J. Dudley here again. Let me start by saying, it’s good to be here.
Guess what?! I just got out of the hospital!
I still don’t know what happened, but I heard humans around me using the word ‘seizure.’
Here’s what I remember. Wednesday, I had a loooooong day playing with other dogs at Dudley’s Daycare (that’s what we call it). I didn’t eat or drink all day, that I recall, and my humans didn’t have a water bottle in the car when they picked me up. Of all days to clean the car and toss water bottles, right?
We got home and I drank and drank and drank cold, glorious, water. And ate my food. I was ready to partaaaay (play) which surprised my humans because they thought I’d be tired from being in daycare from 10:30 a.m to 4:45 p.m.
They were on the porch, and became bored throwing things for me to retrieve, so they started to ignore me. That was my cue to disappear for minutes on end and get up to secret stuff they’ll never know.
We settled in for the night eventually, me in my usual perch on their bed. Then I woke up at 3:50 a.m. and had a weird feeling come over me. I pounced on the chest of one human who I usually wake up if I need to pee, but she tried to ignore me.
My other human saw me staring at the wall, and he sensed something was up. I heard my humans describe to the doctor that I started convulsing, shaking, and fell off the bed. One human called the emergency vet number he had entered into his contacts list on his phone (the time I ate half of a chocolate rabbit), while my other human had her hand on me to sooth and calm me down.
I regained consciouness, but I was sure woozy. My humans scooped me up and took me to The Iowa Veterinary Specialties, off of 63rd St. in West Des Moines.
I got a lot of attention! They made me spend the night to make sure that weird feeling didn’t happen again, and they shaved part of my leg and stuck something in it, and wrapped a green bandage around it.
I had a whole new team of humans at my command. Fellow dogs, take note. All I had to do was pitch a fit about being in a cage and these new humans would cave and hold me on their laps while they did stuff. They were very nice, and said I was such a sweet puppy. I made new friends.
I’ve never been away from one or the other human overnight before since we became a family in September, and I did not like it.
Even though my humans brought my blanket and a couple of toys for me to have in the cage, I wanted out. I am too old for a friggin cage. The indignity.
It’s a good thing those new humans did what I told them to, and let me out when I demanded. When I woke up this morning, I made it clear to all within hearing range that I was ready to go home.
My doctor called my humans at 6:49 a.m. this morning and said I could come home, so my humans threw on their clothes to get me. As well they should have.
They have - of course - immersed themselves in YouTube videos and Doodle Facebook groups to learn about this seizure thing, and are better prepared to deal with what to do if that weird feeling happens to me again.
But, I don’t think it’s going to. I can think of less scary ways to get attention, of that I am certain.
This is Julie, taking over.
On the wall of this wonderful emergency pet hospital is a framed graphic from James and Roxanne Conlin, and Maggie Moss, who are human families of the various dogs and cats listed on this plaque.
James and Roxanne are regular customers of the facility and have donated funds so that families without means can get their loved ones cared for. Said Roxanne:
I first took a tiny little kitten to them in the middle of the night when the facility was still located on 2nd Ave. The baby was nearly deceased. I left him there with my fingers crossed and went the next day to pick up a fine and dandy healthy kitten. It turns out he was dehydrated. Now, of course I know all about dehydration.
Since that time I have probably been there literally 1000s of times. Now they are located about five minutes from my house, and I have suggested to them that they moved here so that it would be easier for me to get there. Kittens always get sick in the middle of the night. They [the hospital staff] are really wonderful to deal with and I don’t know what we would do without them.
I do not doubt they’ve been to this facility over 1000 times. They have an entire large bedroom in their Southern Hills home where they have fostered kittens through the years.
The plaque on the wall, once again, is evidence of how their philanthropy abounds.
Thank you to all who help provide health care, and preventive care to our four-legged and two-legged family members
From Dudley:
Do you know about the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat? Check it out, then sign up and come! There are so many trails and rabbits and wild turkeys and butterflies and all kinds of things to smell and touch while humans learn about writing a memoir, or a column like this, or a song, or a book, or a play…maybe, just maybe, I’ll see you there.
https://okobojiwritersretreat.com
Dudley, I am so very sorry this has happened to you! So so scary. In talking with another friend today, her son's family has a golden doodle too. He's 7 years old and has had seizures since he was six months old. Doing just great! And, Dudley, I'm counting on you to do great too!!!! We love you.
Thank goodness you are home and feeling better, Dudley. When you are ready, Master Dudley, proceed with your antics. For today anyway, I am sure your humans will find some comfort in them 😉