My dear friend passed yesterday...
Normally, I'm pretty private, I guess. I don't share a lot of personal things, but this one hits near and dear to all dog owners, so I think I have to for once. Bear with me, if I sound like I'm rambling for a moment.
Gabriel, my German Shepherd and SAR dog, died yesterday morning. Everyone, including me is shocked - the vet staff was in tears, and my vet feels horrible, he's like, "I had no idea he was that ill, none. He went home last night looking better."
He started vomiting Wed. at work, in the afternoon. Out of nowhere - he wasn't very distressed, just drooling and obviously didn't feel well. Thursday morning, we were at the vet first thing, and he was dehydrated a little, and not able to keep anything down. They X-rayed him, checked him out - no temp, no nothing, seemed fine, and so we all figured it was a GI upset, just a bad one, and put him on fluids. He went home pretty perky - after lounging around the front of the staff room all day getting loved on, since he breaks out of crates and cages at the drop of a hat. *chuckles* If he didn't want to stay in a crate, nothing was making him do so, especially since he usually just goes to a door and patiently waits for me to come back. My vet knows this, ah, old trick he's been doing for years.
Friday morning, after we got up for work, he rapidly started going downhill, fast. He'd been comfortable all night, but the moment he got up, he just started to crash. I immediately put him in the car and we were back at the clinic.
Noon, I got the call. He'd been up front, and my vet was honestly beside himself; he'd given everyone orders not to leave him by himself, he had a watch on him. In front of the tech, he went into cardiac arrest. They tried reviving him, but couldn't get him going. Apparently, the whole clinic came running, just about. I need to send them all a thank you card, or lunch, or flowers, or something. Above and beyond on that one for me, and I know they're as distraught as I am. I'm glad they were with him, if I wasn't.
We have no idea what happened - none. My vet is concerned about leptospirosis, perhaps, but if it was, it was the worst case he's ever seen in his practice. My dogs are vaccinated, and up to date. There was no fever, no nothing, but the vomiting. Bloodwork had slightly elevated kidney/liver levels, but that was it. I'm utterly puzzled. We're all stumped.
All the crew, Corgis and cats are on amoxi right now. Won't know for a few days what the results of the autopsy and biopsy are.
I'm going to miss him, wow. It's hard to lose a dog, any dog. But he wasn't just my pet, he was my partner, so it hits even more hard. I spent every day, nearly 24 hours a day, with this dog. I see him more than my husband, ha.
This is just a massive blow to me, my family and team, and the Corgis, who honestly adored him.
My dogs are vaccinated and up to date, but apparently there are some strains of Lepto that are literally this horrible, from there to gone within 48 hours.
This is just a gentle reminder on my end, make sure that your dogs have all their shots are up to date, please; unfortunately, Lepto is not a vaccine that fully covers all strains of it. It's common in the Pacific Northwest, especially at this time of year, in areas with wildlife.
I do not let my dogs drink out of puddles and streams, I always carry a bottle of water, but Lepto can be absorbed through a cut, or mucous membranes, and if he died of it, this is likely how he got it, walking on the trails. However, standing water is optimum for transmission, and that's another reason to not allow your dog to drink out of these places.
Everyone else in my house seems fine, and they all run the same trails with me, including the puppy. I'll keep folks posted on what happened.
- Shep
Edit: Thank you all so much for the kind words. It meant so much to me to see that, I cannot thank you all enough.
Pet people just understand, don't we?
Gabriel, my German Shepherd and SAR dog, died yesterday morning. Everyone, including me is shocked - the vet staff was in tears, and my vet feels horrible, he's like, "I had no idea he was that ill, none. He went home last night looking better."
He started vomiting Wed. at work, in the afternoon. Out of nowhere - he wasn't very distressed, just drooling and obviously didn't feel well. Thursday morning, we were at the vet first thing, and he was dehydrated a little, and not able to keep anything down. They X-rayed him, checked him out - no temp, no nothing, seemed fine, and so we all figured it was a GI upset, just a bad one, and put him on fluids. He went home pretty perky - after lounging around the front of the staff room all day getting loved on, since he breaks out of crates and cages at the drop of a hat. *chuckles* If he didn't want to stay in a crate, nothing was making him do so, especially since he usually just goes to a door and patiently waits for me to come back. My vet knows this, ah, old trick he's been doing for years.
Friday morning, after we got up for work, he rapidly started going downhill, fast. He'd been comfortable all night, but the moment he got up, he just started to crash. I immediately put him in the car and we were back at the clinic.
Noon, I got the call. He'd been up front, and my vet was honestly beside himself; he'd given everyone orders not to leave him by himself, he had a watch on him. In front of the tech, he went into cardiac arrest. They tried reviving him, but couldn't get him going. Apparently, the whole clinic came running, just about. I need to send them all a thank you card, or lunch, or flowers, or something. Above and beyond on that one for me, and I know they're as distraught as I am. I'm glad they were with him, if I wasn't.
We have no idea what happened - none. My vet is concerned about leptospirosis, perhaps, but if it was, it was the worst case he's ever seen in his practice. My dogs are vaccinated, and up to date. There was no fever, no nothing, but the vomiting. Bloodwork had slightly elevated kidney/liver levels, but that was it. I'm utterly puzzled. We're all stumped.
All the crew, Corgis and cats are on amoxi right now. Won't know for a few days what the results of the autopsy and biopsy are.
I'm going to miss him, wow. It's hard to lose a dog, any dog. But he wasn't just my pet, he was my partner, so it hits even more hard. I spent every day, nearly 24 hours a day, with this dog. I see him more than my husband, ha.
This is just a massive blow to me, my family and team, and the Corgis, who honestly adored him.
My dogs are vaccinated and up to date, but apparently there are some strains of Lepto that are literally this horrible, from there to gone within 48 hours.
This is just a gentle reminder on my end, make sure that your dogs have all their shots are up to date, please; unfortunately, Lepto is not a vaccine that fully covers all strains of it. It's common in the Pacific Northwest, especially at this time of year, in areas with wildlife.
I do not let my dogs drink out of puddles and streams, I always carry a bottle of water, but Lepto can be absorbed through a cut, or mucous membranes, and if he died of it, this is likely how he got it, walking on the trails. However, standing water is optimum for transmission, and that's another reason to not allow your dog to drink out of these places.
Everyone else in my house seems fine, and they all run the same trails with me, including the puppy. I'll keep folks posted on what happened.
- Shep
Edit: Thank you all so much for the kind words. It meant so much to me to see that, I cannot thank you all enough.
Pet people just understand, don't we?
Comment
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Comment by TAMMI on March 13, 2009 at 5:19pm
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IM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS!! IT IS TRULY A HEARTBREAKING TIME TO BE GOING THROUGH. HANG IN THERE I KNOW TO WELL WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO LOSE A PET. MY RED HEELER PASSED AWAY 2YRS AGO AND IT IS STILL HARD. BUT, THANKGULLY WE GOT TO SPEND THE TIME WE DID WITH THEM WHEN WE DID. PETS ARE TRULLY A BLESSING AND A PART OF THE FAMILY.
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Comment by Jenni & Dave Fields on February 25, 2009 at 4:02pm
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I am so very sorry for your loss...
Jenni and Spencer
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Comment by Liz on February 23, 2009 at 11:26am
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I'm so sorry to hear that... I almost see when you were back home and Gabriel were not there as he used to be. how sad that can be! please be will...love from Lorenzo and d'lalah
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Comment by Eric on February 22, 2009 at 1:42am
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I can't even imagine how you feel. I'm sorry for your lost.
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Comment by RAYLYN WATKINS on February 21, 2009 at 8:45pm
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SHEEPDOG,
I'M SO VERY SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR LOSS OF GABRIEL!!!!!!! HOW DEVESTATING! MY KIDS AND I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU. I KNOW LOOSING ONE OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST PATHS ANYONE HAS TO WALK. I HOPE YOUR VET WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU SOME PEACE OF MIND. IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO ASK.
YOUR IN MY THOUGHTS,
RAYLYN
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Comment by King Koby of the Treasure Coast on February 21, 2009 at 8:28pm
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I am sooo sorry! I know what it's like! I was just there! It is so hard when it happens like that! Unexpected and quick! That was what happened to my poor Riley. I hope your Gabriel can play with Riley up in heaven! I am truely so sorry! I will pray for god to bring you peace in this difficult time!
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Comment by Julia on February 21, 2009 at 8:14pm
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I am so, so, so, sorry. There is nothing worse than having a beloved pet pass so suddenly. It sounds like you had a great life with him and the other pets in your family. I will keep you and the rest of your gang in my prayers.
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Comment by EvilTwin on February 21, 2009 at 6:59pm
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Oh!!! I am soooo sorry!!! That is horrible!! Thank you for sharing your experience, I take my Lilly out hiking all of the time, she will never drink strange water again!!
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Comment by alli on February 21, 2009 at 6:33pm
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sending you love and corgi wags from australia and thinking of you at this tough time
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Comment by Butter on February 21, 2009 at 6:26pm
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I am so very sorry for the loss of your beloved pet. I can only imagine the shock and grief. I will be praying for you and yours during this difficult time. Take care
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