What a week! Phew!

[Susofrick]

Last Sunday (the 11th) our dog had an attack of cramp/spasm at breakfast. It was serious, we thought he died there. But he recovered after a while. Having something like that when you are an old dog (he would be 9 the 17th) is no good! But as I said, he recovered and the missus and I agreed to see a veterinary on Monday. In the evening when we went for the evening walk he had a new attack. Not as serious as the first, but we took the car to the emergency veterinary. After seeing two vets (and he had another attack when they touched the area around the spleen) and X-ray of the abdomen that showed nothing we got medication and advice to come back Monday for ultrasound. Back Monday, seeing the second vet again (she had worked all night). The ultrasound showed exactly the same as the X-ray, nothing. We got more medication. We could see that the vet was tired and had trouble counting how much medication he should have. Two pills morning and two pills in the evening. He didn't get better!!!! He got worse! The hindlegs gave out, we put carpets in the whole apartment so he shouldn't slip, when he missed the carpets he fell like Bambi on ice and couldn't get up without help. The only thing he wanted to do was to sleep. We could put treats right in front of his nose and he didn't bother. We decided that he should have his birthday on Saturday and on Sunday send him to a better place. Saturday came and an old friend we haven't seen for a while came to say goodbye. Our dog was very happy, but tired. Sunday came. Took a farewell walk, took the car to the vets. New vet. Very new! Checked our dog, checked how much medication he'd got and realized! He'd had too much! He had got double dose! The whole week! So we came home again all three of us! A lot of happy phonecalls to everybody that had said farewell. As soon as we cut down on medication his hindlegs started functioning, the first thing he did when he came home was picking up a tennisball and started to play. We have been crying and taking farewell the whole week, but now life seems good again. Okay, the spasms come from something not good good, but hopefully we can meet the (very late here) spring together.

[Bluefalchion]

Very glad to hear your canine companion is doing better. You may want to consider switching to a different veterinarians office if that is an option.

[Alex]

It's hard, Gunnar.
You were given a bonus - extra time.
Spend it with pleasure.
old anecdote:
"- what do you want to hear during your funeral?
I want to hear :
"Hey, guys, I think he's moving!"
It's just that I want to support you ....

[Graeme]

Happy Birthday to your four legged Lazarus Gunnar, I hope you enjoy many more Birthdays, And springs, together.

[MABO]

I am happy for you, my friend. I wish you a lot of funny walks in the sun of spring.

[Susofrick]

Thanks for the support! We are very happy for the extra time we've got.

[Kekso]

My dog is almost 14. So I know what you were talking about. I know how you felt.
And now I'm so happy for all of you. Enjoy every moment that is in front of you and your dog.

[David O'Brien]

You are lucky. The people up the road lost an adult Sharpei (quite a big dog) because of vets overdosing the sedative. Obviously in the UK we don't have an NHS for animals and vet bills are expensive and the care varies between practices and professional negligence claims are unlikely to be upheld unless the animal is valuable ie of breeding stock. Animals are generally treated as chattels in the law.

[Susofrick]

I think we were lucky to get a quite new vet the last time. Everything fresh from school. The missus talked to a neighbour his comment was "What? Are the vets just like the doctors???"

[Peter]

I'm happy for you and the missus that you get some extra time with your dog!