When things go wrong, and a dog gets hurt or becomes ill, doubt and guilt often follow. What did I do wrong? What should I have done differently?
Did I do this to my dog?
Every time I’ve been asking myself this question. Sometimes the answer was, maybe. If I knew all I know now, could Jasmine’s health have been better? Could we have avoided some of the things she had to face? Maybe. We made some mistakes, Jasmine’s veterinarians made mistakes. If all the mistakes could have been avoided, would it have made a difference?
Sometimes things are what they are regardless of what you do.
This is a true story; it happened to a friend of a friend:
He lived outside the city and drove to work daily. One morning his wife woke up in tears, urging him not to take the car to work. “I had a vivid dream in which you died in a car accident,” she cried. “Please do not take the car to work today.” The friend’s friend decided to oblige her. Not because he believed a dream could come true but to give her peace of mind. He took a train. He arrived in the city. Just as he was walking out of the train station, a passing car lost control and went flying off the road toward the building, pinning the doctor to the wall. He died instantly. Would he still be alive had he not been warned and taken the car?
With Jasmine, there were things I wish we had done differently. With JD, no matter how much I analyze things, everything was to his advantage.
JD came from a responsible breeder.
We got JD from a pup, hand-picked from a reputable breeder. The goal was getting the perfect buddy for Jasmine, and we wanted a healthy dog. We also specifically picked parents on a smaller side. His parents were healthy; both had a smaller and thinner constitution.
JD didn’t get neutered until he was over a year old.
Back then there was no science backing up such decision, but there was enough talk among breeders and holistic vets for us to decide to wait. Unlike Jasmine, who, at vet’s recommendation, got spayed very young, JD had the advantage of staying intact until his body matured.
JD was vaccinated but discriminately.
JD got his initial vaccines and one set of boosters. After that, other than the rabies vaccine, we chose to titer instead. Because of our dogs’ lifestyle, we did vaccinate against leptospirosis but that was it. He was getting his rabies vaccine only every three years.
JD had wellness exams semi-annually.
Twice a year JD would get a full physical exam, as well as urinalysis and bloodwork, done. We also tested for tick-borne diseases and heartworm regularly. He was on heartworm preventive but no other chemicals or meds.
JD was quite healthy, but when he did have an issue, he always got veterinary attention. When we found a bump on his leg, we did everything by the book.
JD was fed a high-quality diet.
Even though JD did best on kibble, he always only got top quality food. He got some fresh foods and home-made treats. No junk ever.
JD was slim.
We kept JD at optimal body score condition for most of his life. When he started having hip issues, we got him even thinner yet to help out the joints. He was kept thin, but his muscles were strong.
JD had a healthy mouth.
Dental exams were part of his wellness visits. JD’s mouth was healthy, and he got his teeth brushed daily. The one time he had a bad tooth we took care of it properly.
JD got plenty of exercise and time outside.
From day one JD was getting daily walks, time at the farm, and later, time at Jasmine’s ranch. He always got plenty of physical activity and fresh air. Ever since we moved to Jasmine’s ranch, he had at least two hours outside daily, accompanying Cookie and myself on our hunting expeditions.
We never used any chemicals around our dogs.
We don’t use dryer sheets. I only clean with vinegar or baking soda or, for really tough stains, enzyme-based cleaner. Our guys live as chemical-free lives as it gets in this time and age.
When the swelling on his head cropped up, we did work with a vet.
The diagnosis made sense and the treatment made sense. Everything looked great until it didn’t … When I look back, I can’t see one thing we should have done differently. And yet, he was only eight-and-a-half years old, and he’s gone. Within twenty-four hours he went from a happy dog to a train wreck. There was no warning. Everything was fine and then it wasn’t.
Sometimes, you can do everything right and have things go wrong anyway. Sometimes, you can take the train and still die in a car accident.
Further reading:
Things I Wish I Had Known When My Dog Died