Coping With Pet Loss

I begin my story with my new puppy Gizmo! I got him when he was 5 weeks old. He got two shots the day before I purchased him. He was a full-blooded schnauzer.

A week after I got him I took him for his first puppy check-up. I was so excited! I was told that he had a little skin rash and a little case of the worms. This was all supposed to be cureable. Well, I took my puppy home and gave him his medicine and he seemed fine.

The next week he was acting bothered by something again. He was barking at me wanting me to let him down and he would then begin to shake and stuff would come out of his nose, so off to the vet we go. They said oh, we discovered some more parasites and gave me medicine to treat him ignoring the runny nose and irregular breathing. I went home gave him his medicine and he seemed fine.

Another week goes by he is still not right. I came home from work on my lunch break and he wouldn’t come to me. He kept running away and going in circles. I started to cry and was like what’s wrong with you. I called the vet and made another appointment yet again. I left work and took him to the vet. The vet said she would have to run a lot of tests that must be expensive, but i didn’t care. She did blood work, fecal exams, ear swabs, and even xrays. The vet then diagnosed him with an inner ear infection making him off balance. SO she gave me ear drops and amoxicillion and told me to stop giving him all the rest of the medicine. I listened and just gave him his ear drops and amoxicillion that night before bed. The next day i got up and took my boyfriend to work. When I got home Gizmo was asleep on the floor. I picked him up and laid him down with me on the couch. Well, he woke up after awhile and wanted down. I let him down and fell back asleep. When I woke up I begun to look for him. I called his name many times and no appearance. I started looking for him and found him in the corner of the utility room hiding. I called to him and tried to walk towards him and he began to growl and bark, then back up as far as he could from me. I then throw a towel over him to pick him up. I begun to feel of him and he was wet and drool was coming out of his mouth. I knew something was wrong. I layed him down to eat, and he would not eat. I then jumped in the shower and he laid down by his cage. When I got out he was shaking and drooling really bad. I called the vet and told them he needed to be seen. I rushed me and him out the door. On the way I called and told my boyfriend what was going on. When I got there he had already pooped and drooled all over me but i didn’t care. They brought him back and the next thing I remember is hitting the floor. My aunt met me up there because i called her panicked. The vet then came out and said I’m sorry he has distemper and there’s nothing we can do for him but put him to sleep. I cried and cried and cried! I went to pick my boyfriend up from work so he could say goodbye to him! we sat in the room with Gizmo and he would not look at us or move. We cried for sometime. Then finally let them put him to sleep.

I loved him to death! He was my baby! i took him everywhere, and bought him everything! I tried so hard to take care of him and protect him. He got away from me! I am heartbroken and devastated. I will not take another dog to that vet! He had all the signs and never once did they mention distemper to me. They also never told me nothing about it after they told me he had it! i am just now finding all this stuff out about distemper and having to clean my house so good before I could ever get another dog. They never once said it was a virus and could give it to other dogs or even us. They charged me $190 that day for all those tests for him not to even make it the next 24 hours. I am heartbroken and highly mad about all of this.

I do and always will love my GIZMO! RIP Gizmo May 12, 2007-July 12, 2007.