My candy buddy, pricey Pax,
I final wrote a letter to my canine practically eight years in the past. I used to be on a aircraft, flying to say goodbye to your “brother” Skai, my first canine. On the time, I believed I may 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, understanding that the pup who joined us would hit the jackpot whereas leaving others behind. How may I choose one and never the others? Not possible!
We first looked for a rescue Border Collie pet to do “the fitting factor.” It was spring 2019, simply earlier than the COVID insanity. Regardless of scanning rescue pages each day, we could not discover any accessible pups. Then we discovered one—hundreds of miles away in Oregon—however the rescue would not maintain the pup for us. I hope that the pup has a great life.
Our second try led us to a home with two puppies, however their mom appeared vicious, and the state of affairs felt mistaken. 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 aid—we did not have to decide on!
Your human mother, Nella, did a implausible job elevating you. After we met you, you already knew tips on how to 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 assume the title fits you so nicely. It means peace and “kissed by all.” From that second on, you turned a traveler and by no means stopped. You could be some of the traveled canine on the planet!
Your first journey took us by way of Germany and Austria. Individuals could not resist stopping us due to your cuteness! We drove all day however needed to return to Prague unexpectedly resulting from 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 teen; 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’ve got at all times been social—a cheerful butterfly—and cussed, too! I needed to go proper throughout our first stroll collectively whilst you insisted on going left! Finally, 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 robust 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 gentle 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 ;-).
Not like Skai, you turned my instructor, guaranteeing I may assist many extra canine as a veterinarian. As an official help canine, you needed to be neutered—a call I did not be ok with however knew was needed. Lower than six months later, you began to limp.
We first observed it when Auntie Karen Becker and Uncle Rodney visited us in Prague. Your limp progressively worsened, and regardless of making an attempt all the pieces—physiotherapy, acupuncture, and rehabilitation—nothing made a distinction. We had been devastated, and I felt like a failure.
You grew up so sturdy and wholesome, but all of the sudden this occurred. It reawakened the trauma I skilled as a toddler after I watched my horse limping, unable to assist. That have impressed me to change into a veterinarian, and now, greater than forty years later, I’m dealing with an identical state of affairs. I ought to have identified how that can assist you, however nothing appeared to work.
However you understand me—I by no means quit. 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 may cause inflammatory adjustments, organ illness, allergic reactions, behavioral shifts, and accidents that do not heal. It was a troublesome choice to place you on hormone alternative remedy since just a few canine in her examine had undergone the remedy on the time. Nonetheless, there was nothing else left to attempt.
It has been 9 months since beginning hormone alternative remedy, and you have returned to your outdated self—completely satisfied, sturdy, and, most significantly, lameness-free. After two years of limping and being unable to run on the seashore or swim within the ocean, you are lastly again to doing all the pieces you like. I’ve by no means been prouder or happier as your canine dad.
Besides only a week in the past, you should have thought I used to be prepared for an additional lesson. Early one morning, I observed one thing unusual—you had been mendacity in a unique 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 certainly one of our walks. You had been so sleepy, barely in a position to maintain your eyes open. However once we bought and ran a complete drug take a look at in your urine, it got here again destructive.
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 quite than a vet. Happily, I encountered a younger veterinarian—a 2023 U.S. graduate initially from Ukraine—who was pretty 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 recognized 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 dying.
I remembered that you simply had been munching on grass throughout our go to a month prior—nicely throughout the parasite’s incubation interval—as traditional. Might or not it’s that you simply ingested an contaminated slug? Testing for Rat Lungworm is not available for canine in Maui or Hawaii;. On the identical time, people could be examined comparatively shortly for affirmation; canine can’t—not quick sufficient for certainty, anyway.
Being your vet and canine dad without delay was agonizing; your well being was totally in my fingers. 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 medicine like Fenbendazole, signs can worsen because the parasites die off.
Regardless of these dangers, I selected “The Route of Least Remorse.” We blended the medicine into your meals—fortunately, your urge for food remained sturdy—and started remedy instantly.
I additionally made a really agency choice to not offer you prednisone, which the standard remedy protocols urged. Your immune system wanted to be wholesome, and primarily based 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 sure.
The following day introduced slight enchancment; you had been higher once more by day two! I can lastly breathe deeply six days later, understanding you are again to your self. Immediately on the seashore, you swam and ran joyfully like nothing had occurred. You even had an ideal go to along with your buddy Lucy—and sure—even tried to hump her! How embarrassing! However actually? It made me completely satisfied as a result of it meant you had been actually all proper once more.
My candy buddy Pax—I want you had spared us this lesson, however I’m additionally grateful for it. One of many causes you recovered so nicely is how wholesome and robust you might be—a testomony to feeding you nicely with important dietary supplements and guaranteeing common train gave you a strong basis for therapeutic.
Whereas we nonetheless do not have a definitive analysis but—and will by no means get affirmation of Rat Lungworm—I’ve zero regrets about treating you with Fenbendazole primarily based 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 assume I’m totally towards medicine—however that is not true. My purpose as a veterinarian is at all times to attenuate their use whereas guaranteeing they’re employed when needed—when no different choice is left.
Thanks once more for instructing me—though this lesson was robust. You humble me repeatedly; by way of these experiences with you, I’ve change into a greater vet who will help extra canine—and their individuals, too.
One last item: eight years in the past, when Skai handed away, I believed I may by no means love one other canine once more—however Pax—I like you simply as a lot. ❤️🐶
