AAH so glad she's doing better!! This was such a scary story I've never heard of...the first picture of you visiting her is so touching and cute!! I'm sure she loved seeing her mommy Hope you are back together past this scary part of life very soon!
Angi is doing much better and is back home today. She has normal poops and amazing bounce back / recovery times. Both the surgeon and our regular vet (whom we transferred her to on Thursday) were shocked.
Its been almost a year since Angi's HGE and intussusception. I was thinking about it today, since someone posted on Facebook about the price of veterinary care. I am so, so thankful she is still with us, she is a sweet and loving dog. I am grateful for the ER and doctors who saved her life, and my regular vet who helped immensely with Angirasu's recuperation.
Although she healed physically by early July, I learned that she had not truly healed emotionally. The incident was extremely traumatic for her, at a very sensitive time in her development. Angirasu is fearful of strangers, particularly people reaching over her head or trying to grab her, which we found out the first time we went back in the show ring. We've spent the last eight months conditioning, training, socializing, and working with her to help alleviate her fear.
We have seen good improvement; Angirasu was able to enter the JACA National Specialty in February and allowed the judge to examine her without being excused. She kept her tail up and head proud most of the time, and anyone who didn't know her wouldn't have realized how uncertain she was. We kept the experience positive for her, and didn't tax her by entering the second day of shows (although it would have been easier with the AKIHO judge, since they don't do a hands-on exam).
However, I don't think she'll ever do more than "okay" at dog shows and there will always be bad days when her fear gets the better of her (and I will try to recognize that as soon as possible so I can do whats best for *her*). What is most important is that she is still with us, healthy and happy at home with her mom, sister, and the rest of our family. If she's not destined to finish her CH, that's okay.
Give her time. Tora had a spell where I could not show her. She would shut down at the exam and the judges could barely examine her. It was all from a bad experience in the ring. I finished her CH, and then put her up. She would go to shows, but just to hang out. Just recently brought her back out, and she was having a blast in the ring. Happy in the ring and standing comfortably for examination.
Comments
Get well soon, Angi!
and then...to see if you can still come and bring some/all akitas to Ohio?
Although she healed physically by early July, I learned that she had not truly healed emotionally. The incident was extremely traumatic for her, at a very sensitive time in her development. Angirasu is fearful of strangers, particularly people reaching over her head or trying to grab her, which we found out the first time we went back in the show ring. We've spent the last eight months conditioning, training, socializing, and working with her to help alleviate her fear.
We have seen good improvement; Angirasu was able to enter the JACA National Specialty in February and allowed the judge to examine her without being excused. She kept her tail up and head proud most of the time, and anyone who didn't know her wouldn't have realized how uncertain she was. We kept the experience positive for her, and didn't tax her by entering the second day of shows (although it would have been easier with the AKIHO judge, since they don't do a hands-on exam).
However, I don't think she'll ever do more than "okay" at dog shows and there will always be bad days when her fear gets the better of her (and I will try to recognize that as soon as possible so I can do whats best for *her*). What is most important is that she is still with us, healthy and happy at home with her mom, sister, and the rest of our family. If she's not destined to finish her CH, that's okay.