Do you like this story?
Guess who’s not going to Miami this weekend?
By Gina Spadafori
October 29, 2009
A few hours ago I’m happily packing my suitcase for a long weekend trip to Miami to hang out with Pet Connection BFF Dr. Patty Khuly.
Not real happy about the prospect of driving to San Francisco today in the mess caused by the closure of the Bay Bridge, but for tonight a dinner with Christie and a hair cut by Christie (in her previous life, she owned ultra-chic hair salons in San Francisco) and tomorrow early, a direct flight from SFO to Miami, well … still worth it.
For the second week in a row.
And then, a few hours ago and for the second week in a row, I had to rush McKenzie off to the veterinarian’s.
Trip off. Again.
Last week, McKenzie had a belly full of something, and I had to wait for it to pass or she would need surgery. (It did.)
This week, McKenzie has a belly full of rocks, and I have to wait for them to pass or she will need surgery. (I hope they will.)
(I had them put the x-rays on a CD for me, but I can’t get it to read, so McKenzie’s radiological privacy is again maintained — I can’t show the rads.)
So now the question:
WHY is an almost 5-year-old dog who has never had a problem with eating foreign objects doing to the point of almost (and maybe still) needing surgery suddenly doing so?
What has changed?
This, I have to think about. In the meantime, McKenzie will be leash-walked in the yard while what’s in her works its way out … or at least, I hope it does.
And now, of course, I have to go buy candy for the trick-or-treaters because I’m not going to be in Miami hanging out with Dr. Patty Khuly on Saturday, but rather I’ll be at home.
McKenzie, what up? Talk to me, girl. This is soooo not amusing.
Share & Enjoy
|
Facebook
|
Twitter
|
Google Buzz
|
Digg
|
|
Technorati
|
StumbleUpon
|
Delicious
|
Email
|
Home
I hope McKenzie gets better soon. Poor baby dog!
Comment by Snoopys Friend — October 29, 2009 @ 3:01 pm
Could it be due to her missing Heather? Like people, animals sometimes react in unexpected ways to the loss of a friend.
Comment by 2CatMom — October 29, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
Retriever “mouthiness” can be eventually manifest itself into pica (eating non food materials).
At least she wasn’t this working-strain golden:
http://retrieverman.wordpress......-wardrobe/
Comment by retrieverman — October 29, 2009 @ 3:08 pm
I find it a bit strange, though, considering she’s a trained working retriever.
Comment by retrieverman — October 29, 2009 @ 3:12 pm
That would be stretching it. Woody is a trained working retriever. McKenzie is comic relief.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — October 29, 2009 @ 3:17 pm
Ah, Gina, I’m sorry. Does McKenzie need a chat with the doggie grief counselor? Because that’s what I’m thinking has changed: Heather isn’t there anymore.
Comment by Lis — October 29, 2009 @ 3:23 pm
Thank goodness it’s pumpkin season…sending good wishes for a well…you know…I have goldens and have been waiting for their turn with this problem….so far so good…Hope that trip can get rescheduled and maybe don’t let McCutie see that suitcase next time!
Comment by Carol V — October 29, 2009 @ 3:31 pm
I’m so sorry - maybe she doesn’t want you to go?
And given past events, make sure you hide the Halloween candy!!
Comment by K.B. — October 29, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
I can’t believe it.
Poor Mom.. Maybe she is missing her babies? I could put a lot of stamps on Dooley and send him over until she recovers.
Comment by Verde — October 29, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
Don’t think I haven’t noticed that your solution to ANY problem here is to send The Big D back.
As if you would EVER give up your puppy prodigy, no matter how big a pain in the patootie his adolescent self currently is.
:)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — October 29, 2009 @ 3:53 pm
I hope she feels better soon and you can figure out the reason for this new unwanted proclivity to eat inedible things.
Comment by Rinalia — October 29, 2009 @ 4:02 pm
I do think it has to do with feeling the loss of Heather.
Pip went through all kinds of Hell when Lilly died, as we all did. But we humans were so wrapped up in our own grief, we forgot to acknowledge her mourning.
This came to me as an epiphany one day in the middle of a five-day canine bodywork seminar. She’d been pissy for a month, and there was something broken in our connection.
And I just acknowledged her individual and special loss, and we were good again.
I strongly suspect that McKenzie perceives your preparations for leaving as another impeding loss, and this might be causing the anxiety that leads her to pica. A particularly retriever-ish Cry for Help.
Comment by H. Houlahan — October 29, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
Grief is my best theory, really.
As Heather was dying, McKenzie would not leave her side. Every day of the extra month or so we had after Heather’s diagnosis, McKenzie could almost always be found with a part of her body touching a part of Heather’s. This wasn’t normal behavior previously for McK.
McKenzie’s a bit of a silly, but she was very quiet in those days, and she was clearly understanding that something was wrong with Heather. And now … Heather is gone.
The way McKenzie is … and was during Heather’s suddenly decline and loss, well, it makes some sense that McKenzie is dealing with the changes in her own way.
The question is … what now?
Comment by Gina Spadafori — October 29, 2009 @ 4:25 pm
In agreement that it has to do with grief. Do you have anyone who is a animal communicator that you can ask Gina.
Comment by VJ — October 29, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
Hormones. She was recently spayed. Hormones play all kinds of havoc with us girls. I’d consider hormonal changes part of this problem.
Comment by Cathie Newitt — October 29, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
You know, Faith might have something to do with it as well. McK may be trying to deal with two changes in the pack status in a few short months. The Queen left, and teenage Faith is moving into her slot.
And as for “comic relief”, I seem to remember one training day where McK played straight man, and I was the comic relief…
Comment by Patti S. — October 29, 2009 @ 4:32 pm
And you were a very good sport about it, too. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — October 29, 2009 @ 4:38 pm
Stress. Lots going on in the pack right now, not the least of which is your own grieving, which you won’t think about. I am in the column of grief stress, pack re-ordering. If you want a communicator, think about Doris Straka.
Comment by Robbiesmom — October 29, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
I dont have any great ideas on how to help, Gina. We had a cat with pica and the vet said it might be some sort of mineral deficiency, iron can be one of them. Maybe things are a little off with a mineral level? I just want to add that my thoughts are with you, Im sure its hard to see her going thru this and I hope everything turns out OK and she doesnt need surgery.
Comment by Sandi K — October 29, 2009 @ 4:42 pm
No fresh ideas that haven’t already been presented here. I agree that stress, hormones, loss, motherhood, could all be factors.
I do believe, however, that motherhood could be the leading cause. Perhaps on of McCutie’s docs could comment on this, but I would be interested to know just when the mineral requirements for a brood bitch peak after delivery.
Also consider how much her food intake has fluxuated - could be a factor.
Hugs to you both - especially you, Gina - a head full of worry is far more painful than a belly full of rocks. Silly girl, McKenzie!
Comment by Kim — October 29, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
Everyone else pretty much has said what I would have. Heather’s death, hormonal change, dealing with her daughter, stress from the aforementioned, etc.We are dealing with a 2 week old grief ( anniversary tomorrow) from the death of our youngest member and loss of the spark that ignited our lives.
You all may laugh, but the first thing I did was contact a friend who is a communicator to help my surviving dogs. And me. They had no clue what had happened except suddenly he was gone. I am watching for unsettling changes in behavior but things seem to be okay so far. I hope that is due to enlisting her help as soon as I could.
I hope with pumpkin, and whatever veterinary care is necessary that this too will pass for your McCutie.
Comment by dkm — October 29, 2009 @ 5:35 pm
I have heard stories Vitamin K supplements help with Pica.
Comment by Nancy Freedman-Smith CPDT — October 29, 2009 @ 6:20 pm
Sounds like it is time for the Hannibal Lecter, basket muzzle. An email friend had toput one on her Scottie every time he went out in the yard. Otherwise, he sucked up everything in site like a shop vac.
Comment by cheryl — October 29, 2009 @ 9:43 pm
I’m in the Heather-is-what’s-changed camp. A change in hierarchy can be stressful. But rocks? Yet another example proving the human-canine psychological divide is wider than we like to think it is.
And don’t worry, Gina. It only means I have more time to work on Slumdog’s disgusting bathroom habits. ;-)
Comment by Dr. Patty Khuly — October 30, 2009 @ 4:38 am
Grief. Stress. Raising a teenage daughter. Who wouldn’t have a belly full of rocks? Hang in there, McK. And Gina.
Comment by Kim Thornton — October 30, 2009 @ 5:11 am
Retrievers, if they were people, would have a bit of what I would call an addictive personality.
I guess she’s addicted to rock(s).
That was a bad joke.
I’ve never had another dog react to the loss of another one, but it could be possible.
She’s had a rough couple of months— pregnancy, nursing, and then a loss of a pack mate.
Doesn’t she still have the puppy to play with?
Comment by retrieverman — October 30, 2009 @ 5:51 am
Kim, you made me laugh! Yes, losing a “mom” and raising a “teenager” would make anyone want to eat rocks!
We’re off to see the wizard … er, radiologist.
Hoping for rockless rads and NO SURGERY …
Comment by Gina Spadafori — October 30, 2009 @ 8:03 am
I tend to be more of a ‘how’ than ‘why’ person so I’ll suggest that you consider teaching McCutie to carry something safe in her mouth when she gets excited or stressed. I teach clients whose dogs are excited / stressed / nippy with strangers or at the door do this because it’s pretty hard for a dog to nip or bite with a toy in its mouth.
Audie taught himself to do this. When he gets excited during greetings he tends to get mouthy. I’d correct him for mouthing someone’s hand or pantleg and he’d pick up the nearest thing - usually a shoe - and carry it in his mouth. Now my boy automatically picks up a shoe and carries it when he’s excited.
Comment by Janeen — October 30, 2009 @ 8:27 am
I hope she gets better soon ;)
Comment by Di — October 30, 2009 @ 9:19 pm