What to do with the little bugger when you have an emergency

misstray · 12-03-2012, 03:14 PM

I just spent the morning (5hrs) in the emergency room. I`ve been having a really hard time with my asthma for the last month or so. I should have gone much, much earlier for treatment (and I barreled through all the inhalers I had in short order).

The problem....

What to do with Brody. There just aren't facilities here to handle this sort of thing.

I`m not from here originally and I`m not super good at the whole making friends thing (and it`s just so much harder an adult and when there isn`t $$$ to spare for hobbies, etc.). I`ve never been the social butterfly. I`ve been up here 7 years and haven`t made one friend. So, I`ve kept putting off going in and trying to just ease by and hope it would pass so I wouldn't have to worry about Brody. I don`t trust him not to bark non-stop in my apartment.

This morning, it was -20C and there was 2 feet of snow on my car. By the time I got out there I was gasping for air...by the time I unburied my car, I thought I was going to die. So, instead of heading in to work, I headed into emergency.

4 rounds of medication in the nebulizer and it was just getting worse. Plus the drugs made my heart rate pretty much double. I had monitors galore which kept beeping like crazy because it apparently didn`t like my breathing rate or my heart rate.

Meanwhile, poor Brody is in the car. The hospital phoned my work and my boss came and picked him up. I was worried about the poor guy left alone in there (he was in there about 3 hours).

Anyhow, after a round of IV and prednisone and another round of nebulizer things finally started to improve and my vitals finally hit a point where they would release me.

When I got to my car, the inside of the windows were all fogged up (and frozen over), so I`m sure that was from Brody. I`m so shaky I dropped my purse and my prescriptions (4 different ones), my cell phone and my wallet fell under my car. I didn`t notice the wallet, but a lady in the parking lot did and told me...thankfully! I`d have been so screwed without my wallet too.

So, off to the pharmacy to fill the prescriptions and pick up a few groceries since I had nothing here (not even toilet paper!). Then I headed home to drop off the groceries and peel all the sticky things they left on me from the monitors.

Just trying to relax a little bit. I still have to go pick up Brody from work. I`m so sore and so shaky from the meds, I just need to sit a little while before I go do that.

I miss him.

I hope he`s behaving and not too traumatized. Poor guy.

nlb · 12-03-2012, 03:24 PM

Wish I could help you, but too far away! I hope you feel better very soon. Maybe there is some kind of doggie day care/hotel you can try?

I am going to leave my baby for the first time over Xmas with the place I got her and I know they have lots of other dogs to play with and are very good with them, but I know I will be so stressed out when I go, and miss her so much!

dodrop82 · 12-03-2012, 03:43 PM

OMG, what a horrendous day! Thank God your boss was so good to go pick up and take care of Brody!!! I'm glad they were able to get you back in shape, but my lord, what an ordeal! Knowing your baby was out in the car in those tempatures, didn't help calm your asthma attack in the least! Did they give you something to prevent this whole thing from getting so out of hand again! No hubby, significant other, kids or family near to help with Brody?!? If not, it's time to research day care, dogsitters, and whatnot, in case of another episode!! I hope the kid is no worse for wear from his stressful day! Best wishes!

misstray · 12-03-2012, 04:32 PM

I picked Brody up from work and he was fine - although he did apparently poop in my boss' truck when he came and got him. (I'm not surprised, he didn't do his morning poop).

Brody was happy to see me, but not anxiety ridden so, just happy.

We're home now relaxing. I'm very sore.

There really is nothing here in terms of pet sitting, day care, etc. - it's a small and more remote (not like total boonies remote, but there's one Walmart and a Staples and that's it for major stores)...the only kennel isn't even in this town. I have no hubby, kids, recent exes or significant others. It's really just me and my lonesome. I'm glad my boss came and got Brody. I think he just stayed in his crate at work and cried for me (Brody, not my boss ha ha).

dodrop82 · 12-03-2012, 04:47 PM

LOL! Do you have a vet in town? Our vet does boarding, and when necessary, my girls go there....they're not happy about it, but I know they're in good hands!

riverlogic · 12-03-2012, 04:49 PM

Hi Tracy,
Wow, what an awful day. Glad you're both home now. I know what you mean. We're pretty remote too. It's not like there's a doggy daycare or anything of the sort.
That's a nice boss to come pick him up for you though. Long time for the little guy at -20. Does he always come with you? Or would he be okay at home by himself?

Get better

emichel · 12-03-2012, 05:16 PM

Hi Tracy -- What a horribly stressful day. Maybe the silver lining is to spur you on to think "outside of the box" in terms of what supports might be available. Your boss sounds like a great guy. Tho have to say, I am glad you cleared it up that he was not the one in the crate crying for you all day. I was just trying to picture that.

Anyway... I think I feel particularly drawn to you posts because although my situation is not the same as yours in some ways, i.e. I live in a big city, I am a single person in an apartment (actually a tri-plex), so can relate to your challenges around that. I do have a neighbor and a friend who can sometimes watch Benjamin, though not necessarily at a moment's notice. He is scheduled for his neutering surgery at the end of this month, and until that is done with he is not eligible for doggy daycare. Even when he is, I can't afford to put him there too often, because it is expensive! Anyway... how about advertising in the local paper, possibly offering a dog sitting exchange? I have one friend who currently has a full schedule, but after she is done with school will be more available. We are talking about taking turns, i.e. she will leave her dog with me 1 evening a week, and I will leave my dog with her on another evening. Both of our dogs love playing together! I know you said you are not a big socializer, neither am I, but it amazes me how much dogs can bring people together. No matter how small of a town you live in, I'm sure there are plenty of dog owners around, possibly some who are a lot like you. Maybe you'd even make a new friend or two. I'm rootin' for ya!

-- Eileen

emichel · 12-03-2012, 05:42 PM

As long as we're clarifying things... it's Benjamin who's scheduled for neutering, not my neighbor.

I hope you're feeling lot's better, Tracy!

-- Eileen

krandall · 12-03-2012, 05:48 PM

Tracy, I'm so sorry you had such a horrible day. It's bad enough to be dealing with a health crisis, without worrying about your pup at the same time.

Even if you aren't "friends" with the other people in your building, is there anyone else with a small dog that you could approach and ask if you could each be reciprocal "emergency care" for each other? Often people are happy to step in to help if they know there is a need like this. For that matter, even if Brody made noise in your apartment, could you, in an emergency, call the super, tell them what's going on, and leave a note on your door? Certainly people could put up with him making some noise in an emergency situation.

davetgabby · 12-03-2012, 06:45 PM

Tracy, sorry for your rough day. You sound too nice not to have some friends you can rely on. Try to get out there, we're like our dogs , we need others to some degree and need to socialize. Join some sort of group, and see what happens ,or get talking with others you meet that have dogs. You're much too nice not to be interacting with people. Take care of yourself. Hugs Dave