“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
Today is rainy but a dripping rain without any wind. It is the sort of day I’ve always loved. When I was a kid, I’d get home from school, take off my uniform and put on my pajamas as I knew I didn’t need my play clothes. I’d get cozy in bed and read the whole rest of the afternoon because upstairs was always quiet before dinner. The TV held everyone else’s attention. It was a wonderful alone time for me and my book.
Yesterday I had quite the scare, actually I am still worried. I was in the den when I heard something fall then I heard it again so I ran into the living room. Gracie was lying on the floor. Her eyes were wide with fright. I immediately grabbed her around the belly and picked her off the floor holding her so her feet were on the floor but I was keeping her standing. If I needed to, I was ready to carry her to the car, all 60 pounds of her. I was talking to her the whole time. She was shaking, and I told her to stop. She did. I walked her still holding on so she would know her legs could hold her. She started walking by herself. I checked and saw nothing wrong with her face, as in a stroke, or her legs and feet. I called my vets, and they told me to bring her right away. I ran upstairs to get dressed and Gracie followed and jumped on the bed to wait. She came downstairs on her own when I did. We went to the car. The vet saw nothing wrong but was keeping her for a while to do some tests. We speculated, the vet and I. The rug was a mess so she might have been going too fast and slid on the wooden floor to the rug. I’ve seen her feet slide before when she is fast-moving. The vet gave me a few other optimistic reasons. They did three tests, and the vet had the results of two: blood work and x-rays were fine. She’ll call today with the results of the third test.
My friend Tony, Uncle Tony to Gracie, knew I was supposed to go to dinner with some other friends so he volunteered to stay here with Grace to make sure she was okay. I couldn’t have been more thankful. When I got home, both he and Gracie were asleep: Tony in the chair and Gracie sprawled on the couch. He said she was fine all evening.
This morning was like every other morning. Gracie waited while I opened the front door so she could check the neighborhood, she then went to the back door and waited again. I opened it and she went out. When she came back in via the dog door, she wanted her morning treats. She is now having her morning nap on the couch snoring away with her head on a pillow. The vet hasn’t called yet.
Gracie will be nine in two weeks. My other boxers had just turned 8 when they passed away. I keep a close eye on Miss Gracie. I hope the last test is as good as the first two.
Today is a wait for the call day, but if we have time, we’ll go to the dump. Gracie will like that.
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November 6, 2014 at 12:44 pm
What a day – the have just announced that the Detroit Lions will be playing Uncle Eric’s Kansas City Chiefs at Wembley next year, Bette’s summer concert tour is ready, my son in law to be passed the bar and Spurs are on Fox in 10 minutes
November 6, 2014 at 12:48 pm
My Dear Hedley,
Ethan will start packing his bag. He can wear a Chiefs’ jersey and you can represent your home town team.
Passing the bar-kudos! Why are the Spurs on this time of day on a Thursday?
November 6, 2014 at 1:20 pm
Ethan is on the way to see Uncle Eric next week against the Seahawks at Arrowhead.
Tottenham are playing some scuffy team from Cyprus in the Europa League
November 6, 2014 at 1:28 pm
MDH,
But England! I mean Arrowhead is just Arrowhead.
Go Tottenham!
November 6, 2014 at 4:08 pm
Tottenham won 2-1 at a stroll
Maggie the Westie is pushing on 12 and definitely showing some age. Sleeps much more, not out of bed when I get her in the morning and has reduced her bullying for car rides. We love our doggies and we look after them
November 6, 2014 at 4:15 pm
MDH,
Glad to hear our team won!
Small dogs tend to have longer lives. They say Boxers are 8-10 though the dog I grew up with was 14.
We do love our doggies!
November 6, 2014 at 12:51 pm
Thinking of you and Gracie. xxx
November 6, 2014 at 12:53 pm
Thanks, Annie!! I’m worried-Gracie just naps!
November 6, 2014 at 1:11 pm
I hate when things like that happens! I wan’t normal until weeks after something similar happened to old Erna. We were out walking when she suddenly collapsed, she couldn’t keep her balance and I was sure she had a stroke. Minutes later she walked around like nothing had happened 🙂 I wasn’t sure if I should be angry or happy 🙂
We took all kinds of tests on her too and the x-ray. No problems in any but the vet guessed that she might had a problem in the lumbar area so she got a medicine called Metacam and after that she was like new again, well as new one can be at the age of eleven and a half 🙂
I’m glad she’s been fine since then and I do hope it continues that way!
We did finally get some snow this morning but it was so little that no signs can bee seen that it ever has been here, that’s my kind of snow fall 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
November 6, 2014 at 1:38 pm
Christer,
Por Gracie must feel stalked. I keep checking on her to make sure she’s breathing. I hope the solution is as easy as old Erna’s was. A medicine would be easy. Yesterday was so expensive I just hope everything is okay.
Thanks-I too hopes she stays this way.
That would be my sort of snow as well!!!
Enjoy your evening!
November 6, 2014 at 1:47 pm
Oh heavens! A post that hit me like an arrow through the heart! My dear darling Levi had a funny bump under his coat last week. Parting his fur, we found a mast cell tumor. I rushed him to the vet, and now we wait for the meds to take effect, the labs to come back, my heart to stop racing. I know how you feel. Our Golden is only 3, but I catch myself thinking about dog hospice and trolling the AKC ads for a replacement. My life wouldn’t be the same without his kind eyes and grubby feet! xoxo to your Gracie from Levi
November 6, 2014 at 1:58 pm
Mom,
I am so sorry for you and Levi. May the labs give you a sense of security that all will be well and the meds work quickly.
My last Boxer, the lovely Maggie, had cardiomyopathy and a bill of $10,000, but she died a month after she came home from Angel Memorial. I couldn’t be without a dog so I then started the hunt for another Boxer and found Miss Gracie in Maine.
I think about trying Boxer rescue. My two cats are rescues. They were five when I chose them and they are now almost 16.
Gracie and I are sending healing prayers to Levi!!
November 6, 2014 at 1:50 pm
I’m hoping you’ve had the call from the vet and that the news was good. Thinking of you both!
November 6, 2014 at 2:02 pm
Thanks, sprite.
No call yet. Yesterday she called around three so I’m thinking then.
November 6, 2014 at 2:16 pm
Give Gracie a pat on the head and a scratch on the bottom from me. You might think about making a dump run even if you don’t need to. You know how much she likes that and it might just perk her up!
November 6, 2014 at 2:25 pm
im6,
I do need a dump run-the car trunk is almost filled. I’m just hoping to hear from the vet before we go. I wouldn’t want to miss her call if there are things I need to know.
I’ll give Gracie that pat and she loves the area in front of her stub tail scratched. Consider it done!
She seems her self-even just stared at me, the sign it was time to eat for her. She emptied the bowl!
November 6, 2014 at 4:45 pm
this kind of stuff is way too scary. it doesn’t take us long to forget about any mess or accident when this sort of thing crops up. we drove to Washington with the cat in the car with us. his vet had given us tranqs for him. I think I could’ve have used them, we didn’t give him any at all.
November 6, 2014 at 5:58 pm
Greg,
I have had little on my mind since yesterday afternoon. It is way too scary. Actually I have been watching her for a year. My other Boxers were 8 when they died so I have been afraid for Gracie.
The cat story I’ll give you is when my parents moved off Cape. Their cat, Max, was given tranquilizers as she hated the car, but that cat howled the entire hour and forty five minutes. The tranquilizer worked just as they turned onto their new street. She was out for a long while lying on the bed. My mother said it was the worse car ride of her life.
November 6, 2014 at 5:08 pm
Hi Kat,
That’s a scare. I hope the vet has called with good news by now. Waiting for important calls is a pain and a worry. I only give the cell phone number now because that phone is always where I am.
Rocky is 5 1/2 now. Still young. He sleeps so quietly when he’s curled up in the corner of the couch that I often put my hand on him to check that he’s breathing. He doesn’t even twitch a whisker when I do that. Not the same with Piki Dog. No matter how deeply asleep he is, as soon as I touch him he unfolds like a furry flower and rolls onto his back so that whoever is out there touching him can scratch his belly. And, yes, he is still asleep when he does that. 🙂
Sounds like Gracie is acting normally. I hope that all the news is good.
Have a good evening.
November 6, 2014 at 5:54 pm
Hi Caryn,
Gracie has an irregular heartbeat which could have caused her to fall or even faint. She is going to be on Omega 3 Fish Oil and 1 pill a day. In 10 days she’ll be tested again.
I do the same thing when I can’t hear Gracie’s breathing. Boxers have a life expectancy of 8-10 so I am very cautious and nervous.
I think it was good news, but I’ll wait until the next test to make sure.
Have a great night!
November 7, 2014 at 7:51 pm
Sending the very best to you and Gracie.
November 7, 2014 at 7:55 pm
Thank you, Lori!!