K9keystrokes Saved My Dad's Dog's Life

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   melbelposted 12 years ago

   My dad has a miniature pinscher and regularly feeds him table scraps. For years we've been telling him, "You can't feed the dog people food, you're going to kill your dog. The dog is obese."
   
   Anyway, the other day the dog got very ill with stomach problems -- constipation and vomiting. My father took the dog to the vet and they said he was just constipated. They gave him pain medication, an iv, and some medicated dog food. The dog, Little Guy, seemed to do great. In the meantime, I came across a hub written by K9keystrokes... I didn't search for anything dog related, in particular, just stumbled across it during my daily HP routine. "10 Common People Foods that Can Kill Your Dog"
   http://k9keystrokes.hubpages.com/hub/Ar … r-Good-Dog
   
   I read that foods like cheese (one of the foods my dad feeds to his dog in large amounts) causes pancreatitis.
   
   Days later, the dog wouldn't walk, he was in a great deal of pain. He was taken to the vet again and they said he must have sprained his ankle and was given more medication. This is when I told my dad, "Hey, look into pancreatitis... it's strange that the dog all of a sudden won't walk after it was sick just a few days ago." He took the dog back to the vet and had them do blood work and sure enough the dog has pancreatitis. Little Guy is still in the hospital and it looks like he'll be just fine. If we'd continued to listen to the vet, "Oh, he's constipated, oh he sprained his ankle" who knows how the dog would be today. Instead, K9keystroke's hub made me really think about and look into pancreatitis.
   
   My dad has finally been scared out of feeding the dog table scraps and will give his dog the correct dog food when he arrives home. He really loves his dog... probably more than us kids (jk) so he's in pieces right now, but thanks for K9keystrokes hub, everything will be alright.
   
   A video of Little Guy taken this Spring. In this video we are showing how we can direct the dog to dig holes where we point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epdx9JUQK3w

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   AEvansposted 12 years ago

   Aahhhh that is a nice story and kudos to K9keystrokes! I wish the little guy all of the best.

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   paradigmsearchposted 12 years ago

   Her "10 Common People Foods that Can Kill Your Dog"  hub is one that I facebooked. It would be nice if others did the same to get the word out.
   
   http://k9keystrokes.hubpages.com/hub/Ar … r-Good-Dog

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      K9keystrokesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks so much...*blush-blush*

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      melbelposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I don't have Facebook, but I'll definitely tweet the hub. It's the least I could do!

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      homesteadboundposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I facebooked it this morning.

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   K9keystrokesposted 12 years ago

   Wow. I am SOOO pleased that Little Guy is getting the proper care he deserves. Kudos to you for taking the extra steps to help your Dad manage the situation and insisting on added tests for his little friend. This truly warms my heart and humbles me beyond words that you credit my hub with his rescue. It is pet owners like you that make the difference. Your kind tribute makes all the work worth it. Please keep me posted on how LG is doing and when he gets released from the hospital. Wishing you all a long healthy and happy life together.
   
   HubHugging both melbel and her dad and snuggling Little Guy of course!
   K9

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   earnestshubposted 12 years ago

   Now here is a real feel good thread, congratulations all round.
   
   We have a house full of pets, and this warmed my heart.

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   Cardisaposted 12 years ago

   These are the stories that make HP a great place.I am sure there are many people who have gotten help just reading another person's hub. I love happy stories and happy endings.

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      Sally's Troveposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I agree, Cardisa. This thread highlights the best of what online community means. I would never have found K9keystrokes's Hub if it were not for this thread. I have since commented on the Hub and fb'd it, too.

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   Cagsilposted 12 years ago

   Good to hear.
   
   WTG K9!

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      K9keystrokesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Cags~

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   Maddie Ruudposted 12 years ago

   What a fantastic story.  I'm going to suggest a blog post about it to Simone, so look out for an email from her.
   
   I'm a sucker for doggie stories with happy endings.

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      K9keystrokesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Maddie, you are the coolest!

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   schoolgirlforrealposted 12 years ago

   This is really great! I've found so much help here too. Awesome K9 that you were able to save the dog's life it appears!
   
   Such a great story
   
   
   This is a reminder to KEEP HUBBING & READING !!

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    livelongerposted 12 years ago

    How wonderful!
    
    I've shared both K9's and habee's Hubs on what not to feed dogs with my parents, who have 2 dogs they love very much.

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       K9keystrokesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I agree LL, habee's hub on the subject (like all of her hubs) is awesome! Her advice regarding dogs, liver, and baby food, is NOT to be missed.

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    holisticpuppyfoodposted 12 years ago

    Wow great little story, glad little guy is ok, Just goes to show vets don't know everything, sometimes they need help too!!!

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    schoolgirlforrealposted 12 years ago

    Just a wonderful story. I'm glad you found the article and kudos to you K9
    
    
    

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    cardeleanposted 12 years ago

    Hitting the "like" button!  I too will be sharing it on FB!  Great job. 

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    melbelposted 12 years ago

    Due to a med error, Little Guy's situation worsened yesterday afternoon. (After his pancreas started to improve, he was accidentally given food... which is not to be done until a dog is stabilized. This worsened the pancreatitis and caused damage to his liver.) It was an honest error, but nonetheless we're devastated.
    
    Instead of letting him suffer from a situation where he was unable to improve, my parents made the difficult decision to have him put to sleep. He was buried in his favorite spot along with his toys. My dad is in pieces, but hopefully, in time he will heal.
    
    I'm sorry the story, which was originally very positive, ended this way. That said, k9keystrokes' hub is still incredibly helpful and I'm still glad we came across it. This story really stresses the importance of knowing what and what you should not feed your pets.

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       cardeleanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         So sorry...

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       Barbara Kayposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I don't think I'd take another dog to that vet. I am sorry to hear this. It is so hard to lose a beloved pet.

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          melbelposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Yeah, we are very angry about the vet's mistakes. We don't want to make waves with complaints, but instead, are just moving to another vet.

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    Mighty Momposted 12 years ago

    RIP Little Guy.
    Sorry for your dad's loss, Melbel.
    K9keystrokes -- well done!
    
    Great story!

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    K9keystrokesposted 12 years ago

    melbel, I can in no way tell you just how sorry I am for this horrific loss. Life is full of imperfections, errors, and risks; fortunately once in a while we get to share in some very deep-felt love our dog graciously and unconditionally offers up to his human companions. This in no way relieves the pain of a beloved friends absence, but it can leave us with memories that remind us of a warm k9 inspired smile.
    My thoughts, hugs, and best wishes go out to you and your family. Your difficult decision was most compassionate.
    
    Thank you for bravely sharing your story.
    RIP Little Guy
    HubHugs~
    K9

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    mistyhorizon2003posted 12 years ago

    This is such sad news, I know how awful it is to lose a dog or a cat no matter what the circumstances. I wrote a hub once called 'My Beloved Dog Died Yesterday' which expressed how I felt when our dog died. What good did come out of it was the many people who did, (and still do), voice their own experiences of pet bereavements. Hopefully some of those comments, as well as the wonderful verses like 'Rainbow Bridge' in the hub, help other bereaved owners to deal with the pain they are going through. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

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    homesteadboundposted 12 years ago

    So sorry for your loss. I was there cheering through this whole hub...

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    Mark Ewbieposted 12 years ago

    What a great thread, story and result.  Definitely worth a blog post or whatever HP can do.
    
    I'm working my way through my hubs to see if any of them have saved people's lives... not found much so far.

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