brotymo
Well-known member
Today, things went terrible for our family and our lovable cavalier. She was playing in the yard with my 9 year old. Having fun with the hose and splashing in a VERY shallow, small kiddie pool (like 4 to 5 inches of water). She was fetching toys up off the bottom of the water. She would reach in (maybe the water would reach up to her eyes when she'd put her head under) and pick them up off the bottom. I worked around the yard and even played with them some, and then we came inside. Pixie came in and rolled her wet self around on the carpet and ran around like usual. Then she came over to me begging for a treat, which I gave her. About 2 minutes later, she vomited. It was grass and water, so I thought she was nauseous and had eaten grass, which would also explain the vomiting. I was cleaning that up when she started yelping in pain and looking like she couldn't figure out how to escape her pain. It became clear something was dreadfully wrong. Her pain was extreme, and I couldn't pinpoint it. When I picked her up, I had to do so without reaching under her belly or she would scream. I thought she might have a stomach blockage or something. It is sunday, so the only vet is a 24 hour clinic 40 minutes away. We were driving that way within 5 minutes. Pixie was very tense and still and drooling the whole ride. She wanted to be in my lap, so I held her there as I drove. About 10 minutes from the clinic, she looked like she was going to sleep, and her eyes were darting around under the lids and she was grimacing like she was dreaming. I could feel her heart pounding. Now, I believe she was having a seizure. About 3 or 4 miles from the clinic, she became limp, no heartbeat, no breathing. My daughter was screaming and crying (my other 2 kids, fortunately were with friends) and I was driving and trying to do rescue breathing and cpr at the same time. I had her hugged to my chest, breathing into her nose with her mouth clamped shut and squeezing her chest as best I could and I steering with my knee and flew to the clinic. They were able to restart her heart, but she remains in a coma now 8 hours later, and has had two more cardiac arrests. She is on a ventilator and her blood pressure is low. What we have learned is, Pixie, our sweet water-loving, playful dog, who is just shy of her first birthday, is a victim of dry drowning. It is when water gets in the lungs, but death isn't immediate. The damage to the lungs deprives the brain and heart of oxygen. The vet aspirated much water out of her lungs, but they are damaged from the drowning. We don't know if she will pull through, or if she will have quality of life if she does. They have given her a 10% chance. Please pray for us, or whatever kind of divine intervention you might believe in. We love her dearly, and we are devastated. I feel responsible for encouraging the water fetching game. I know many lovers of cavaliers are here, and I just need a shoulder to lean on. My kids are leaning on me right now.
Please know that you and your precious dog are in my thoughts and prayers!:hug:
