Get me outta here!
Showing posts with label CDV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CDV. Show all posts

Rainbow Bridge


Hello 2019. 

I know it’s been a long while since my last blog post and a lot of things have happened during my 2-3 month hiatus including a couple of super moons (Super Blood Wolf Moon/eclipse last January 22 and the most recent Super Snow Moon which just occurred last February 19) plus we’re awaiting another sky show this coming March 20 which would be the Equinox which sounds like an OST in one of the Twilight sequels  "Meet Me On The Equinox" by Death Cab For Cutie. I mean what’s up with all these full moons right?



What made me sad, sad, sad….


My absence is also due to the recent passing of two of our senior family dogs one age 15 and another age 10, a mother and daughter tandem. Fiona, 15yo (105 dog years), ceased eating one day then a few days later died despite our strong resolve and efforts to keep her alive. We were devastated although we saw it coming considering her old age although it was still heart wrenching to admit because she’s been with us for a long time. She even outlived our younger yet another senior dog Brandon, a German Shepherd who passed away 4 years ago at age 10 (70 in dog years). I hate getting too attached but how can you help it when you’re used to seeing a pet for the longest period of time and all of a sudden you don’t see them anymore? I still look at the same spot where she hangs around very often and sometimes miscalculates the number of food bins you have to prepare come meal time. I was just saddened by the fact that her demise was so sudden that’s all. I was still trying to wrap my head around her sudden passing because I was hoping she would live a few more years then came another blow, her daughter Krissy, a 10-year-old Aspin died nine days later. I was agape when my sister found her dying on the stairs leading to the garage, she was already catatonic with very dull eyes,  spewed blood and in just split second she’s gone giving us no time to even think straight. We suspected Distemper, a highly contagious disease on dogs (CDV) and once it afflicts a dog the chance of survival is very, very slim. I saw the same symptoms because one of our small dogs before died from CDV roughly 7 years ago. We took Jack to the vet to have him tested and the results came back CDV positive and we were given no choice but to have him put down, we refused of course but he died later that same night. The thing was, we did not see any obvious symptoms with Krissy except the loss of appetite which is not very unusual with some dogs. There are instances when they just have poor appetite one day and regains it back the next day. I was heartbroken twice because we just lost two members in the pack and pets are family too, we even took all of our all our five pets, 4 dogs and a cat when we moved to our new house and it’s only been 4 years since. 

As an end note, make sure all your dogs have proper vaccinations against deadly viruses especially CDV or better yet a 5-in-1 shot ( a 5-way vaccine against adenovirus, cough, and hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, and parvovirus) while they are young to protect them because you’ll never know. Always bear in mind as they get older, they are becoming more and more susceptible to illnesses because like us, the older they get the weaker their immune system becomes. I have never been so sad in my life again since my Mother passed away six years ago and I know it’s gonna take a while to get used to missing the ones we spent most of our lives with. It’s a sad beginning of the year though. The lament is here no matter how much I want to see light at the end of the tunnel. Life goes on I know it’s just that how can anyone be emotionally prepared in losing the ones they love ever right? ๐Ÿ˜ข


Farewell Jack, I Hope You Had A Wonderful Life

R.I.P Jack....I will miss you so.... redface
It took me a while to write this blog because I needed time to grieve. My sister's dog Jack, (which happened to be my fave dog as well)  recently passed away due to CDV (Canine Distemper Virus), a deadly virus which only afflict dogs. Once your dog acquired the virus, there's no cure but putting your dog to sleep. T'was really hard because I'm not sure if Jack got the virus from the veterinary hospital or it has been dwelling in his miniscule body.  Jill (Jack's sibling), eventually died of the same. We took Jack to the vet roughly a week after Jill's death due to a failing health. We assumed it's possibly 'cuz he's missing Jill. Animals have this weird behavior after one of their kind passed away, they seem to look for their companion like humans do. Jack was confined for three days (if I'm not mistaken) but went home safe and sound. He needed to recuperate for few days but after then he's back on his feet chasing our cat Atari as usual. Few days later he stopped eating. My sister noticed his breathing isn't normal--he's heaving and panting which made us worry.  My sister and I decided to take Jack to the vet again to see what's wrong this time. A blood test was done and from then we found out that he's caught two viruses, one curable and the other one isn't. We were devastated when the vet recommended to put Jack to sleep. My mind had a hard time processing it because Jack is a playful dog so who would ever thought he's been sick? I thought, It wasn't fair 'cuz we just lost Jill and we can't afford losing another one. cry It was really difficult to accept and what's even harder was, we need to decide right then and there whether to put him down or not. I refused of course although I knew back then Jack's case is hopeless, all we need to do is to accept it. The vet prescribed some more meds to at least ease Jack's pain. I knew he's dying, I knew it will only take hours before the virus totally consumes his body. I felt really guilty for prolonging Jack's agony but putting them down isn't easy even with animals. Early morning of September 8th, while fast asleep, my sister knocked our door to tell us Jack's condition is aggravating and the poor dog seemed to be in so much pain. No matter how hard it was for me to see him in pain, I tried my best, got up and checked on Jack. I saw him lying on his mat, he's already very weak and his body is already turning stiff and cold which I know his time will be up soon. T'was really heartbreaking. I tried to close his eyes and I told him to go if he's really tired but he's reluctant no matter how weak he's turned. Watching him is like watching a candle melts slowly. sad I went back to my room and soon after I closed the door my sister saw him walked towards my door wiggling his tail as if asking her to open the door so he could say goodbye. We all told him to rest and we'll be alright. It didn't take long, Jack passed away after he said goodbye to all of us, his human family.  I got up again no matter how heart wrenching it was to see him lifeless but I helped my sister out to give Jack a decent burial. We wrap his body in a towel and waited the next day for him to be buried where his mom Harriet and sister Jill lies.  Up until now we're still thinking that Jack might've gotten the virus from the veterinary clinic because on the same day he was discharged, another very sick dog afflicted by CDV came in.  Lesson learned--complete vaccination is vital for dogs as it will serve as their immunity against deadly viruses such as distemper. We all miss Jack, he's only been five years and nine months old. He gave us joy and he deserved freedom from pain. cry