Annoni_mouse
07-09-2007, 07:57
Firstly, let me apologise for the long post, but I wanted to describe my experience of the last week, in the hope that it may serve as a reminder to pet owners and potential pet owners alike.
When we as a family decided that the time was right for us to own a dog, we made the decision to re-home a stray, and so with great excitement we headed off to the local dog shelter. The dog we decided to adopt was a handsome, cross rottweiler, which we christened Frank (it had always been our plan to give our dog a human name!).He seemed to be sweet, good natured dog, less than a year old, and as boisterous as you would expect from a dog of that age.
So on Monday of this week, we drove back to the shelter to pick up our new dog. Frank, freshly washed and groomed, was sleeping in the back of the reception when we arrived, and when the receptionist brought him to us, we couldn't have been more sure that we'd adopted the right dog.
We signed the papers, paid our fee, and the assistant pointed out to us that Frank had a "bit of a runny nose", but overall, she didn't seem too concerned by this so we thought nothing more of it.
On the relatively long journey from Doncaster to our home, Frank was an absolute star, he behaved himself impeccably in the back of my little car, for most of the journey he was content just to lay in my girlfriends lap, the only time he stood was to playfully lick my ear whilst we were in traffic!
When we got home, we threw open all the doors to welcome Frank, giving him ample opportunity to discover his new home, an opportunity he took with both hands, pottering around the house sticking his nose into every room to investigate, and of course, the obligatory christening of the lawn!
He seemed content enough to us, and a little later he woofed down a bowl of dog food, followed by a treat of cows-ear chew, which he readily accepted!
Later that night, after returning from our walk in the park, we all commented how complete the house felt, thanks to our new pet.
Little did we know at the time, this was to be as good as it got for Frank.
During the night, we noticed Frank had a dry, hacking cough and seemed to be retching, though not bringing anything up. We thought it would be nothing more than a kennel cough, but to be on the safe side, we decided to book an apointment at the vets, which we did the next morning. The vet couldn't see us while Wednesday, but as the check up was precautionary at that stage, we didn't think too much of this.
By the time the vets appointment came around, Frank had deteriorated noticeably. Although his cough had largely disappeared, he was now vomiting, and his appetite, so much in evidence on the day we brought him home, had gone. The runny nose we had been warned about had escalated to a near constant stream of thick mucus.
The vet examined Frank, and told us it could be distemper or it could be a severe case of kennel cough, at that time he couldn't be sure. He gave Frank a couple of anti-biotic shots and some re-hydration fluid to try and give to Frank over the next 24 hours. He asked us to return on Thursday to check on his condition.
Even in the short time from the vets appointment, Franks condition took another turn for the worse. Now, not only did he not eat, he had stopped drinking, I even tried to syringe some of the re hydration fluid into his throat in order to get him to drink.
My parents came over on Thursday to sit with Frank whilst we were at work. By the time I returned home, I was shocked by how poorly Frank was. Gone was the bright eyed dog we'd taken home with us on Monday. Instead Frank was now a virtually unable to stand, his eyes were glassy and un-focused, and, when he did stand, his head hung low to the ground.
I had to carry him to the car, but from somewhere, he found the energy to walk out of the car to the vets.
The vet saw us promptly, and after a brief examination told us what we already suspected. Frank was most likely suffering from distemper.
There were, he said, only two options left for us. The first involved hospitalizing Frank, and aggressively treating him by putting him on an intravenous drip. There were according to the vet, no gurantees that this course of action would save Frank, and even if he did survive, there could be long term ramifications for Franks health.
I'm sure I don't need to tell you what the second option was.
We'd already discussed this on the journey to the vets, and we both agreed it would be wrong to prolong Franks suffering, and so, with heavy hearts, we gave the vet our decision. He sympathised, and told us he thought we'd made the right and most importantly, the kindest decision. As the nurse entered, my girlfriend and I both left the room, too upset to stay with Frank at the end.
So there you have it. From 4pm on Monday to 6pm on Thursday, we'd gone from proud new owners of a beautiful dog, to sobbing on the street outside the vets practice, having had to make the worst decision any pet owner has to make.
So please, if your thinking of buying a puppy, but don't think you can afford the vaccinations, or you think its worth the risk not to have him or her inoculated, think again.To see an animal suffer the way Frank did in his all too brief time with us was heartbreaking, and it has left an impression on my girlfriend and myself, that will never be forgotten.
When we as a family decided that the time was right for us to own a dog, we made the decision to re-home a stray, and so with great excitement we headed off to the local dog shelter. The dog we decided to adopt was a handsome, cross rottweiler, which we christened Frank (it had always been our plan to give our dog a human name!).He seemed to be sweet, good natured dog, less than a year old, and as boisterous as you would expect from a dog of that age.
So on Monday of this week, we drove back to the shelter to pick up our new dog. Frank, freshly washed and groomed, was sleeping in the back of the reception when we arrived, and when the receptionist brought him to us, we couldn't have been more sure that we'd adopted the right dog.
We signed the papers, paid our fee, and the assistant pointed out to us that Frank had a "bit of a runny nose", but overall, she didn't seem too concerned by this so we thought nothing more of it.
On the relatively long journey from Doncaster to our home, Frank was an absolute star, he behaved himself impeccably in the back of my little car, for most of the journey he was content just to lay in my girlfriends lap, the only time he stood was to playfully lick my ear whilst we were in traffic!
When we got home, we threw open all the doors to welcome Frank, giving him ample opportunity to discover his new home, an opportunity he took with both hands, pottering around the house sticking his nose into every room to investigate, and of course, the obligatory christening of the lawn!
He seemed content enough to us, and a little later he woofed down a bowl of dog food, followed by a treat of cows-ear chew, which he readily accepted!
Later that night, after returning from our walk in the park, we all commented how complete the house felt, thanks to our new pet.
Little did we know at the time, this was to be as good as it got for Frank.
During the night, we noticed Frank had a dry, hacking cough and seemed to be retching, though not bringing anything up. We thought it would be nothing more than a kennel cough, but to be on the safe side, we decided to book an apointment at the vets, which we did the next morning. The vet couldn't see us while Wednesday, but as the check up was precautionary at that stage, we didn't think too much of this.
By the time the vets appointment came around, Frank had deteriorated noticeably. Although his cough had largely disappeared, he was now vomiting, and his appetite, so much in evidence on the day we brought him home, had gone. The runny nose we had been warned about had escalated to a near constant stream of thick mucus.
The vet examined Frank, and told us it could be distemper or it could be a severe case of kennel cough, at that time he couldn't be sure. He gave Frank a couple of anti-biotic shots and some re-hydration fluid to try and give to Frank over the next 24 hours. He asked us to return on Thursday to check on his condition.
Even in the short time from the vets appointment, Franks condition took another turn for the worse. Now, not only did he not eat, he had stopped drinking, I even tried to syringe some of the re hydration fluid into his throat in order to get him to drink.
My parents came over on Thursday to sit with Frank whilst we were at work. By the time I returned home, I was shocked by how poorly Frank was. Gone was the bright eyed dog we'd taken home with us on Monday. Instead Frank was now a virtually unable to stand, his eyes were glassy and un-focused, and, when he did stand, his head hung low to the ground.
I had to carry him to the car, but from somewhere, he found the energy to walk out of the car to the vets.
The vet saw us promptly, and after a brief examination told us what we already suspected. Frank was most likely suffering from distemper.
There were, he said, only two options left for us. The first involved hospitalizing Frank, and aggressively treating him by putting him on an intravenous drip. There were according to the vet, no gurantees that this course of action would save Frank, and even if he did survive, there could be long term ramifications for Franks health.
I'm sure I don't need to tell you what the second option was.
We'd already discussed this on the journey to the vets, and we both agreed it would be wrong to prolong Franks suffering, and so, with heavy hearts, we gave the vet our decision. He sympathised, and told us he thought we'd made the right and most importantly, the kindest decision. As the nurse entered, my girlfriend and I both left the room, too upset to stay with Frank at the end.
So there you have it. From 4pm on Monday to 6pm on Thursday, we'd gone from proud new owners of a beautiful dog, to sobbing on the street outside the vets practice, having had to make the worst decision any pet owner has to make.
So please, if your thinking of buying a puppy, but don't think you can afford the vaccinations, or you think its worth the risk not to have him or her inoculated, think again.To see an animal suffer the way Frank did in his all too brief time with us was heartbreaking, and it has left an impression on my girlfriend and myself, that will never be forgotten.