A LONG, LONG Time Ago....We had to take Fudge to the Emergency Vet!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I have had this blog written for a long time, but I did not want people to think Fudge was sick now.  This happened shortly after we brought her home and goes to show that having a sick dog/puppy can be very scary. Since we have lots of new puppy owners, I thought it would be fun to share.

 

When Fudge was pretty small, she got sick. She stopped eating and drinking, was very lethargic, and I was beyond worried.  Now, we all know if a child or puppy is going to get really sick, most of the time it happens after the doctor’s office has closed or on the weekend. Fudge was no exception. The more she wouldn’t eat or drink, the more upset I became and some would say, irrational.  I was convinced Fudge was dying and my kids could not believe how I was acting. They will tell you I never coddled them as kids or got too worked up when they were not feeling well.  I kept telling everyone we needed to go to the emergency Vet with Fudge before it was too late. My husband was not overly concerned and said she probably had a bug and we should just wait it out. WAIT IT OUT……when my baby was at death’s door? My youngest daughter insisted on reminding me that I had never acted very worried when she was sick and went on to tell her dad that the last time she asked me to feel her head to see if she had a fever, I said, “What do I look like, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman?”  I told her we needed to focus on our Fudge right now, and we could take a trip down memory lane another day. 

 

Everyone thought we should wait, except me, so off we went to the after hours Vet clinic. We filled out the paperwork and when we went back to our room I told them that Fudge had gotten into my purse and I had found an empty gum wrapper. Bingo….now someone was taking me seriously. Sugar free gum can be very dangerous for a puppy, so they proceeded to run all kinds of tests, to rule out every possibility.  We waited for a bit and when the vet called us back to discuss the results, she had good news and bad news for us. The good news was that Fudge’s tests all came back normal and she probably just had a stomach bug. The bad news was that information cost us around $700.00.  As we left the office, my husband said, “Basically, we just got a $700 gas bill.”

How Could I Take a Chance with this Sweet Puppy??

[Donna K & Quincy]

Laurie, Luckily, he hasn't made a habit of it and it was only that one time.

@Bonnie, On more than one occassion my son expressed the wish that I wasn't a nurse and didn't work at a children's hospital. I was a stickler when it came to safety and would relate tales of accidents that happened to other kids. I think he felt he was being punished for others misdeeds. He was not allowed to ride or rollerblade without a helmet and he was never allowed a dirtbike. He did ask me to take his tonsils out once.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Laurie, Your response to Donna has me LOLing! I had to laugh at Donna's nurse perspective as opposed to the scared mother perspective. I needed more of that, I think.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Leslie!

Donna, It never ceases to surprise me what goes on up there in Canada :) Poor Quincy....getting stoned on mushrooms. I am glad he was fine and did not have to go into rehab or anything....LOL!! Maybe I had better come up there and get him. Things like that don't happen in PA :) Thank you for siding with me!!

[Leslie and Halas]

What an adorable Fudgy face! The peace of mind was worth the $700.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Laurie, That little Fudge face is just so darn adorable. I don't think you over reacted at all. I have a tendency to under react. Whenever my son complained about something and asked to go to the doctor (which of course was always on a weekend) I would tell him if I was taking him to the ER he darn well better have something wrong. I think it was a side effect of being a nurse.

When Quincy was a puppy and before DK, one evening he was acting a little strange, was very sleepy and wobbly and acted a little drunk or stoned. He wouldn't drink but would lick water from my fingers. I was really worried but he didn't seem to be in any distress. It was on a Sat night and I looked up the number of the vet and was ready to make the call. I got him up to go outside to pee and sat with him in my arms checking his heartbeat and breathing. After about an hour or so he started to come around and I stayed up and watched him for a few hours and he steadily got better. If he hadn't shown any improvement when he did I would have called the vet. He had been out with DH that day walking in the woods and I think he may have eaten some kind of mushroom or something. The poor little dood was stoned. In hindsight, I should have called the vet and I got lucky, I won't make the same mistake again. So better safe than sorry.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Elizabeth :)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Karen and Jane!!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Lisa!!

Joan, It happened AFTER I got insurance. I actually called the insurance company the first day we got her and I was driving home with Fudge. I think there was a 30 day waiting period, but luckily this happened after the wait.

Kaytlin, Bonnie, and Elizabeth, Thank you!

Jane, LOL..I hope she took you to the doctor when your leg was bent at that unlikely angle! With my mom, we had to have a fever :)

Pat, Thank you!

Lori, Thank you! You are so right about dogs not being able to tell you what the problem is...would sure help...LOL!

F, Thank you!! What's money, right?? LOL

Nicky, Thank you!! Fudge wants you to know she is a lady.....LOL!!

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Oh now that is a sweet baby face.....I would have done the same thing if it was my Bailey bug...

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Kiss kiss little bitty Fudge. Your Mama sure does love you!