Thursday was a normal day. The sun was shining brightly and all was well with my world. Just another Thursday, that is until about 2pm. Lotte was lying contentedly in the sunshine, the painter across the road was listening to his quietly playing music and I had just sat down for a cup of tea after lunch.
Suddenly, the air was filled with an unholy screech coming from Lotte. my Tibetan Spaniel. I rushed outside to see her and she was lying limply on the ground with her eyes way back in her head. Once before she had suffered a seizure from being too hot and the vet I saw then said to sit with her for a while until she came out of it. However, this time, she shrieked again and I knew she had to see our own vet Dr Michael.
Michael took one look at Lotte and rushed her into the consulting room. There he agreed that I had a very sick little dog and when he checked her heart rate was 20 compared to the usual 136. Very sick indeed, and when he looked in her mouth he declared that she was going blue and promptly rushed her off. I was left to sit and wait for a verdict.
When he returned he asked several questions such as had there been any big changes to her diet, did I have problems with a neighbour who didn’t like dogs (apparently there have been a couple of poisonings in the neighbourhood); had she wandered off and could she have eaten something poisonous; did I have any poisonous plants in the garden? etc etc. Well Lotte is confined to the premises and doesn’t go away unless it is with me, she rarely eats what I put down for her so she is unlikely to eat anything else, she doesn’t scavenge, my neighbours all make a fuss of Lotte and so the answers to the questions were not at all helpful.
Dr Michael said he had given her adrenaline, oxygen and intravenous fluids as she was dehydrated. He thought that she had suffered an anaphylactic shock caused by an insect sting, and said he would keep her in for the afternoon to monitor her. As you can imagine it was a very subdued owner who went home without her dog.
Several hours later following a call from the surgery, I picked up a very docile, Lotte having been given the after-hours contact in case of an emergency and also was asked to bring her back the next day for a further raft of tests. The evening and the night were spent with Lotte lying close to me, but thankfully there was no cause to call the emergency number.
The next day she went back for a series of tests including a”blood tests, fluid therapy, radiology, ultrasonography and histology”. The outcome of all these tests was the verdict that she had suffered a heart attack and as we knew had been very close to dying when I brought her into the clinic.
So now I have a very quiet little dog, who is not allowed any exercise and is confined to “House rest for 10 days”. We are just spending the next few days quietly with each other – two best friends looking out for each other.
“If you’re alone, I’ll be your shadow.
If you want to cry, I’ll be your shoulder.
If you want a hug, I’ll be your pillow.
If you need to be happy, I’ll be your smile.
But any time you need a friend, I’ll just be me. ” Author Unknown
..And here’s a rainbow in case you need one today
`
Oh my. How scary. I’m glad Lottie is Ok. Sending huge hugs to both of you. Love, Darlene
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Thanks Darlene for the hugs. I just had a call from the vets to check up on her. i am sure she will be alright. 🙂
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My 8 year old Golden, Honey, has just torn her 2nd cruciat ligament – she tore the first one 18 months ago,in the other leg, so we have about 6 weeks of quiet while the ligament grows around the prosthesis. Doesn’t help to have another Golden who is very active and wants to play. We love our pets but sometimes they are a worry. Hope Lotte and you have a lovely quiet time.
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Thank you. The last dog I had was forever at the vets – a face lift, 2 broken legs, ruptured spleen etc etc. Lotte has rarely had to see the vet so this is a biggy for us. Thanks for the kind words and thoughts. What’s your blog name so I can go over and have a look and see what you are up to. 🙂
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Oh Judith! Poor Lotte sending lots of Canadian love. Please tell her she has lots of friends thinking of her and of course you!
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Thanks Chris – isn’t this blogging community great? Filled with caring friends all around the world. Would that we could all meet up in the real world. Wouldn’t that be fantastic!
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Oh Judith, I am so sorry about Lotte. Your post made me cry and the poem is so perfect it made me cry harder. How lovely it is that you and your dear friend are sharing this quiet time, and just being with each other for comfort. I hope Lotte recovers quickly and will be ready to romp again. Thank goodness you knew to act fast and get her the help she needed.
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Had you heard the cry you would have been in no doubt that veterinary intervention was necessary. Thanks Dor – we are having a really quiet time (except when I try to give her the pills) just the two of us.
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We dont have a blog, I just comment now and again. I can tell you what we are up to – doggysitting 🙂 Good time to surf the net and catch up on all that reading matter. One positive – we have no problem giving the tablets to a dog that eats everything (even slow moving objects!) Joy
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Well I resorted to a pill pusher thing I got from the vet this afternoon. That still didn’t help so I wrapped the pill in a piece of dog sausage – she ignored it initially but eventually ate the sausage complete with the pill.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Enjoy your doggysitting.
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It is an awful jolt when you see or hear your pet in such distress. I hope Lotte will recover quickly.
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Thanks Lynley. I am keeping her in the house and very quiet. She seems a little brighter this evening. 🙂
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I read this post first today but left it until last to comment because I couldn’t find the words I wanted.
Best wishes to Lottie, that goes without saying but what struck me most is that you obvoiusly need your rainbow yourself at this time but you still thought to share it with us too.
If we send back just a little of the “you-ness” that you’ve shared with us, I’m sure the good wishes will be more than enough to see you through. 🙂
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Oh Sallyann what a lovely thing to say. I felt that I needed to share my rainbow and now that sharing has reaped a fabulous return. Thank you, thank you. I really appreciate the thoughts and the fact that my blogging buddies are with me at this time means so much to me. 🙂
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You must have been very upset – the difficulty with pets is that they can communicate that they are in pain but can’t give us details, and it is so hard watching your faithful friend suffer. You’re lucky you could get her to the vet so quickly, and he found out what was te trouble. A speedy recovery, little Lotte!
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I live very close to the vets and as the receptionist and the nurse on duty could see we were in trouble they pulled out all the stops for us. Little Lotte has slept most of the day – hasn’t picked up any of her toys – just wants to be with me. So I have done very little today also. Just sat reading and holding my little friend. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. 🙂
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I hope she gets well soon. I also hope you have pet insurance. Vets can be so expensive. Good luck with everything
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Thanks Peter but no I don’t have pet insurance – a big mistake. I told the practice manager that I would have to take out a mortgage to pay for this misadventure. 🙂
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Pets are a part of the family…and I know how scary that must have been for you! I remember the days when we had pets…and how we loved them! I hope she will get better and be like her self again one day soon. Maybe less energy…but the same sweet doggy! ((Hugs)) Linda
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Thanks Linda – she’s a very special little girl. 🙂
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That’s so scary! I hope she’s back to feeling like herself soon. *hugs*
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Thanks Dana. I hope never to have another day like that. 🙂
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That is so scary! I am glad she is resting at home with you now.
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it was so very scary but now she is quietly resting and looking quite happy so I hope all will be well. 🙂
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I truly hope so. FurKids are family!
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Oh my goodness, Judith. I have been absent from the blogosphere for so long, but your 6 words caught my eye. Lotte had a heart attack? I didn’t know dogs could have such things. How wonderful that you were there – the timing could not have been better, as you responded and she got care immediately. I am glad she is resting at home with you. I hope she is on her way to a full recovery.
Dogs are such a blessing. My thoughts and prayers are with you both.
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Hello Lenore Diane. We have all missed you. Lotte is a very subdued little girl at present but will recover I hope. And as you say, it was lucky that Iwas here. Sometimes she is left here on her own for a couple of hours. If that had been the case I would have returned to find a disaster.
I hope you and your family are well. Thanks for the comment. 🙂
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oh dear I hope Lotte is doing much better now- it’s so scary when our animals are sick. We feel so helpless. Thank goodness you took her to the vet right away.
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Thank you Kathe. Unfortunately, Lotte did not get better and a few days later she had to be put to sleep. How I miss that little dog but life has to go on. Thanks for caring and apologies for the delay in responding. Your comment was lodged in the spam folder. 🙂
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get well fast lotte!
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Thanks Erin. 🙂
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Praying for you both!
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Thanks Tonya for reading and caring. 🙂
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Sending you hugs and Lottie lots of TLC and tickles xxx
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Thank you we both appreciate the gifts you have sent. 🙂
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Sending much love and comfort, bless your sweet little Lotte, and her speedy recovery!
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Karen, thank you so much for caring and commenting. 🙂
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Sending prayers for you both. I enjoy reading your posts so much. Hoping for a speedy recovery for your dear pet.
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Thank you very much Elizabeth for the kind words of encouragement. 🙂
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Judith, I’m so glad you were nearby when Lotte was in distress, and were able to get her to the vet in a timely manner. My heart goes out to both of you, may she have a speedy recovery.
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Hi Patti – so lucky that it wasn’t one of those times when I leave her alone for a couple of hours. Thanks for caring. 🙂
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Aww . . . it’s hard on us when our pets are sick. Hope Lottie is feeling spry again soon.
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Thanks Nancy – she is getting better each day 🙂
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What a scary incident. I’m glad you got her to the vet in time and that she’s resting at home with you now.
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Thanks Janna. Our pets are like the extension of the family and so yes, it was a very scary time for me.
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Oh my gosh, this must have been so terribly scary for you. I hope all is well now and Lotti has completely recovered.
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Well she is still very sick and will have to live quietly for the rest of her life.
Thank you for your care. 🙂
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Sorry to hear this, Judith. She’s lucky to have you to care for her.
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Thank you Uta. Unfortunately she had to be put to sleep a few days later. I really miss that little dog. Apologies for the delay in responding to your comment It was lodged in the spam folder for some reason. 🙂
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So sorry for your loss, Judith. 😦 I can imagine how you miss her. 😦
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