West Nile
I wanted to share a story with
everyone. I know everyone has been
told that dogs cannot get West Nile.
That is not true. About 18
day's ago I started seeing signs in my Afghan
bitch Onyx
" Ch. Entesar's Etched in Gold"I started
my day like normal, letting
everyone out in the morning. Tux and Onyx
alwaysgo out together.
They seemed very normal. I looked at Onyx
a few moments later and
she was standing extremely odd.
It looked as if all of her
legs where tangled up. I told her
you goof what are you doing.
She just stayed that way and wagged her
tail. I did not think
to much of it. Let them in and out with
others. Went on with my
work day and then startedto let out dogs
again in the evening.
So Onyx and Tux are the first. So I started
to opentheir runs to let them
out. Tux ran out and Onyx could not get
up. Her whole body was not
working together. The worst was the rear
end she could not get it to
work at all. I ran in to help her and see
what was going on, got
her to her feet and her tail was straight
down head down. She
shuffled down the isle never lifting
her feet. I noticed she felt
like she was burning up, she went out to
relieve herself.
I watched every thing she did. She urinated
standing up, and was walking side ways.
So when I thought she
was done I called her and she would wag
her tail still down and
headed in. I let her sit for a while before
taking her
temp. I did not want the heat of the day
to affect it.
Her temperature was 103.9
yikes.I was so frantic. I ran her
to my Vet, they started testing, all stats
were fine: white, red,
lymph ect.I had to start a very bland diet
and antibiotics with
Rimadyl to help with the pain of thejoints.
She has been in so much pain it
is hard to watch. Every time I need to put
her in thevan she is screaming in pain.
To this day she still has a temp of 103.9.
I have given coolbath's wet
towels. I have a box fan on her all day
and night.The Vet's just say
the only thing you can do is let it run
it's course and make her as
comfortable as we can. I have been very
fortunate that she is eating
and drinking other wise she would be on
I.V's.
The very first year of
West Nile the area lost 1000. horses.
I breed and raise TennesseeWalking Horses
so I have been very
aware of W.N. Not only do I spray
horses to keep them
safe along with Vac's. I also spray
my dogs. I have a spray bottle
by the door they go out.I thought I was
doing the best I could for all of my
animals. But I fell short. I
am by no meansan expert on West Nile!
I just want everyone to be aware and try
your hardest to prevent it.
I know there are a lot of Vet's out there
that show Afghans,
maybe they can share info with us.
Thank you, Michele Davison....Entesar
Farm