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 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 wish to select a canine from a litter, figuring out that the pup who joined us would hit the jackpot whereas leaving others behind. How might I choose one and never the others? Unattainable!
We first looked for a rescue Border Collie pet to do “the right thing.” It was spring 2019, simply earlier than the COVID insanity. Regardless of scanning rescue pages day by day, we could not discover any out there 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 improper. Then, by means of a Fb web page, we discovered 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 unbelievable job elevating you. Once we met you, you already knew methods 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 suppose the identify fits you so nicely. It means peace and “kissed by all.” From that second on, you grew to become a traveler and by no means stopped. Chances are you’ll be one of the crucial traveled canines on the planet!
Your first journey took us by means 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 as a consequence of my mother’s hospitalization. You behaved impeccably on the lodge—no accidents or whining—as when you’d been with us for years.
You grew up so quick! In the future, you had been a pet; the following, an adolescent; 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 all the time been social—a contented butterfly—and cussed, too! I wished 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 maintaining me secure from sleepwalking—a ability that required powerful coaching however has been invaluable given my previous harm from sleepwalking by means of the glass.
Your intelligence and opinionated nature have all the time stood out—generally an excessive amount of to your good! Watching folks’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 every 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 grew to become my instructor, making certain I might assist many extra canines as a veterinarian. As an official help canine, you needed to be neutered—a choice I did not be ok with however knew was mandatory. 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 attempting 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 all of the sudden this occurred. It reawakened the trauma I skilled as a toddler once I watched my horse limping, unable to assist. That have impressed me to turn into a veterinarian, and now, greater than forty years later, I’m going through the same state of affairs. I ought to have identified how that will help you, however nothing appeared to work.
However you already know me—I by no means surrender. It took me two years to return throughout a research 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 modifications, organ illness, allergy symptoms, behavioral shifts, and accidents that do not heal. It was a tricky resolution to place you on hormone alternative remedy since only some canines in her research 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 outdated self—comfortable, robust, 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 every part 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 one more lesson. Early one morning, I observed one thing unusual—you had been mendacity in a special spot than typical. After I tried to elevate you onto the mattress as I generally do, you had been limp and weak.
At first, I believed you might need ingested human feces from somebody intoxicated throughout considered one of our walks. You had been so sleepy, barely capable of preserve your eyes open. However after we bought and ran a complete drug check in your urine, it got here again detrimental.
Because the day progressed, you did not enhance—you remained drained and sleepy—and cried out every 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 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 not too long ago visited Auntie Gabriella on the east aspect 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 dying.
I remembered that you simply had been munching on grass throughout our go to a month prior—nicely inside the parasite’s incubation interval—as typical. Might or not it’s that you simply ingested an contaminated slug? Testing for Rat Lungworm is not available for canines in Maui or Hawaii;. On the identical time, people will be examined comparatively rapidly for affirmation; canines can not—not quick sufficient for certainty, anyway.
Being your vet and canine dad without delay was agonizing; your well being was completely in my arms. You grew to become 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 Regret.” We combined the treatment into your meals—fortunately, your urge for food remained robust—and commenced remedy instantly.
I additionally made a really agency resolution to not provide you with prednisone, which the standard remedy protocols urged. 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 to 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, figuring out you are again to your self. In the present day 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 comfortable as a result of it meant you had been really 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 making certain common train gave you a strong basis for therapeutic.
Whereas we nonetheless haven’t got a definitive analysis but—and will 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 folks suppose I’m completely towards medication—however that is not true. My objective as a veterinarian is all the time to reduce their use whereas making certain they’re employed when mandatory—when no different possibility is left.
Thanks once more for instructing me—regardless that this lesson was powerful. You humble me repeatedly; by means of these experiences with you, I’ve turn into a greater vet who will help extra canines—and their folks, too.
One final 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. ❤️🐶
