My candy pal, pricey Pax,
I final wrote a letter to my canine practically eight years in the past. I used to be on a airplane, flying to say goodbye to your “brother” Skai, my first canine. On the time, I believed I might by no means really feel the identical reference to one other canine. It took two years earlier than we dared to undertake once more.
I had one situation: I did not need to select a canine from a litter, realizing that the pup who joined us would hit the jackpot whereas leaving others behind. How might I choose one and never the others? Unimaginable!
We first looked for a rescue Border Collie pet to do “the precise factor.” It was spring 2019, simply earlier than the COVID insanity. Regardless of scanning rescue pages every day, we could not discover any out there pups. Then we discovered one—1000’s of miles away in Oregon—however the rescue would not maintain the pup for us. I hope that the pup has a superb life.
Our second try led us to a home with two puppies, however their mom appeared vicious, and the scenario felt unsuitable. Then, by way of a Fb web page, we realized about you—ready simply quarter-hour away in a small farmhouse close to Prague. Your two sisters had already been adopted, leaving solely you. What a reduction—we did not have to decide on!
Your human mother, Nella, did a incredible job elevating you. After we met you, you already knew discover fields with out getting misplaced. You had been naughty, candy, and cuddly—and that hasn’t modified.
I couldn’t maintain my tears again the primary time we met you. We named you Pax, and I nonetheless suppose the title fits you so properly. It means peace and “kissed by all.” From that second on, you turned a traveler and by no means stopped. It’s possible you’ll be one of the crucial traveled canines on the earth!
Your first journey took us by way of Germany and Austria. Folks could not resist stopping us due to your cuteness! We drove all day however needed to return to Prague unexpectedly on account of my mother’s hospitalization. You behaved impeccably on the lodge—no accidents or whining—as should you’d been with us for years.
You grew up so quick! Sooner or later, you had been a pet; the subsequent, a youngster; and shortly after, an grownup canine. Your first meal was uncooked meat and veggies—so thrilling! For dessert, you had blueberries, which stay your favourite.
You have at all times been social—a contented butterfly—and cussed, too! I wished to go proper throughout our first stroll collectively when you insisted on going left! Ultimately, I found your trick: three pats in your head would make you budge—and it nonetheless works!
Border Collies love having jobs. Yours has been preserving me secure from sleepwalking—a ability that required powerful coaching however has been invaluable given my previous harm from sleepwalking by way of the glass.
Your intelligence and opinionated nature have at all times stood out—typically an excessive amount of on your good! Watching individuals’s faces mild up as you run on seashores or parks is priceless.
Your service canine standing introduced journey perks, and my distant job permits us to spend winters in Maui. You may come alongside.
We found your love for waves; maybe you are a reincarnated otter or a dolphin? But each time I swim, you bark and circle me, herding me out of what you see as hazard.
It’s good to see somebody cares ;-).
In contrast to Skai, you turned my instructor, making certain I might assist many extra canines as a veterinarian. As an official help canine, you needed to be neutered—a call I did not be ok with however knew was essential. Lower than six months later, you began to limp.
We first seen it when Auntie Karen Becker and Uncle Rodney visited us in Prague. Your limp progressively worsened, and regardless of making an attempt every part—physiotherapy, acupuncture, and rehabilitation—nothing made a distinction. We had been devastated, and I felt like a failure.
You grew up so robust and wholesome, but abruptly this occurred. It reawakened the trauma I skilled as a baby after I watched my horse limping, unable to assist. That have impressed me to develop into a veterinarian, and now, greater than forty years later, I’m dealing with an analogous scenario. I ought to have recognized how that can assist you, however nothing appeared to work.
However you realize me—I by no means surrender. It took me two years to come back throughout a examine by Dr. Michelle Kutzler, whose analysis confirmed that spaying and neutering can result in extreme luteinizing hormone (LH) elevation. Elevated LH ranges could cause inflammatory adjustments, organ illness, allergic reactions, behavioral shifts, and accidents that do not heal. It was a troublesome determination to place you on hormone alternative remedy since only some canines in her examine had undergone the remedy on the time. Nonetheless, there was nothing else left to strive.
It has been 9 months since beginning hormone alternative remedy, and you have returned to your previous self—pleased, robust, and, most significantly, lameness-free. After two years of limping and being unable to run on the seaside or swim within the ocean, you are lastly again to doing every part you’re keen on. I’ve by no means been prouder or happier as your canine dad.
Besides only a week in the past, you have to have thought I used to be prepared for one more lesson. Early one morning, I seen one thing unusual—you had been mendacity in a distinct spot than traditional. Once I tried to elevate you onto the mattress as I typically do, you had been limp and weak.
At first, I believed you may need ingested human feces from somebody intoxicated throughout one in all our walks. You had been so sleepy, barely capable of preserve your eyes open. However once we bought and ran a complete drug check in your urine, it got here again unfavourable.
Because the day progressed, you did not enhance—you remained drained and sleepy—and cried out each time we moved your neck. Since I am not licensed in Maui, this was the primary time I discovered myself as a veterinary clinic shopper slightly than a vet. Luckily, I encountered a younger veterinarian—a 2023 U.S. graduate initially from Ukraine—who was beautiful and allowed me to recommend a plan of motion.
We ran blood work on you, which got here again fully regular regardless of your obvious signs. Nothing made sense—if it had been poisoning, your neck would not be sore; if it had been solely neck ache, you would not be so severely torpid.
Then it hit me! We had lately visited Auntie Gabriella on the east facet of Maui—a area endemic to Rat Lungworm illness (Angiostrongylus cantonensis). Gabriella herself had been identified with this harmful parasite after ingesting contaminated greens or probably a tiny slug carrying it. The parasite can migrate into the spinal canal or mind in mammals and trigger neurological signs like paralysis, meningitis, blindness, and even demise.
I remembered that you just had been munching on grass throughout our go to a month prior—properly inside the parasite’s incubation interval—as traditional. May it’s that you just ingested an contaminated slug? Testing for Rat Lungworm is not available for canines in Maui or Hawaii;. On the identical time, people may be examined comparatively shortly for affirmation; canines can’t—not quick sufficient for certainty, anyway.
Being your vet and canine dad directly was agonizing; your well being was fully in my arms. You turned extra clingy throughout this time—as if asking me for assist—and I knew I needed to belief my instincts and deal with you for Rat Lungworm illness regardless of the dangers concerned. In some circumstances of remedy with antiparasitic treatment like Fenbendazole, signs can worsen because the parasites die off.
Regardless of these dangers, I selected “The Route of Least Remorse.” We combined the treatment into your meals—fortunately, your urge for food remained robust—and started remedy instantly.
I additionally made a really agency determination to not provide you with prednisone, which the traditional remedy protocols steered. Your immune system wanted to be wholesome, and based mostly on my expertise, I added a double dose of FeelGood Omega as an anti-inflammatory, cell restore, and nerve restore complement.
I additionally gave you JointPowder on your neck ache and LiverTune for detox, simply to make certain.
The subsequent day introduced slight enchancment; you had been higher once more by day two! I can lastly breathe deeply six days later, realizing you are again to your self. In the present day on the seaside, you swam and ran joyfully like nothing had occurred. You even had a fantastic go to together with your pal Lucy—and sure—even tried to hump her! How embarrassing! However actually? It made me pleased as a result of it meant you had been actually all proper once more.
My candy pal Pax—I want you had spared us this lesson, however I’m additionally grateful for it. One of many causes you recovered so properly is how wholesome and robust you might be—a testomony to feeding you properly with important dietary supplements and making certain common train gave you a stable basis for therapeutic.
Whereas we nonetheless do not have a definitive analysis but—and should by no means get affirmation of Rat Lungworm—I’ve zero regrets about treating you with Fenbendazole based mostly on hallmark signs: neck ache mixed with central nervous system points; your journey historical past to an infested area; and most significantly your optimistic response to remedy.
Some individuals suppose I’m fully in opposition to medicine—however that is not true. My purpose as a veterinarian is at all times to attenuate their use whereas making certain they’re employed when essential—when no different choice is left.
Thanks once more for educating me—though this lesson was powerful. You humble me repeatedly; by way of these experiences with you, I’ve develop into a greater vet who will help extra canines—and their individuals, too.
One very last thing: eight years in the past, when Skai handed away, I believed I might by no means love one other canine once more—however Pax—I like you simply as a lot. ❤️🐶
