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Pet related: Did I do the right thing?
OK, here's the preface. We have neighbors who have a jack russell terrier. They went on leave to visit family for 3-4 weeks and left her with a friend. Friend decides to take a trip herself, we're the "emergency back up" and wanted to know if we could keep her. Of course, we agree knowing this could happen.
She gets dropped off last night around 6:30, and messes on the floor. Very, very unlike her. Then again this morning. I let her and our dog out at 0515 and they both went to the bathroom. Came downstairs from getting ready around 0615 and she had messed again, but this time it was all bloody and icky. At this point, she's shaking, lethargic, and does not want to play. She wouldn't even take a treat.
I have no contact number for neighbors in the states, and email the lady who was keeping her. In the meantime, I make her an appt at the vet to be seen and have her stool examined. The vet thinks she is just having an upset tummy issue due to separation anxiety, and gave her a shot of something to calm her down and some probiotic paste to give 3x a day. It worked, and she is the playful dog we've always loved. I receive an email back from the first doggie babysitter who told me not to bring her to the vet since "they just overcharge anyway" and that I should just wait it out and see if it gets any worse.
Did I do the right thing? If I had left Hunter in someone's care and he was defecating blood, lethargic, and shaking all over, I would want him to be seen. Did I break pet protocol by having her checked out?
Re: Pet related: Did I do the right thing?
Of course you did the right thing. What if something awful had been wrong with the dog?!
Babysitter one sounds like a bum, tbh.
I would have done the same thing!! You are a good friend and a good pet parent to care enough to keep an eye on their dog like that!! I know if I was the owner I would want to know that the other doggie babysitter would have just let my dog be sick and uncomfortable and probably wouldn't ask them to pet sit again personally.
OMG, yes you did the right thing. Don't even question it. My dog was with a friend while I was in Korea, and she ended up having to be put down after I'd only been gone a month. Although I know my friend isn't truly to blame, I did blame her for a few months, and I know she blamed herself. She did delay taking the dog in b/c I was unreachable (was actually flying back from Hong Kong at the time, so really unreachable) b/c she was worried about cost even though she knew I'd do anything for my dog. I'm sure the owners, not the friend, would feel the same way. Bloody stool is always something to worry about.
ETA I'd still keep a really close eye. Apparently mine was lethargic and shaky the day they took her to the e-vet when it was already too late. Obviously my anecdote means nothing in your case when so many things can cause it, but her blood glucose was undetectable. Just watch closely, make sure the dog is eating, etc.
Pretty much this. You did the right thing. And that vet bill is pretty decent in my opinion.
The Dogs and Us
You totally did the right thing. When I leave the dog sitter always has numbers to the vet, ER vet and another friend (lives hour away) what will come and get the dogs if needed to take to her vet (which is one of the old school country vets).
I consider my fur-babies a big part of the family as I am sure most pet owners feel. I would be really mad and sad to know that I trusted someone to watch a member of the family and they let the sickness go on and maybe get worse.
I am sure you neighbor will be happy you didn't let her fur-baby suffer.
I just read your part about it being $60 and I've had my morning to ponder about this.
$60 is nothing. Seriously. I'm an overly cautious crazy person and I don't normally escape the vet's office for anything less than $250. If someone is peeing or pooping blood, I request urine or fecal analysis and normally a full blood panel (to compare against the baseline) so we can rule out infections. If a friend was watching my dog and took them to the vet and they were able to rule out life threatening issues and make my dog as comfortable as they could in the situation, that person would be my hero.
My concern is the dipshit who was watching the dog before you was brushing it off. That leads me to believe perhaps the dog was exhibiting these symptoms for a couple days before the dog came to you and the previous sitter just didn't do anything about it, then decided she was sick of cleaning up poop (and thinking potty accidents are normal) and then pawned her off on you. Perhaps the dog wouldn't have had blood in her stool had she been taken to the vet in a more timely manner.
Stan can tell you, I boarded my dogs at Camp Bow Wow last summer and saw on the webcam that Rudi wasn't eating (big separation anxiety issues). I sobbed because I knew he was upset. I wish they had the staffing to have someone go sit in his room to keep him company, but I know it's just not feasible. Had his problems elevated to the level you're describing and they failed to seek medical advice, I'd fire them so fast. That's a complete violation of trust, if you ask me.
On the plus side, you know not to trust your dog with that crazy person now. Honestly, I'm so relieved you're taking care of that dog and that she's getting love and attention while her parents are away.
You definitely did the right thing! Bloody stool is not something that should be overlooked. I think that the 1st doggie babysitter is a joke. She already committed to watching someone's pet and then decides to take a trip herself.
If someone was watching my dogs and didn't take them to the vet in that situation I would be beyond pissed.
Oh I know the price is peanuts compared to what I thought it would be! And, just to be safe in case it DOES end up being an infection I went ahead and submitted a stool sample of Hunter's to have examined as well. They've been sharing a water bowl and with it being so close to the time that he'll need to make the trek across the pond we need him in tip top health.
Anxiety can be a really big deal for dogs, moreso than a lot of people think. The first sitter said she was "just fine" at her house, and evidently only took a turn when she got to our house. But, we live right next door to the owners (literally share a wall) and I wonder if she started getting so anxious because she thought she was going home and instead came to us. She knows us well, but she also has no way of knowing that her mom and dad aren't next door at all, and they do love her, miss her, etc.
C went home to be with her for a little bit and he said she curled up in his uniform top and just slept away. I have a key to their house, I'm considering going next door and getting some clothes of her owners to see if that helped. Socks and stuff helped Hunter a ton when C was deployed.
She's such a sweet little girl, it breaks my heart to think she wouldn't have received medical care had she not come to us. Ojo, I shudder to think of being able to see Hunter not eating and not be able to do anything about it! I can't imagine how heartbroken you must have been!
I changed my name
You did the right thing.
You were left in charge and did what you felt necessary to make sure the pup was OK. What if it hadn't been nerves? You couldn't have known that w/o bringing the dog in.
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