BLACK DOG DOWN
MY GUIDE DOG’S LIFE HUNG IN THE BALANCE: WE NEEDED HELP, NOW!
Byline: What do you do when your precious canine companion’s survival requires critical care and trained specialists?
By William F. Schley
Bio: His text book on weather forecasting, "Forecasting", marketed by Perfection Learning Co., has sold world wide for almost seven years. His novel "Clancy's World" is nearly finished, but he's been saying that for about four years now, which means he needs to drink more coffee and quit stalling.
“Bill, Benny is so week he’ll have less than a 50% chance of surviving surgery; if you need to get a ride down here, so you can come say goodbye, well . . . I mean, the surgery will cost you over $4,000.000.”
The veterinary nurse held her breath, and I fought back waves of nausea as I brushed the tears from my eyes. If I’d ever needed strength to fight for my dog, it was now.
“No!” I said. “Do everything! Do everything to save my Ben!”
For several months a growing lethargy had affected Benny, my nine year old black Labrador guide. The malaise did not match anything we were taught to look for at Guide Dogs of America during our training. Benny had complained about a sore shoulder joint. Dr. Tom Knoffel of Alpine Veterinary in Reno was out on sick leave, but we met with Dr. Queke. They found Ben had infected anal glands, so the staff gave him a small dose of sedative to calm him while they treated his rear end. They were astonished when Benny collapsed. Blood and urine were drawn. His blood pressure had bottomed out; blood protein and blood cell count were likewise at critical levels. An ultra-sound specialist could not find the cancer they originally suspected, but saw two bleeding ulcers in Ben’s stomach. Dr. Cortney Williams from Veterinary Specialists of Nevada rushed Benny off to emergency abdomenal surgery.
“We knew Benny was a guide dog, but even during the ambulance ride I could see he was a very special patient each time I reached back to pet him,” Williams said.
Benny’s life was being measured in minutes and ounces of blood lost at that point. Dr. Pelsu opened
Ben’s abdomen. They suctioned large quantities of blood from the peritoneum and removed the ulcerated material for biopsy. Pelsu carefully probed for hidden tumors. When Dr. Williams closed the suture it measured 13.5 inches. After more than two hours under the minutely professional eye and care of the VSN team, Benny was driven to Animal Emergency Center for the night.
Dr. Pelsu called me sometime after 5:00 p.m. “Bill, he still has only about a 50% chance here, because he’s very weak; still, this dog displays tremendous spirit, and if he makes it through the night I feel he stands a more than even chance of regaining his normal lifestyle.”
During the surgery I called trusted friends and church members to lift our situation. The prayer chain burned up phone lines from Reno as far away as Michigan, and emails zipped the request for prayer to England, Moscow, and to other believers in 12 states.
Benny had already needed blood protein and plasma prior to and during surgery. During the night at AEC he received a unit of whole canine blood. As the sun dropped behind the Sierras I began the long night watch.
At 6:00 a.m. the crew at Animal Emmergency Center in Reno let me know that Ben was lifting his head and, through eyes blurred by pain meds, scoping out the clinic. He registered his strange surroundings and relaxed, drifting back into a restorative sleep.
Two days later I arrived at VSN’s clinic at 932 Ryeland in Reno. Ben had been away from me for almost 72 hours. Out of the rear hospital area Dr. Williams came, and Benny’s characteristic houl split the quiet of the offices. We hugged, and then he greeted my pastor’s wife with a very good imppression of human joy despite his discomfort. With dozens of staples holding his tummy together, and with a tehnsion bandage holding a surgically implanted throat tube in his neck, Benny even rolled over to expose his wite shaved hide to Leigh.
“Bill, he’s going to be okay; he’s milking this for all it’s worth!” she assured me.
After a few minutes of training from Dr. Williams we headed home with bags of gelled prescription food and several huge syringes to medicate and feed Ben through his throat tube. My transformation into Dr. Dad began. Four days of setting the alarm for every two hours meant loss of sleep and complete exhaustion during the day. Feedings of 600 milliliters of pureed gelatinous dog food made my kitchen smell like Hannibal Lector’s breath. Hot water and bleach twice daily was the prescription that cured the sinks, blender, and counters of the vile stink. Ben had to expell lots of fluid from the edema caused by anesthesia, and my newly shampooed carpets were soon riddled with piddle spots.
Benny’s aftercare has shown that the ulcers may have been caused or exascervated by use of a prescribed pet analgesic. The biopsy on the ulcers showed negative for cancer and irritable bowel. No symptoms linger one month after his surgery.
As Benny’s owner I applaud the professionalism demonstrated by the staff of Alpine Veterinarian at 7689 South Virginia, Reno. Dr. Queke’s rapid response to Benny’s weakness surely saved his life. Drs. Pelsu and Williams at Veterinary Specialists of Nevada at 932 Ryeland, Reno were the consummate professionals, the best surgical team my boy could have. That sleepless first night of recovery was overseen by trained vets at Animal Emergency Center at 6425 South Virginia in Reno. These professionals monitored Benny’s progress, maintained his vital fluids, and gave him the occasional reassuring pat he desperately needed. I am thankful to God for each and all of these vets, assistants, med techs, and office staff, more than 20 individuals who will always have my deepest respect. Because of their skill, care, and concern Benny will likely be back in harness soon.
For more information on guide dogs, visit Guide Dogs of America at www.guidedogsofamerica.org.
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