I think most of you follow me on FB, but if you don't then you don't know that yesterday by dog/best friend/buddy died under some pretty bad circumstances. I'm missing a piece of my soul now and I don't think anything will EVER be quite the same again. He was my everything and we had been through Hell together for 13 years. I miss him terribly.
Four days ago, he was fine. I took him to the vet because that evening he wasn't really interested in eating and when he'd get up and move around he'd pant like he was in pain. I took him to vet the next morning. She did xrays because she said his bladder felt full, but it wasn't. They took a pee culture and he had a UTI pretty bad so they sent me home with an Antibiotic (Baytril) and a pain killer (Rimadyl). They gave him a dose of the antibiotic at the vet. That evening I looked up the side effect for the drugs because I ALWAYS look for drug interactions before giving my pets anything at all. Well, the WEB MD said no interactions. And very little side effects were listed for either drug. Basically loss of appetitie, that sort of thing. I gave him the Rimadyl.
The nest day he was panting heavy when he moved and he threw up. I called the vet. They said, make sure he has food with his medicine. They told me to come and get some food they had there and feed him with a syringe. That morning I picked up the food, fed him even though he didn't want it like they SAID to and gave him the antibiotic. I did not give him another dose of the pain pill because something felt 'off' to me. I called the vet back. I told her: he is breathing REALLY strange and I want to bring him in. They said: wait until 3. It was noon. I said, should I take him to an emergency vet closer to me? They said no, just come in at 3. I Trusted these people. After all, they are vets right?
So, deciding something just really was not right I decided to just take him anyway early and see if they would see him. I put him in the car. I drove 2 blocks and my BEST FRIEND died in the back seat of my car while I was driving. I was in traffic and I couldn't even stop and hold him. I knew there was a vet that my friend worked at about half a block away. I rushed there, hoping something could be done. They rushed out and carried him in and the Dr there tried to help but he was gone.
Devistation. That's all I can say.
Later I called the vet and told her I wasn't bringing him in and that he had passed away. The lady on the phone said "oh sorry".
"Oh, sorry"
Yeah, I bet.
Later that night I still feel like something is off. I look up the drugs again and find that Rymadyl should NOT be given to dogs with any kind of bladder, kidney, urinary issues- such as a sever bladder/uti infection. It can cause all kinds of problems like inability to walk (which got 100 times worse after I had given him the drug), restlessness, heavy breathing, and DEATH. Also it should not be given to labs. My dog was a mix breed (most likely border collie and lab). There were tons of testimonials from pet owners on this drug having done horrible things to their pets.
DEATH.
At this moment I'm not sure if I'm just being crazy because of grief or if my vet killed my dog. At this moment I'm fuzzy headed. What I do know is when I took him there they should have done a better examination. He was breathing heavy when he moved. I expressly told them that several times while we were there. SEVERAL. I called them SEVERAL times and restated it again and again. I trusted their word. I feel like an idiot. I feel like I could have done more for him. I feel like I should have done more.
I will be finding a new vet for my other two dogs as soon as possible. I'm looking into a place now. If you have any suggestion please PM them to me.
For everyone who sent Zillah and I well wishes, thank you. For those of you who sent condolences, thank you as well. It touches my heart to see how much others care about my buddy.
Cherish your pets and ALWAYS ask questions about any drugs your vet gives you, do research.
