Poor little Hudson

[Kristin & Hudson]

My DH had to rush Hudson to the vet today because he was drooling, lethargic, and swaying.  We think he ingested something toxic.  Apparently my landlord put fertilizer down the day we brought Hudson home and didn't tell us!!!!!  I am so angry right now.  He told us he put weed killer down on the concrete to prevent the weeds from growing in the cracks but NEVER mentioned the fertilizer on the lawn!!  When we called to ask him if he put anything on the grass he said he put the fertilizer down but didn't realize it was toxic.  I thought everybody knew that, but I guess not!  The funny thing is that in the six years we have lived here he has never used fertilizer.  I don't know what possessed him to do it now!!!! 

 

Hudson is at the vet now. :( He didn't have a temperature and his coloring was good but the blood work showed that he had elevated nitrogen levels in his blood.  I think they were going to give him charcoal.  They have him on an IV now too.  The vet said the nitrogen is probably from the fertilizer but they did call the poison control center.  She also mentioned another possible cause of elevated nitrogen called a liver shunt.  But I looked that up and that seems to affect the smaller breeds and he hasn't been displaying any of the other symptoms.  He was also one of the larger pups from his litter and not the runt.  So hopefully it is just the chemicals that are causing this.  The vet said he should be fine from this.  I hope so!!!!  I would hate for him to have any permanent damage from this.  I've only had him 5 days and he's only 9 weeks old, poor little guy.

 

So now we are desperately trying to get rid of the fertilizer on the lawn.  We are watering it now but the company said it will take 3 weeks to fully get rid of it.  Where is Hudson going to go potty now???

 

While I'm typing this the vet just called and said he is doing better.  We have to go pick him up at 7:30 and at that time she will have a better idea if he needs to stay at an emergency hospital overnight.  Fingers crossed for the little guy.  

 

Sorry for the long post, but did anyone else experience anything similar and how is your dog now?

 

Thank you for any advice you guys have.

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am very sorry to hear this. In general, many products used on lawns and gardens are not good for animals or us. I think the best course is try to be as much an organic gardener as possible.

[Kristin & Hudson]

Yes, DH and I are organic gardener's.  My landlord allows us to have a garden here and we never use any chemicals in it.  But we don't take care of the lawn my landlord does.  I really don't know what possessed him to use the fertilizer because he has never done this before.  It's just so frustrating.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

What ever happened to bending over and pulling up weeds???   

This is upsetting.   I'm so sorry to hear your new puppy is this ill.

It is spring, maybe the POISON GROUP should be the featured group of the month.   Mulch, fertilizers, mushrooms- good grief.

Let us know how things go the next few days.

[Kristin & Hudson]

I know, just pull out the weeds!  We take much better care of this place than the landlord does.  We will spend our time weeding and cleaning up around here because he doesn't and it annoys us.  Luckily though, we are actually moving on May 1st.  So we only have to deal with this for another month but in the mean time I don't know what to do about walking Hudson.  I know your not supposed to walk a puppy yet but maybe I can take him on the sidewalk a few houses down where there are patches of grass.  I don't know if he will go on the concrete.  I usually take him out to go and then we play in the yard for about 15 minutes.  Guess I will have to move that playtime inside.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Take Hudson potty where your garden is, silly.  You said you don't use chemicals, you are moving May 1st, so what do you care if the garden gets ruined?

[Kristin & Hudson]

I wish I could but he put grass seed down and has it covered.  Since we are moving he is getting rid of the garden.

[F, Calla & Luca]

That would be the Danger Group and there is lots of information, though not all inclusive, there on all manner of toxic and other dangerous things

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Very good idea Joanne!!

[Carol and Banjo]

I'm so happy to know that Hudson is going to be alright.....this must have been very scary for you!   Is there somewhere you'll be able to walk him for a few weeks?

[Kristin & Hudson]

So scary.  We are just beside ourselves over this.  We feel so bad for him and feel so guilty about this.  We haven't even had him a full week yet!!  I have to figure out where I can take him.  I have to see if he will go on the concrete, not sure if he will.

[Carol and Banjo]

Kristen please don't blame yourself for this...it sounds like you took precautions...how in the world would you know.   I forgot that he's still a wee little guy and you have to be careful where you bring him.  That is a challenging period of time.  Are there a lot of dogs in your neighborhood?  If there aren't it is probably fine to curb him.    Also, although he hasn't gone on the concrete....if that's the only option you give him he may use that....maybe if you found some "old" poo and put a bit there (?)   Just a thought.   Wishing you the best!

[Kristin & Hudson]

Thank you.  There aren't that many dogs in our neighborhood so he should be fine.  But I'll ask the vet what she suggests when we go pick him up.  He just hasn't had all of his vaccinations yet, that's what worries me.  There is some old poo on the grass maybe that will help him go on the concrete.  Great idea!