Chief Longwind Of The North
Certified/Certifiable
I just posted a thread about clogged plumbing and how I fixed it. But we have another clog that is far worse in our home. Our ten-year old dog, Kaysee, loved to chew on her rope toy. She shredded that thing. unfortunately, we didn't realise that whe was ingesting the rope fibers. And occasionally, we gave her left-over bones from pork chops and such. About 2 weeks ago, she sudenly became ill. She became weak and unable to keep food down. Her bm's were small, tiny, and she lost weight rapidly. We took her to the vet and he took x-rays. There is a definite blockage in her large intestine, right where it meets her small intestine. From the x-rays, it looks dense enough to resemble bone fragments. She is dying.
We were given a stool softener to give her every four hours, but it doesn't seem to be breaking up the blockage. I fear that Monday will be the day we will have to take her in to be put down.
Kaysee was never an overly smart dog, and made a mess of our house on a regular basis. She was a lot like a three-year-old child. She absolutley loved to play, and was always hungry for atttention. And we love her.
What is never thought about when getting a pet, be it dog, cat, or whatever, is that even if there is never a problem with sickness, or health, the animal's life span is much shorter than is ours, and that one day, we will have to witness its death.
I know that there are those who think, well, she's not like a real human and you can always get another dog. I don't understand how people can think like that. Though they may not be as smart as people (at least most people), they have intelligence, personality, emotions, and a spirit. They are not little machines, or hunting tools, or toys, or protection devices. They are living creatures. And yes, I feel that way about all living creatures. Just as I am animated by a spirit, so too are they.
I am going to miss Kaysee. I hate trying to type with my eyes misting up.
Do not give your dogs chew toys that are not digestible. And bones are not a good thing either. The vet told me that he had a case where the owner of a large dog, once a year, would by a large beef knuckle and give it to his dog for a treat. The dog ended up as mine is, with a blockage, and had to be put down.
Love your animals, and find out how to properly take care of him/her. Treats aren't required. Love and attention are. You will get more fun out of your pet playing with it, and giving it the attention it craves, that you will simply throwing it a treat, and giving it a toy, so that you won't be bothered while you sit and watch TV.
What's true for very young children is basically true for dogs as well. They respond well, and behave well when they are treated with respect, and love. And you have to understand the limitations that they have, and work to develop their strengths and abilities. If you don't have time to give an animal the attention it needs, then don't get a pet. It's not fair to the animal, or to the owner. Both lose out.
Seeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North
We were given a stool softener to give her every four hours, but it doesn't seem to be breaking up the blockage. I fear that Monday will be the day we will have to take her in to be put down.
Kaysee was never an overly smart dog, and made a mess of our house on a regular basis. She was a lot like a three-year-old child. She absolutley loved to play, and was always hungry for atttention. And we love her.
What is never thought about when getting a pet, be it dog, cat, or whatever, is that even if there is never a problem with sickness, or health, the animal's life span is much shorter than is ours, and that one day, we will have to witness its death.
I know that there are those who think, well, she's not like a real human and you can always get another dog. I don't understand how people can think like that. Though they may not be as smart as people (at least most people), they have intelligence, personality, emotions, and a spirit. They are not little machines, or hunting tools, or toys, or protection devices. They are living creatures. And yes, I feel that way about all living creatures. Just as I am animated by a spirit, so too are they.
I am going to miss Kaysee. I hate trying to type with my eyes misting up.
Do not give your dogs chew toys that are not digestible. And bones are not a good thing either. The vet told me that he had a case where the owner of a large dog, once a year, would by a large beef knuckle and give it to his dog for a treat. The dog ended up as mine is, with a blockage, and had to be put down.
Love your animals, and find out how to properly take care of him/her. Treats aren't required. Love and attention are. You will get more fun out of your pet playing with it, and giving it the attention it craves, that you will simply throwing it a treat, and giving it a toy, so that you won't be bothered while you sit and watch TV.
What's true for very young children is basically true for dogs as well. They respond well, and behave well when they are treated with respect, and love. And you have to understand the limitations that they have, and work to develop their strengths and abilities. If you don't have time to give an animal the attention it needs, then don't get a pet. It's not fair to the animal, or to the owner. Both lose out.
Seeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North