Monday, April 28, 2008

Chuck


Chuck is sick.



Really quite sick. He has been infected with a disease that affects dogs. It is a warm climate illness that exists around the Med, the southern US, throughout central and south America, Africa and Asia.

He is a most unwell puppy at the moment. It is not contagious to humans, and it must be vectored through a mosquito for several days before it is transmittable. He will carry it for the rest of his life, and whenever he is ill or stressed it is likely to flare up.

He has pain, discomfort, joint ache, fever and he is tired.

The medication seems to be working though, and yours truly is giving him an injection every day along with pills. He seems to be in less pain, as in he will walk up and down the stairs and is willing to sit again. He also has some more energy, but nothing like normal. He is interacting with us more as well and has retained his sweet and patient disposition throughout. If anyone knows some way to stop a dog from licking at cuts that would be great...he has a couple of open sores that he will. not. leave. alone. I need to put anti-biotic cream on them, he views it as a light snack and tries to lick it off my fingers before I even get near the sores.

The disease is potentially fatal for dogs, but we have caught it early, and if we have any luck at all the medication will work, and he will be fine; on pills for the rest of his life, but fine. Fortunately the meds are cheap here.

Poor pup.

12 comments:

Beth said...

I am so sorry to hear about Chuck. That poor puppy. (Major is not doing well right now either but that is due to old age.)
Other than that cone-like contraption worn at the neck, I don't know of any other way to keep a dog from licking open sores. My sister's dog is currently wearing one.
If you can't find one there, you can try making one. We did, years ago, from a plastic bucket.
But he will be even more miserable wearing one of those things!
Hope he's feeling better soon.

elPadawan said...

I feel sorry for Chuck. Good thing you caught it early, too

mmichele said...

poor honey. he looks like such a sweetie.

Mother Theresa said...

Poor thing, he looks so sad in that picture. I'm sorry to hear he's so sick. Is it leishmaniasis? The only way I can think of to keep him from licking his sores is one of those plastic collars. Maybe a few days would be enough for them to heal, but I would feel sorry adding that to his misery. Hope he'll be feeling better soon.

Angel said...

awwwww...Poor Chuck! and Poor You for having to give him shots and medicine for the rest of his life. That stinks.

Give him a big hug for me cuz you know I loves me some chuck.

oreneta said...

Beth, sorry about Major...it is rather wrenching isn't it...I'll wait on the bucket, he's got enough issues right now...the vet recommended pepper around the cut, he seems to like it.

elPadawan, thanks...and yes it is a good thing.

Michele, he is a sweety, and he is doing better so far.

Mother Teresa, yes it is leishmaniasis...d*mn it....however it can be managed anyway.

Beth, consider him hugged...the shots are only for the next few weeks hopefully, the pills...forever, well, his forever...it does suck.

Lynda said...

Hey! I have left comments on your blog that are missing... like my 'poor chuck' comment... where do they go? Cyber space has a black-sock hole...

oreneta said...

Lynda, it is so true..I have gone back to other blogs and not found my published comments. I didn't delete you, I promise...

Anonymous said...

Poor dog. I usually put hot sauce, like tabasco sauce somewhere near the cut, on the fur and such. It works for my little terrier cross who will obsessively lick any cut.

oreneta said...

Kim, I'll try it, thank you so much....

Anonymous said...

Wow, poor Chuck. I hope is is doing better. Depending where the cut is, we have bandanged it with old clean socks.

oreneta said...

Dawn, unfortunately he can chew on it, and there is NO WAY he would let old clean socks stay on....no way.