new Vet asked for a different set of blood tests. These tests discerned Luca had high cholesterol and triglycerides which can sometimes be misinterpreted as Cushing’s. A homemade diet was prescribed as well as various supplements. After a month the tests indicated he was improving and so far he has.
Then a few weeks ago he couldn’t use his back legs. He struggled and then managed to move but was limping. After a worried, sleepless night it was back to the Vet imagining the possibility of him not coming home again. Old dog, strange behaviour, sudden rapid deterioration can often mean an unseen tumour or worse. This time it was a pain med and joint supplements to ease what appears to be arthritis. He’s home again and seemingly doing fine though his shelf of pills and supplements rivals my own. My only problem these days is making sure I don’t forget who is taking what! It’s a worry I am happy to live with.
Bonnie Dickie lives in Winnipeg, the Elm capital of Canada. In a previous life she worked for CBC in Yellowknife, NWT before moving South to freelance as a documentary filmmaker. Her work has taken her across the Arctic as well as China, Africa and Spain. Today she is semi-retired and aside from her dog walking exploits is focused on learning to play the ukulele-a talent she has yet to fully grasp.
Loved your pet stories thanks for sharing
You help me to a better understanding of cross-species relationships by writing about your beloved pets with such care and attentiveness. And humour. Thanks Bonnie.