Our family consists of 4 people and 5 dogs. The dogs are considered part of the family, additional kids. I can sense when Sammy the dauschund is going to have a seizure. Maybe not sense, rather know the signs, body language signals. (We are working with the vet to find the correct dose of medicine to prevent the seizures.) I know when Lucy has an ear infection, and when Belvedere has eaten (the dog must have been a goat in a previous life) something he should not have. Jack thank goodness has not been sick. It's a mom thing. Observing body language, change in temperament, change in eating etc. Mom radar, I call it.
So when Terri my Westie kept licking her right front paw I knew something was amiss. After ex
amining her paw and finding nada my husband convinced me nothing was seriously wrong. Tsk tsk tsk. I should have followed my instincts, the mom radar was in full sweep and I allowed myself to be duped by Dr. Hubby. The next day Terri could not walk, she had the rigors, and was not eating or drinking. Obviously I knew something was seriously wrong.
The vet shaved her paw which reveled the nastiest looking abscess in between her toes I have every seen. It's gross. The abscess is the size of a lima bean. That may not sound big but for a 16lb dog it's huge. She had a fever and was in a lot of pain. The vet gave her a shot for the pain and a shot of anti-inflammatory medicine. Terri has to be on pain pills for 5 days and antibiotics for 14. I think she is kinda happy about that because she gets to have burger and rice twice a day to take with the pills to prevent upset stomach
I am glad to say that within 24 hours her fever is gone and she is walking. The abscess is still huge, but the antibiotics hopefully will reduce it within a few more days.
Every once in awhile I ignore my instincts. Most of the time nothing serious or really disastrous happens. Hopefully I will heed this little reminder of trusting myself and always go with my instincts and never doubt mom radar in the future.
So when Terri my Westie kept licking her right front paw I knew something was amiss. After ex
amining her paw and finding nada my husband convinced me nothing was seriously wrong. Tsk tsk tsk. I should have followed my instincts, the mom radar was in full sweep and I allowed myself to be duped by Dr. Hubby. The next day Terri could not walk, she had the rigors, and was not eating or drinking. Obviously I knew something was seriously wrong.The vet shaved her paw which reveled the nastiest looking abscess in between her toes I have every seen. It's gross. The abscess is the size of a lima bean. That may not sound big but for a 16lb dog it's huge. She had a fever and was in a lot of pain. The vet gave her a shot for the pain and a shot of anti-inflammatory medicine. Terri has to be on pain pills for 5 days and antibiotics for 14. I think she is kinda happy about that because she gets to have burger and rice twice a day to take with the pills to prevent upset stomach
I am glad to say that within 24 hours her fever is gone and she is walking. The abscess is still huge, but the antibiotics hopefully will reduce it within a few more days.
Every once in awhile I ignore my instincts. Most of the time nothing serious or really disastrous happens. Hopefully I will heed this little reminder of trusting myself and always go with my instincts and never doubt mom radar in the future.
4 comments:
Always listen to that mothers instinct voice in your head.
I have lots of voices in my head, and they generally ask, "Is there room in there for one more"?
Cheer
Glad to hear that all was well that ended well! Yeah, I was talked out of listening to myself for years. The importance of listening to yourself is something I try to teach my kids, tho.
Good job, mom!
skylers dad: those voices can be a friend when needed.
anon: I taught and teach my kids the same thing. A good book I read "Fear" written by an FBI guy ( I think), is all about listening to the gut feelings, mom instincts, fight flight etc. Excellent book, gives the reader the ok to listen to those things, and the number one idea, is not to let anyone talk you out of those feelings.
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