"RUFF Day"

It has been miserably hot throughout the United States the past months...especially here in Texas. As I have mentioned, we have had record highs and for record lengths of time. Today was like a 29th or so consecutive day in the three digits. It's on the national news daily along with the precautions that people should be taking with their children, their health and their neighbors etc...These warnings should and HAVE included pets....
Today, after lunch, we received a frantic call from one of our patients that had a large golden lab..a big dog...not in the best of health, but doing okay. Her name was Blue. She had taken her for a walk...and only 20 minutes into the walk, she noticed her tired and panting, so she stopped to rest her in the shade, then walked her home. That's when she stroked out. Her body got too hot, she began panting and drooling terribly, collapsed to the ground and stroked out...she (owner)somehow picked her over 90 pound body up and got her into her car where she drove her frantically to our office. Two of our techs ran out and carried her into our hospital room where immediately nurses, techs, and doctors were putting IV's in her and hosing her down with cold water. Her temperature was over 110'. Dr Anderson told me later that most dogs are considered 'brain fried' at anything over 107'. For 30 minutes, they tried to save this dog...it killed me looking at the dog struggling desperately to keep breathing...panting SO deeply for every breath it could get...eyes glazed over...The owner was informed of the seriousness of the situation and a decision needed to be made, with our doctor encouraging the owner to end the suffering of the animal. IT WAS HEART WRENCHING to watch that owner sob over the body of her dog..her pet...her family member and have to say 'goodbye' while apologizing for killing her on the walk. UGH! I cried...and left the room.
Just a few hours later, our office manager Heather, had to also say 'goodbye' to her beloved Max. Max was a 4yr old beautiful German Shepherd that Heather and her family had brought into their family when Max was just a few weeks old. Over the years, Max started to show a few signs of aggression under certain circumstances...with the last incident being last week when he happened to bite one of our doctors at the office when being put under anesthesia for a dental procedure. It was causing Heather and her family some great concern and worry to realize that Max could no longer be considered safe around others outside of family. But more than that, Heather felt that there truly was something 'off' with Max's mind...that he wasn't quite 'well', or 'whole'. So, for the safety of others and for Max's well being, she felt it was best to 'put him down'.
This was a decision she had to make a few days ago but couldn't have performed until today when it had been the appropriate length of time since his last 'attack' and he had been cleared of rabies by the city. So, today was the day. It has been a very long and emotional week for Heather. There have been many tears...many laughs as she has remembered some of her good memories with him too. Along with her husband, her children have also been struggling with the decision...so, to help them cope, they have done a few things with Max, 'out of the ordinary'...like, allowing him to swim in the pool...giving him a can of beer last night...'for the road'...and a cookie at the office just before he was put to sleep. The medication used to 'put the animal to sleep' is called 'the red juice'. Heather even joked about him getting the 'red juice today'...all in trying to not have a break down...
But she did...not as bad as I thought she would, but bad enough. She brought him and took him into a room where she was joined by her husband Rick. They said their goodbyes...and then Heather left the room while Rick stayed and was joined by one of our techs Christy who was a good friend of the family too. They watched and comforted Max while Dr Lass administered 'the red juice'....then Max went to sleep.
Heather left immediately afterwards with her husband and went home to mourn in private.
The rest of us cried together at the office.

They're just animals...pets wanting to be loved and cared for. They don't know the 'do's' or 'don'ts' of life...they just know that living and loving makes them very happy. And it's our job as humans to find them and love them...care for them and give them food, home and love.
I came home and gave Lacey an extra love and hug.
I hope she knows I love her....