Veterinarians

I was pretty frustrated on Sunday, not only because of the pain in my neck, but I felt like I wasted the whole day. I should have used the time for something creative or productive, but all I really got done this weekend was laundry and started felting some bowls. I hate wasted whole weekends. I am so glad this is a long weekend for us (Family Day) and hope to pack if full of accomplishments.

While I was resting my neck, I did catch several episodes of "the Incredible Dr. Pol"  - I am amazed at this man's veterinary skills and his strength and stamina, especially since he is 70 years old. I feel sorry for his poor wife who works in the office every day and probably wanted to retire over 10 years ago. He's quite amazing helping animals and people and having to deal with the good and the bad situations, he seems to take it all in stride. I know there's some controversy surrounding him, but even when you're the best there will always be someone critical of your work, right?

We're currently going through a veterinary experience ourselves as Eco had something wrong with her last week - when she'd get up from sleeping, she'd yelp. Once she yelped as she walked across the carpet. I checked her legs and toes and tummy and couldn't find the source so we took her to our vet. There they performed many of the same tests but determined it was her right hip and then x-rayed her to confirm. Some abnormalities showed up on her x-ray and so we see a specialist tomorrow.

Wouldn't you know it, Eco hasn't had a problem since and has resumed life as a normal 5 year old  labrador but we're still going for the consultation with a specialist so we know what to look for and when surgery will be required (possible cruciate ligament tear) - all I can say is "thank goodness for pet  insurance!"

Raccoon Bites

On the weekend my neighbour was entertaining in the back yard when a raccoon came under the gate and found itself face to face with the family dog. The racoon and dog started to fight (it sounded really nasty too) until several guests broke it up and the raccoon was chased away. The dog was taken to the vet where my neighbour was told she could 'put him down or quarantine him'. (They were told -two weeks completely for people and pets, but ultimately 4 months before they are 'out of the woods')

First, if that was my dog, I would not return to a vet that would even suggest putting my dog down just because of some raccoon scratches.

But here's the second difference. I believe in vaccinations. And last year after telling my vet about the frequency of raccoons in our neighbourhood and yards, I was advised to add the Leptospira Vaccine to Eco's cocktail. This is a pretty nasty condition and I've heard dogs dying from a raccoon bite sometimes within a couple of days. I did not want to take the chance.

When I came home from the vet after Eco got her vaccinations last year I told this neighbour all about the vaccine. But she didn't do it. Perhaps because her dog doesn't leave their back yard, she didn't think she needed to worry about it? Her dog hasn't had a rabies shot in 3 years either and now the vet wouldn't give the dog one until he's out of the quarantine phase.

So now we had to close up all the holes in the fence between us so the dogs can't kiss and greet each other like they used to. And obviously no play dates since they can't share toys (no saliva transfer). I'm not worried about Eco because she's up to date on everything and I'm sorry my neighbour has to worry for 2 weeks looking for signs of illness on her beloved pet.

Oh, and now suddenly it's okay to get out a gun and shoot raccoons too. Whenever I joked about using a low powered pellet gun to 'poke' the  raccoons or squirrels in the rump she'd get all uppity but now she told me her husband would 'shoot to kill' if a raccoon was threatening their dog again. I find it interesting how people's opinions change once something happens directly to them. Like I always say   - steer clear of talking about people's kids and dogs, they are two very highly charged emotional subjects, that's for sure. And vaccinations - remember the whole Jenny McCarthy/Oprah thing?

I'm bummed

Something's wrong with Eco. She's not closing her mouth fully, and she doesn't crunch her food - anything you give her she just swallows. We went to the vet yesterday and they said they've read about and had dogs with similar issues  - and they were all Labrador Retrievers. Odd. But when I try to look up her symptoms, I haven't found anything similar.

She kinda looks like this. Okay, not quite but still, seeing a dog with it's mouth open where you see the bottom teeth, is well, a little odd/weird.

The vet thinks she may have damaged her temperomandibular joint (TMJ) which hinges the jaw, or may have nerve damage in the area. Other dogs seem to have recovered in about 5 weeks (noooo!) So basically we've given her some anti-inflammatories and she's supposed to rest her mouth (with a lab, not so easy!)   - no tug of war, no catch, no chew toys, etc. It's kinda hard to play with her, when you can't use her mouth - that's like taking our hands away!

We're waiting for the results of the urine and  blood tests which we should have back on Monday.

Poor thing. She seems bummed too. Good thing it's hot and she's kinda mellow anyway.

EDIT: based on my internet searching, it sounds like Trigeminal Neuritis. And internet sites say recovery can suddenly occur in 1 to 6 weeks. We're currently monitoring the situation and my have x-rays done early next week. If you know anything about this condition, would you please share your story with me?