No more dog collars for Jaxson!! 

This is what Doodle Doc told me over the phone as I sat in my car while she examined Jaxson in her office. 

Early in this pandemic, our vet’s office switched to curb side service. You drive up, a vet tech comes out and takes your pet in, and you wait in your car for the call. 

LET ME START FROM THE BEGINNING – 

Jaxson started coughing one afternoon – a dry “honking” type cough. It was as if he wanted to vomit, but nothing came out. This continued into the evening, but stopped once we went to bed. 

The next morning he was at it again. Lee and I were both paralyzed with fear. I didn’t want to think it, let alone say it. But finally he did – 

Cathy, he sounds like Leo did before he died.

For those of you who knew us when we had our “Gentle Giant” – you remember how shocked we all were to loose Leo in four days at the tender age of four. 

I called the vet and she told me to come right in. #lovethisplace

SLED TEAM – 

As fate would have it, Doodle Doc was at the window watching Jaxson drag the vet tech into the building. After his exam, she called. She asked me if Jaxson pulls all the time when I walk him. Embarrassed, yet honest, I told her most of the time. 

On any given day of the week – for no apparent reason – Harley and I can both (unwillingly) become part of his sled team whether we want to or not!

Jaxson has always pulled us wherever he wants to go. This is what led me to rely on the umbilical belt leash. I am certain it has prevented my arm from getting pulled out its socket…

DAMAGED TRACHEA – 

In addition to watching Jaxson drag the vet tech, once inside, he started that honking cough which caused her to examine his throat. This confirmed her diagnosis.

Imagine my stunned expression when she told me Jaxson’s excessive pulling had resulted in an irritated and inflamed trachea. 

Being leashed by the neck, even with a simple buckle collar, can be painful to dogs who pull or lunge, especially if their guardian jerks on the leash. It can put pressure on the trachea, the spinal cord, the vertebral discs, the esophagus, etc., and should be avoided.

PETA

I’ve never been one to jerk on their leashes. I’m the one that gets jerked BY the leash. But if this was the cause, then I was in total agreement – no more dog collars. #gotit

STEROIDS AND A HARNESS – 

Jaxson was returned to me with his leash looped around his upper chest and no collar. I was instructed to revert back to his harness which I use in the hospital…

Her voice was stern as she repeated that I was never to put a collar around his neck again!

Knowing I prefer a holistic approach to healing when possible, she thought it was best to put him on a low dose steroid for 5 days to reduce the inflammation as quickly as possible.

We went over the regimen and she explained the possible side affects – 

• anxiousness
• increased thirst
• excessive urination

Jaxson experienced none of those. Instead he chose the rarest symptom of all….

diarrhea!

AM I NAKED? – 

Worrying about Jaxson both day and night had me delirious with fatigue. I spent most of the night watching him sleep and listening to him breathe.

Once the loose stool came into play, he was getting me up out of bed almost every two hours. By the second night, I couldn’t see straight. 

In a zombie like state, I rose on command around 3:30am. We came downstairs, I disarmed the alarm, grabbed his harness, snatched some poop bags and we left the house.

In the middle of the street – right on the yellow line, I froze mid step. I looked up at the sky and thought –

oh my God, did I put any pants on?

I stood like a statue in the middle of the street replaying every move I made.

Slowly I reached down and patted my thigh to then exhale out loud as I felt my spandex shorts. I knew then, that I was too tired to continue fighting this diarrhea battle with only the assistance of chicken and rice.

IT’S ALL GOOD NOW – 

In the morning I called the vet, and picked up a holistic paste to mix with his food. We stopped after 4 rounds of steroids because the cough was gone before day 3. 

I’m ordering new harnesses and accepting the fact that his adorable colorful collars will never see the light of day around his neck again.

According to PetMd there are 5 ways collars can harm your dog –

• Strangulation
• Limb or Mouth Injuries
• Skin Problems
• Neck Damage
• General Discomfort

A short and informative read when you have the time.

I still shudder at the thought of how blessed we are. His trachea was only irritated and inflamed. Thank the Doodle it didn’t collapse or even worse – cause trauma to the nerve, muscle or blow a disc.

Walks are easier – he doesn’t seem to be phased that we switched to the harness. As long as he’s a participant in each walking adventure he seems to be happy…

Anybody know of a website with blinged out harnesses for sale? 🙂

Be like a pineapple today; stand tall, wear a crown and be sweet on the inside ❤️