Freedom
09-25-2017, 07:15 PM
Willy has been showing his age. Almost blind, and what I think is dementia. So 2 days back I called and got him an appointment for this afternoon. I needed help w/ his chronic eye issues, perhaps a medication change, get a senior blood panel done, and just a review on a few things.
This morning I started the dogs' grooming, Willy was up first. As usual, he tried to bite me; I moved my hand out of the way and escaped that bite, whew! HOWEVER, Willy did grab on to his own front leg. And he bit down HARD, as he always does during a grooming session. Seeing as that hurt, he started to howl and bit harder! It seemed this went on for ages, but was more like 15 to 20 seconds. With him screaming the entire time. The other dogs, and the cats, all started dashing about trying to get out, get hidden, get to him, etc. Pandemonium.
Once things calmed down, Willy had given himself a grand bite, the leg was bleeding front and back, and just hanging limply. He did not put any weight on it. And of course, now there was no way I was allowed to touch the leg, deal with the blood etc. Somehow I got him and the other dogs outside; cleaned up the kitchen; called in to the vet office to let them know there was another issue. I got the dogs in, went and got myself ready to go. And discovered Willy was sound asleep. Hmm. Called him, nothing. Moved his bed, nothing. In the end I had to carry him out to the car. Now I was really worried, something big was wrong, all wrong.
Long story short, Willy has Lyme disease (this is the 3rd time, for him). The trauma of the bite triggered symptoms. He had a temperature of 103.6 at the vet, and was completely out of it. (normal dog temp is 101.3, per vet. Yes I find different online, that is what the vet told me.) They cleaned up his bites, and the doxycyline he needs for the Lyme will also help those heal. Several changes to his eye medications, as he has an ulcer on one eye. And we did a geriatric (blood plus urine). He should feel better in about 48 hours, once the doxy kicks in.
Seems it is always something lately. At least in a few days he will be fine, most likely better than he has been for some time. The leg will heal, the vet didn't feel there was any permanent damage.
This morning I started the dogs' grooming, Willy was up first. As usual, he tried to bite me; I moved my hand out of the way and escaped that bite, whew! HOWEVER, Willy did grab on to his own front leg. And he bit down HARD, as he always does during a grooming session. Seeing as that hurt, he started to howl and bit harder! It seemed this went on for ages, but was more like 15 to 20 seconds. With him screaming the entire time. The other dogs, and the cats, all started dashing about trying to get out, get hidden, get to him, etc. Pandemonium.
Once things calmed down, Willy had given himself a grand bite, the leg was bleeding front and back, and just hanging limply. He did not put any weight on it. And of course, now there was no way I was allowed to touch the leg, deal with the blood etc. Somehow I got him and the other dogs outside; cleaned up the kitchen; called in to the vet office to let them know there was another issue. I got the dogs in, went and got myself ready to go. And discovered Willy was sound asleep. Hmm. Called him, nothing. Moved his bed, nothing. In the end I had to carry him out to the car. Now I was really worried, something big was wrong, all wrong.
Long story short, Willy has Lyme disease (this is the 3rd time, for him). The trauma of the bite triggered symptoms. He had a temperature of 103.6 at the vet, and was completely out of it. (normal dog temp is 101.3, per vet. Yes I find different online, that is what the vet told me.) They cleaned up his bites, and the doxycyline he needs for the Lyme will also help those heal. Several changes to his eye medications, as he has an ulcer on one eye. And we did a geriatric (blood plus urine). He should feel better in about 48 hours, once the doxy kicks in.
Seems it is always something lately. At least in a few days he will be fine, most likely better than he has been for some time. The leg will heal, the vet didn't feel there was any permanent damage.