Friday, October 25, 2013

Joy and temperance and repose slam the door on the doctors nose.



 

Sophie steadfastly refuses to leave the back of the car. There's no fooling her. She's lifted  down and carried into the hospital. '' Can't she walk ? " asks the worried vet. '' Only on the way out " replies 'the font'.

A morning of tests. Sophie sleeps through most of them. ( The vets here ask the owner to be present to calm the patient ). The outcome is that the poison mushroom has inflamed her organs. On the ultrasound the oesophagus, liver, kidneys, heart and  stomach all visibly irritated and swollen. This is what's causing her pain and confusion. She's lost two and a half kilos in weight.  The good news is that the full 'detox' the local vet gave her on Wednesday afternoon prevented her from fully ingesting the toxins. This saved her. A course of strong antibiotics and she should be fine. 

Bob is mightily relieved when his sister returns home . He is somewhat miffed that he gets given kibbles while his sister gets fish and rice. We once again find ourselves being thankful for caring vets.






43 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness she's home! We've all been on tenterhooks. Get well, dear Sophie.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Oh, so happy I checked before turning out the light. Now I can sleep.
Thanks Goodness for your quick response to her trouble.
She's quite a handful, that one.
Though, maybe it's just girls. Apple ate a small bag of chocolate yesterday morning which required vet advice. And yesterday afternoon she took off after a rabbit, going faster than a cartoon character. She's still limping tonight. We're praying it's just a sprain. Sigh.
Edward, ever the calm gentleman, is fine.
xoxo

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Can only walk on the way out! We identify with that. Hope those antibiotics help.

XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

Emm said...

Whew! That sound you hear is people around the world ceasing to hold their breath and instead start cheering. Extra ear scritches for both Bob and Sophie.
Although don't count on her remembering and learning from this. Not if she's about mushrooms the way my dogs are about skunks.

The Life of Riley said...

I'm so pleased to read that Sophie is going to be OK, but hope that Bob gets at least one fish and rice dinner (or at least fish and rice added to his kibble) to celebrate his sister coming home from the vets in Toulouse.

JacksDad said...

Thank you for letting us know the good news.

Angels have Red Hair said...

Oh ... that's good news ... I've been so worried about the beautiful, sweet girl.

Louise said...

She should be fine. Wonderful wonderful words.

Anonymous said...

So happy and relieved to hear this!
Bev & Roo

rottrover said...

Good job, Sophie! Now we can sleep tonight, too.

Anonymous said...

I counted. 42 new grey hairs on my head - due to SOPHIE's latest escapade. However, very happy and very very relieved to hear the good news!

Wishfully Thinking said...

Phew too

Anonymous said...

What a relief. Thank goodness for exemplary veterinary care.
I'll be glad when it's too cold for mushrooms.
x

Jean said...

Not just caring vets but caring, observant and diligent owners.
I wonder how many other dogs have eaten poisoned mushrooms and suffered a much less happy outcome.
I'm so pleased she's on the mend. It was a close call.

Angus said...

Pure luck. If she'd eaten it in the late afternoon , rather than the morning, we wouldn't have seen the symptoms develop and had a chance for her to be detoxed and rehydrated in time.

So far on our trip across Europe we've learnt about poisoning ( Italian hunters who wrapped up popison in chicken and leave them in hedges for foxes to eat ), processionary caterpillars ( twice ) with their tongue and mouth destroying hairs, poisonous toads, snake bites, deer ticks ( they finished off Digby ) and razor sharp seeds that get snared in the nostrils and ingested into the lungs ( Digby ). Scotland was dull, and safe, by comparison. We had a briliant German vet in Italy and are fortunate in having an equally brilliant vet here in France. Things could have been so different.

Julie said...

That's great news, so pleased for you all.
You are so lucky with your vets.
I hope you didn't list the other poisoning items in front of Sophie just in case she sees it as a 'to do' list, done poisonous toads, magic mushrooms, now what's next !

Molly the Airedale said...

We hope the antibiotics do the trick and you'll be back to 100% in no time at all, Sophie!

Love ya lots♥
Mitch and Molly

Fat Dormouse said...

Wonderful to hear that Sophie is getting better. Thank goodness for good vets. Our local vet is a small animal killer (we know of three that he was responsible for) but we have found another about 15 km away who is great with the kitties. Look after everyone, Angus!

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Good news at the end of the week! I am also grateful for competent caring competent vets that were there when Sophie needed them, and am in total agreement with 'Jean's' words about you and 'the font' as dog-owners.

fleurlilian said...

You kept us all superworried all the day... so happy for the good news!!!!!!! A vet is a family friend and doctor for me!!!! Love from Southern Italy Susanne, Daisy and Kiri

Whispering Walls said...

So they're on leads until the end of the mushroom season?

VirginiaC said...

I couldn't wait to read your blog today for news of Sophie....oh thank goodness that she will be okay.
It's good to see her out and about again with her brother.
She gave us all a fright. I'm sure the vet's Christmas gift will be the biggest this year!!!

kks said...

wow, so glad she is on the mend!
xoxo

Angus said...

With her eat anything approach to life ; longer.

Sheila said...

Thank goodness. So many hazards in the world for
curious puppies. Sophie's now an official member
of the CC's no doubt.

Lisa Daria said...

The New Yorker's Maira Kalman illustrated and wrote a book about her dog called "What Pete Ate from A to Z." Pete has eaten many things (a whole alphabet worth, apparently) including her Leica camera. . . hopefully Sophie grows out of this type of curiosity soon - I know the worry all too well and am very happy she's better.

MLou said...

Is there a patron saint just for dogs? Sophie is definitely under someone's watchful eye. So glad that she is OK.

Anonymous said...

Goodness, our prayers were answered. Do you have any idea where she got the mushroom and what it looked like before she sampled it? Sophie is like a cat with 9 lives, and to think you thought she was the "calm one" when you picked them up! So glad everyone came thru the situation intact.
Karen & Kelly Rathje
Iowa USA

10NISNE1 said...

Huge relief to wake up this morning and learn that Sophie will survive!

Anonymous said...

Great News!!! Hopefully this coming weekend will be a safe and calm one for your family. :)
Keep getting stronger Miss Sophie. Answered Prayers.

Yogi

houndstooth said...

I'm so glad to hear that she'll be alright! Here's hoping that she'll stay away from that fungus in the future!

Jo's World said...

Doubt that hoping will keep her away from anything she likes the look/smell of. Perhaps for a while a muzzle will work (the name I couldn't think of the other morning). She won't like it much but will probably make up for it in rolling in what ever eau de Pup she finds appealing. How long does mushroom season last?

Jo in MN

Anonymous said...

Yeah! Sophie's on the mend. Totally admire the "eat anything" approach to life--such vim, such vigour--but be careful there puppy! Best wishes for a continued recovery from the Canadian east coast reader and for some treats for Bob from Hamish-the-Westie (who says cheese goes down quite nicely, thanks).

Anonymous said...

Being on a lead when she is outside sounds like a necessity. We hope that Sophie's urge to ingest everything gets under control as she matures. This was terrifying for you, the Font and for all of us.

Nicole said...

Thank heavens for the local vet! So glad that darling Sophie should be feeling better soon. Here's to wet noses and slobbery kisses!

Jean said...

I suspect Bob would have alerted you if Sophie's symptoms had started during the night.

Anonymous said...

Dear Angus, You and 'The Font' know more about vets than anyone should have to. Thank you for taking so much time to share life in France profonde with those two imps; I can tell Sophie has had a good day (for her) when I see those lovely dirty paws - she sure loves to dig!! I await eagerly to hear their latest adventures, but this week has been a tough one worrying about Sophie. Here's hoping for her quick return to good health. Best to you all. Cathy

Robin Larkspur said...

Hurray for great vets and quick treatment. Hugs and a glass raised to you all!! So happy about this wonderful outcome.

Fi from Four Paws and Whiskers said...

Thats such great news.... As a vet i am Impressed at your vets attitudes and great treatment Angus. The use of the post Spey t shirt, having owners remain with the pet are great to hear. Local knowledge really helps too. I am not impressed at the range of lethal risks you face all the time! I'll stay down here where it is safe, but not dull...

Jake of Florida said...

We are so glad to hear this. But how on earth are you going to protect Sophie from herself? You certainly have had more than your share of nature''s little traps for the innocent.

xxxx Joan and Just Harry

lyon de clarasvals said...

Hugs and scratches to them both. What a relief this news is.

fleurlilian said...

I have the same "approach" on Ischia where rat-poison is everywhere in the countryside ...

KB said...

Oh no... we've experienced the same thing with K. Her pancreas sustained permanent damage. I hope with all my heart that Sophie completely recovers.

The news that Sophie walks "only on the way out" of the vets made me chuckle!