My ptsd service dog is sick

[blackemerald1]

Yeah I had 16 wonderful years of memories. It was just relief that I felt for @Justmehere and then grief. I so need a dog. Not to replace, that cannot happen. But, to help me and love me just the way I am. And for me to love back the only way I can...
Thanks @The Albatross.

 

[Justmehere]

:hug: @blackemerald1 - the loss of a dog is so hard. They love us so well and are so easy to love back. My heart goes out to you. I'm grateful for your empathy and riding this through me. I also am glad you "butted in" -even though I don't consider it butting in at all. Relief is a great thing to take away from this! I think relief is right next to gratitude for me, if not one and the same thing, in this instance. I am filled with it. When fighting PTSD and dealing with life as a whole, enjoying relief is important. So is riding the waves of grief. :hug:

 

[The Albatross]

Gracious and true.

I have had many dogs, all my life, I have an elder dog now deteriorating... and cats... an elder cat also deteriorating and the youngest who's exceeded her prognosis for longevity but is acutely and chronically ill. I have housed many... no less than 8 at any time in the last 30 or so years and have 9 now. When one expires, a vacancy opens and an abandoned/stray/feral shows up, unwanted animal finds their way into my house.

Emerald, there will be a time for an animal companion in your life again... maybe not at this time, but there will be one.

 

[blackemerald1]

Thanks @The Albatross you understand.

 

[The Albatross]

Yup I do-whacka-do-whacka do. Been in a time or two where I could not have an animal companion. It was hard going, so no worries, but now/not now... is not forever or always, eh? It could happen. They really don't replace each other, when you lose one... they are their own simple souls, each with their own quirks and preferences. Yet it is such an honorable bond, to bond unconditionally with a life that is always glad to see you, always glad for your care, always glad for a place at your feet or on your lap.

 

[blackemerald1]

Yes, yes so lovely. He never ever let me down. He undid so much damage, restored me in so many ways.

I am not able to take on the responsibilities of another right now. Even though I so badly need a dog who can help me. But it would not be fair. But, yes one day...

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Wow, great news about your dog and you as well. I am sorry that I missed this one and was not there for you.:hug:

 

[hodge]

I am so relieved, JMH!! Thank goodness for great vets and furparents!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

First you are FAR from the worst dog owner. Dogs eat odd things. Likely was tasting and not eating but you did the right thing!

I do what I can to train my dog not to eat things unless she is given the ok

I started this with treats. Put close to the dog's nose, move your hand like curling your hand in when she goes for it and say no. Move it back, again, she will get the idea fast its not to be eatten. Then say a comand, mine is "ok", and let her have it. Keep this up and move to bigger things such as her food, my dog doesnt eat unless i tell him ok. Also if she is curious of food that isnt her's be strict with a no and a fast catch. Soon she will get "only eat something of mommy says its ok" for all things.

Its a great command for all dog owners. Obviously all train differently. This is how I trained my boy on this.

I hope she's ok. Let us know!

 

[Justmehere]

Thanks @lostforgottensoul . I felt so bad and horrible I deleted the post... But thank you so much for the reassurances.

She is good with "wait" for her food and treats. I can pretty much drop the food or treats all around her, on her, even toss it at her and she won't eat it until I say "take it."

But everything else... she gobbles up! Any ideas how to get the skill to generalize from food and treats to well, everything else?

Good news, she puked once. Vet said to feed her and try to get her to puke again to pull out any of the remaining weird unknown substance since it's not caustic. I stuck my one hand in it to test. Desperate to make sure she's ok.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I felt so bad and horrible I deleted the post... But thank you so much for the reassurances.

You're welcome! And delete actually deletes a post? I thought it requests it to be deleted. Well thats an awesome and handy thing to know!

I didnt know which is why i was like editing everything down to nothing.

she gobbles up! Any ideas how to get the skill to generalize from food and treats to well, everything else?

Well, for my dog and the ones ive trained, with learning from a treat and though i like to reward for good rather than punish bad, told no when sniffing at anything he shouldnt like for my big boy my coffee table is free reign. Took a while but any time i saw his nose even barly on it or headed close to it i made a load high-ish pitch "eh", fast and quick though (best i can type that sound) he knows that means no and most learn that easily anyway, it he learned that basically to even lick something but most certianly eat it, he needs my "ok" first.

It takes patience and if the dog is younger she will be more curious by nature. Do not be so hard on yourself, no one can watch their dog 24/7 even if an ESA. I so want/need an ESA!

 

[Justmehere]

I’m adding this new thing on to this old thread because it’s the same theme.

My sweet dog is sick.

I’m sick already and having a hard time navigating this as sick as I am. I decided to walk to a store two block away, really out of it, but with my dog at my side. I was really out of it.

It appears somewhere along the way she was naughty and might have eaten something bad for her on the ground.

We got home and she was off duty, playing with her favorite ball, and suddenly got wobbly and collapsed. She got up again, sort of, and fell over. She stopped listening to any commands to lay down and started whimpering and shaking. Called a cab and rushed her to the vet.

Long story short, she’ll probably be ok? I’m investing in solid pet insurance from now on, doing some retraining. The vet was kind and wrote off some of the bill. It appears to be xylitol or marijuana poisoning. Her heart rate crashed but they got it right up and it looks good she’ll be just fine. They are keeping her tonight just to keep tabs on her heart rate and give her fluids and glucose.

I asked to stay with her the first hour and they let me. It helped sooo much. She just curled up next to me with all the monitors. The vet tech came and showed how everything worked and talked happy lots and just super babied my pup. Said she’d doing the same as me to sit with her pup for a bit.

A friend of mine insisted on checking on me and waited on and off with me while he ran a few errands and drove me there and back home. He was soooooo nice.

Eventually I finally was ready to go and let them take her back. She’s already looking a little better and her heart is a little more stable. They said I can come anytime during the night to check on her - I’m going to try to wait until 5 or 6am.

Ah, and we are going to do super extra re-training on not eating anything she is not supposed to eat!!!!

Oh this dog has my heart.

I think it’s some progress that I’m doing better handling this. Despite it all.