Dogs are amazing creatures

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #1 07-09-2009, 05:12 PM

I have known that for a good while, especially since owning my own dog, out of home.

Over the last couple of weeks it has been proven 10 times over.

I have been very ill of late, got the full blown flu, fevers, the works.
Was only semi-conscious for 3 days, unable to eat.

So bad infact that at points during the fever, I good not move to get liquids, couldn't even make a phone call for an ambulance.
On this particular day, my other half had left for an 9 hour shift at work.
No one else was home to help, just me and the dog.

For 10 hours straight my dog actually, tended to me.
My pup is a smart lil' girl, very motherly, yet having no pups herself.

I would go from shivering un-controllably (even with full warm cloths on and under blankets)to feeling like my skin was on fire.

For 10 hours straight she watched me, every single time I would start shaking (even when I was un-conscious) she would race over and curl up in a ball to share her heat. Then she would leave, when my temperature raised again, as to not over heat me. None of that was by command, like I said, I was REALLY out of it, barely able to speak.

I can't imagine why she would do that, except that she was trying to help me, as with the completely soaked blankets and matress it would not have been pleasant for her.

When my other half came home, the dog was still counteracting the fever as she had done all day.

Sometimes I think we don't give dogs enough credit.
Without her there, I believe I would have lost alot more fluids, as the situation would have been many times worse.

If any one else has an interesting story about dogs (or any animal for that matter), please feel free to join in.

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #2 07-09-2009, 05:22 PM

Yup, dogs are damn smart and make wonderful pets. I've had a dog around me since the day I came home from hospital and wouldn't be without one.

As an aside, rats making excellent pets as well, and are even smarter than dogs! They are also very affectionate and caring. I call them "my little dogs".

Dave

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #3 07-09-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpastern

Yup, dogs are damn smart and make wonderful pets. I've had a dog around me since the day I came home from hospital and wouldn't be without one.

As an aside, rats making excellent pets as well, and are even smarter than dogs! They are also very affectionate and caring. I call them "my little dogs".

Dave

Yes, rats are very intelligant creatures also!!

Edit~ WOOOOOOOT!!! 300 posts!

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #4 08-09-2009, 10:52 AM

They are our "best friends". Giving their love unconditionally.

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #5 08-09-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

They are our "best friends". Giving their love unconditionally.

I'm not sure though, that I could count on my human best friend, looking after me constantly for 10 hours.
I think she has now surpassed best friend and is most definately part of the family... You know what I mean.

AstralTraveller (David) · #6 08-09-2009, 01:19 PM

My mother tell the story about a dog they had when she was a kid. The house had a back verandah without any railing (the house was being built while they lived in it!). When her younger brothers were still in nappies they would at times crawl around on the verandah. The old dog (who had had a few litters) used to lie on the verandah watching and if one of the kids crawled too close to the edge she would get up, grab them by the nappy and pull them back to the middle and then lie down again.

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #7 08-09-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

My mother tell the story about a dog they had when she was a kid. The house had a back verandah without any railing (the house was being built while they lived in it!). When her younger brothers were still in nappies they would at times crawl around on the verandah. The old dog (who had had a few litters) used to lie on the verandah watching and if one of the kids crawled too close to the edge she would get up, grab them by the nappy and pull them back to the middle and then lie down again.

Neat! It's amazing what they will do.

Fossil (Jonathan) · #8 08-09-2009, 01:55 PM

I have an epileptic son and two of our dogs will warn us if he is going to have a seizure.

Fossil (Jonathan) · #9 08-09-2009, 01:57 PM

Slightly O/T. What about the cat in the American nursing home? If it jumped up on somebody's bed and lay down with them, it was a signal that the person was about to pass away. It was so reliable that if the cat did so, the staff would call the relatives in to say their farewells.

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #10 08-09-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fossil

I have an epileptic son and two of our dogs will warn us if he is going to have a seizure.

That is indeed a blessing.

mirrabooka (Angelina) · #11 09-09-2009, 06:47 PM

I would argue for the death penalty for anyone who harms a dog.

There was an article in the paper very recently of a man who tried to kill his dog with a nail gun. The article even included an x ray image of the nails in the dogs skull. After this did not kill the dog, the man gets a knife and stabs the dog in the neck. The dog dies.

I think Australia is weak in regards to animal protection and punishment.

leon · #12 09-09-2009, 07:01 PM

Mitchell, I agree our friends in the animal kingdom are very smart, however having said that, I'm glad you are now feeling much better, but it dose concern me that if you were that sick what were doing at home, you should have been in hospital.

Leon

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #13 09-09-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leon

Mitchell, I agree our friends in the animal kingdom are very smart, however having said that, I'm glad you are now feeling much better, but it dose concern me that if you were that sick what were doing at home, you should have been in hospital.

Leon

Thanks for the concern leon.

That was only the second time in my life, I have had the flu that bad. A sniffle is normally as sick as I get.

In hinesight I would have gone in the morning to the hospital, which I'm sure they would have administered a drip then. However I had already had 1 days, course of anti-biotics and thought I was on the mend. I also did not realise that I hadn't been drinking much, if anything for two days.

Guess that's what you get when your 26, no mother to look after you, so you don't think about "liquids" and things...

A lil' lifes lesson I guess.

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #14 02-10-2009, 12:54 PM

It looks like today I am "paying" back the gratitude to my lil' friend...

She has managed to swallow something, which has blocked her bowels with possible damage.

Vet bill is at $4000 so far, which includes the operation she will receive in a few hours and aftercare...

Needless to say I am very very concerned about her. She will be at the animal hospital for 3-4 days recovering...

It is very quiet here now by myself.

She is my first dog and the first major operation, I have had a pet go through... The specialists have kind of got me scared with all the "this could go wrong" talk...

Anyone care to tell me she will be ok?

picklesrules (Nicholas) · #15 02-10-2009, 01:12 PM

hey mitch any news on ur dog yet?
my dog comes out with me when im observing and enjoys sitting there and whenever mum or dad turns the light on outside she barks as if turn the light off your running our night vision

Baddad (Marty) · #16 02-10-2009, 01:16 PM

Hi Mitchell,

A year ago I was very concerned over my Border Collie, Rambo.
The Vet diagnosed tick bite. Rambo could barely stand up. The vet said I could lose the dog. They will do all they can.

Rambo survived. Delivers the morning paper to the back door each morning.

If the vet thought there was no chance they would tell you.
Because they are going ahead with the operation they must believe your dog will survive and the op is worth while.

Whatever happens Mitchell, you have done all you can for your 'family member'.

Hope we soon hear that it went well.

Cheers Marty

square_peg114GT · #17 02-10-2009, 01:17 PM

It'll be OK.

Dogs are a real treasure. They continually amaze me.

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #18 02-10-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by picklesrules

hey mitch any news on ur dog yet?
my dog comes out with me when im observing and enjoys sitting there and whenever mum or dad turns the light on outside she barks as if turn the light off your running our night vision

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baddad

Hi Mitchell,

A year ago I was very concerned over my Border Collie, Rambo.
The Vet diagnosed tick bite. Rambo could barely stand up. The vet said I could lose the dog. They will do all they can.

Rambo survived. Delivers the morning paper to the back door each morning.

If the vet thought there was no chance they would tell you.
Because they are going ahead with the operation they must believe your dog will survive and the op is worth while.

Whatever happens Mitchell, you have done all you can for your 'family member'.

Hope we soon hear that it went well.

Cheers Marty

Quote:

Originally Posted by square_peg114GT

It'll be OK.

Dogs are a real treasure. They continually amaze me.

picklesrules- No news yet, took the whole day off, so i'll get their call. The op should start in an hour or two. Should get a call by 5 hopefully. Your dog is sooooo telling them, to turn the light off! My pup prefers sleeping in my bed, to cold winter nights outside. She'll start joining me again in the summer.

Baddad- Yes the vet did seem very hopeful, so that was good. Your little story made me feel better, thanks.

square_peg- Thanks, kind of just stuck here by myself waiting. My Girlfriend is still at work, couldn't take the rest of the day off...

Thanks for your kind words people!

BerrieK · #19 02-10-2009, 09:13 PM

Hey Mitch, hope your lil' dog is okay and that your girlfriend is home from work so you don't have to be worried all by yourself. Fingers and toes crossed for you guys, hang in there buddy - it WILL be okay.

It's been a bit of week here with people's beloved pets hasn't it. With all the responses in yours and other threads it just goes to show what a nice, caring bunch of people belong to this forum. What a great bunch of people.

Kerrie

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #20 03-10-2009, 09:26 AM

Got a call at 8:30pm to say she had got through the operation. They needed to incise her intestines, in three different places to get the blockages out. She seemed to be doing fairly good.

I am just waiting now, to see how she is this morning. Got to head off to work now, will keep y'all posted...

BerrieK- Thanks, it does go to show the excellent calibre of community we have here... was the only place I could think of, which I am a member, where I could get some support. It has been truely appreciated.

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