This weekend I went to Chicago for a friend's wedding. I hired a dog/house sitter who was the younger sister of the girl who I normally hire to watch Poppy and our house. This girl was 18. As I look back, that was mistake #1. I met younger sis and introduced her to P and walked her through everything I needed her to do. I felt comfortable. Second mistake was to say that I didn't mind if she had someone over as long as she respected the house as it was her parent's house and to not have a party. That night, I typed out a page's worth of what I spoke to younger sis regarding the care of Poppy.
I left Thursday night. Friday morning I get a call at 830 PST time from a random person asking if I am missing a dog. I ask him twice to repeat this sentence because for the life of me I cannot process that my dog is out of my house without proper supervision. He backs up and introduces himself, where he lives and that Poppy is in his back yard. Thankfully, it was only a street above us. During this conversation, all I can think about is what f**cking happened this morning and please tell me that the younger sis is okay. I tell E, which at the time, we were in the car dropping off my friend and her husband at Midway airport. They were catching a flight to Ohio for a wedding on Friday night. E and I get back in the car. He is calling our neighbors (t&M because they rock!!) and I am trying to get a hold of younger sis. Her phone is off so I call A. A is her older sister who normally our sitter.
After piecing the events of the morning together..this is what happened. younger sis woke up to late to take Poppy for her morning walk. She also did not take the dog out to at least relieve herself. She left this to her boyfriend who was staying at our place. She left at 8am. Boyfriend had the door to our spare bedroom closed and did not hear P at all. This dog will whine if she needs go out. P needing to go out, which I find out later why she had to go so bad, will not go in the house. At All. So what P did to get herself out, is to unlatch our far window that overlooks the outside of the house. She pushed the window open and jumped 8 feet down. Meanwhile the boyfriend was fast asleep. As I mentioned before, I received a call at 830 PST that my dog was sitting in someone's backyard.
Our neighbors and A found Poppy, fixed the window and A took P to the vet. We found out that she has having diarehha and there was blood. Which explains why this dog had to get out.
The vet experience is what has me upset now. Our vet who has seen Poppy 3 times now is saying that she is overweight. I question this because she saw Poppy right after we adopted her, which was back in April. She weighed in a 109lbs. The last time we took her in, she weighed 100lbs.NOW she is telling us she is overweight? Secondly, the vet prescriped a $42 dollar bottle of sedatives along with the $20 bottle of anitbiotices because apparently our dog has colitis. I am okay with the antibiotics. But what concerns me is that she precribed sedatives without consulting me or E about whether or not Poppy really has anxiety. We mentioned to A and the younger sis that we think she does have anxiety but we are managing it by taking her out for walks twice a day. Which, I am sure that A mentioned the anxiety only because we brought it up but A is not the dog owner. I ask those of you who are dog owners, what do you think? Should the vet have prescribe the sedatives? I really hate the idea of sedating my dog. I don't think she needs it. What I have come to realize is that we do have a dog that really needs to stick to her schedule that E and I are working hard to maintain for her because she is a rescue dog. When she doesn't feel safe, she takes care of the situation to do so,which means to flee. That is my 3rd mistake, in not stressing the fact that this is the situation with our dog and this is what you must do in order to make sure she feels safe and secure when E and I are not there.
All in all, I have learned many, many lessons from this adventure. My doggie is okay, luckily she did not break anything by jumping out the open window. My window sills and blinds are another story but hopefully I can at least replace the blinds soon and we will figure out how to fix the window sills that are so torn up. It sickens me to look at them. I will never, ever hire an 18 year old to watch my house or my dog no matter how responsible they or the person who is recommending them think that they are. I also have a call into the vet to discuss her rationale on the overweight issue and most importantly her call in prescribing a $42 bottle of sedatives. That is what I am most pissed off about.
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7 comments:
Oh my goodness...I'm so sorry that Poppy had such a rough time with the sitter. Having had dogs my entire life (except now), I really believe that dogs can sense when someone isn't going to be a good caregiver.
I think you're right to ask your vet about the $42 sedatives and why exactly she thinks Poppy needs them and to further explain how she can lose 9 pounds in between visits and be "overweight".
I hope you get some answers!!
Love,
Erin
WOW what an ordeal. How on earth did P figure out how to escape through the window by opening it up? I am highly impressed with her intelligence. And highly ticked off at another example of a "typical teen" (as my Dad loves to say). What a disappointment she turned out to be, and her boyfriend too, but really it was her responsibility. I am just so glad and thankful that someone found P, called you, and she got home safely.
As far as the anxiety issue, I can't say for sure, since I don't know your dog in real life. But it sounds to me, based on what you've said, that sedatives are very much jumping the gun. It doesn't sound like she needs them. You said she does just fine as long as you're sticking to a schedule with her. Then I really don't see a need for sedatives. I think that society in general, with people, and now with pets too, are very quick to just medicate any small issues away, when it's not necessary. It sounds like that in Poppy's case, it's not necessary. Read Marley and Me - now there's a dog that needed some meds for anxiety! Poppy, not so much. And that is really baffling about the "weight gain" issue. She's lost weight, vet! Duh. Why is it all of a sudden an issue now? I don't get that. Let us know how it all gets resolved. And if you need to talk further, I'm here!
Our dog Bella also has anxiety issues. Mainly separation anxiety, but anxiety none the less. Our vet didn't think she needed any sedatives unless she gets to tearing things up or is out of control. We exercise her and put these "Be Serene" drops in her water daily. Makes a HUGE difference. She doesn't pace as much and really calms her down. I agree with you that the vet may have over-reacted, but may have heard the story that he jumped out of the window and thought sedatives may be the key until you get back (not knowing the entire story of the dog sitters). If you guys are able to control it, then I would go that route. I hate drugging myself, much less an animal, though some animals do need something. Talk it over with the vet...tell them the whole story, and see if they have a different take on the sitataion. Otherwise, take the dog to another vet until you find one that you like. Just like finding a doctor for yourself!!
Sorry it was such a stressful weekend. Hope Poppy gets back on track this week.
omg.
i would be sooo pissed at that 18 year old you can not even believe it.
and i think dogs don't really need a strict schedule. my dogs don't freak out if they are not walked twice a day at certain times....i'm sure your poppy felt abandoned if they didn't help her when she needed it. fight or flight kicked in. and i'm sure that alone caused anxiety.
my vet always tells me that my dog dan is overweight. and he's right-dan was overweight then i put him on beneful (spelling) dog food and dan's lost weight and he still tells me my dog is a fat ass. my dogs not fat...he's just a big flump. and i love him!
but i am very sorry poppy had to feel that way. i can't imagine...poor thing.
i'd make the 18 year old pay for the blinds and window sills.
Oh, man. How terrible must your normal dog-sitter feel? Makes you kind of terrified to ever leave home again, I bet.
I'm glad Poppy is home safe and without any broken bones.
As for the seditives ... seems weird. I mean, there are just some breeds of dogs that are anxious by nature. Mine, for instance. he's a weimeraner and they are known to be spazzy. If my vet recommended sedatives for him, I'd find a new vet. It's treating the symptom, but not the cause. She needs reassurance, not medication. I'm sure the vet has a pretty hefty mark-up on the scrip, too.
Seems like you and Eli have the right idea: Ramping up her exercise will help control her weight and burn off the energy she has. it also allows her to spend more time with you, like she wants. Listen to Cesar - he knows what to do with Poppy!
I'm glad that Poppy is OK!
I'm sorry for being a sucky commenter. I tried to comment earlier this week, but I was at a client at their internet blocked EVERYTHING. Okay...enough excuses from me....
I'm sorry you had such a horrible dogsitting experience. That doesn't sound like much fun AT ALL. Good for you for managing Poppy's anxiety with walks instead of medicating her right away. I hope you're able to get everything sorted out with the vet.
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