ABC Dog School - Rocky 2

Rocky led a rather illustrious life compared to many family pets, going to fun matches, earning his CD title, walking in parades, being a demo dog at ABC Dog School, starring as Toto in the high school production of the Wizard of Oz, helping me out with an obedience demo at the school on Career and Hobby Day, going to Niagra Falls to watch the Gaines Eastern Regional, traveling to interesting places, even to Nebraska for our son's wedding.
But in the spring of 1993, at the age of nine, all of this came to an end when he lost his eyesight, plunged into darkness by Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome (SARDS.) Fortunately, we had already installed a ramp off the deck for Spanner who was suffering from a compressed disc, and the yard was fenced, so Rocky was safe. This was only the beginning of sorrows, however.
     At the end of August, he became ill with a high fever and jaundice, spent five days at the vet's, came home for one day, and then I had to rush him to the Ohio State University veterinary teaching hospital for an ultrasound. Then, "We need to keep him here for observation and a possible exploratory surgery on Monday." Thus began Rocky's fight for life and 17 days at OSU, most of them in ICU. He was their most critically ill patient for most, if not all, of that time.

   I made the two-hour trip to Columbus every other day, and every day there was good news and bad news. On that first Monday, he seemed better, and I was handed the responsibility of deciding whether or not to do the surgery. It was a tough call. On one hand, he might have an infection that could be treated with drugs, but on the other, he might have something that needed immediate discovery. If I took him home and he got worse, he would be going into surgery in a weakened condition. I opted for surgery.
     The next morning I got a phone call. They were in the middle of the operation. Not a good sign. Rocky's gall bladder was ruptured! There was great risk and a 50% chance of survival. And then there was the cost. "Fix him," I said, "I want him back alive." The good news that day was that he was strong going in, he had walled off the bile, intestines not badly inflamed. The bad news was, there were serious complications that could arise, including blood clots where they don't belong. The first 48 hours would be crucial; it would be 72 before we would know if he was going to make it.
     On Friday, he was alive, drainage looked good, they were going to close the incision. Bad news, a blood clot had formed in the jugular vein, blocking a main lymph duct, causing fluid to collect in the tissues. If it went into the lung cavity, Rocky was in big trouble. The clot had formed where an IV had been inserted, so the IV was removed and a feeding tube was put into his stomach.
On Saturday, Rocky's temperature was normal and the cause of his initial infection had been identified; sensitivity tests would determine how to kill it. In the meantime, he was on a wide-spectrum drug that could injure his old kidneys, so he was being monitored for renal failure. Also, his head was a bit swollen due to the clot. That was a bit of an understatement! The next time I saw him, he looked like a Panda! I have photos!

   On Monday I was met by some very long faces. They had tried to call me so I wouldn't make the trip, but missed me. Rocky's temperature had spiked. An X-ray showed the feeding tube had slipped out and nutrition intended for his stomach went elsewhere instead. They had reopened his abdomen and cleaned him out, but he wasn't awake yet and wouldn't know I was there. I pleaded for just a minute with him to give him a kiss. They relented.
     Two days later, good news and bad. Temperature normal and he was eating, and he was on the proper drug, but...elevated white count and lots of immature cells, indicating a major problem. "We could still lose him," they said, and they let me stay with him four hours that day. The next day he was out of ICU, no longer critical, white cells looking good. On Saturday, Sept. 25, Rocky came home and began his long recuperation. His Dr. on that day said, "God had something to do with this," and I agree. Thank you, Lord!
     The following Wednesday, Rocky's many staples were removed. There was a little more fluid in his chest and his prognosis was fair. His Dr.'s response to my crestfallen look was, "He's broken all the rules." So I said, "Then let's break some more, Rocky!" And he did. A week later we were back for another X-ray, which was better, and he was looking and acting more like his old self. In fact, he'd been in two fights by then, and no longer resembled a Panda.

   Rocky lived three and a half years after that, brought down in the end by cancer. The day came when I simply had to end his suffering and let him go. But when I get to the Rainbow Bridge, he'll spot me from afar, pause a moment then burst into a run, not stopping until he's in my arms.

Tough Terrier

Rocky in ICU at Ohio State U.

~ ABC Dog School ~

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