Tango is one sick dog this week. At this writing (Tuesday) Fran’s been up with him for pretty much 48 hours straight.
The first day your dog is spewing from both ends, the routine is simple. Withhold food (not water), stick to routine as much as possible. Be there to hustle outside and/or clean the floor and the dog. Try to figure out what he may have eaten, where he’s been, what’s different that could have caused it. Nap when you can, if you can.
By the second day, if there’s been no improvement (or worsening, in Tango’s case), it’s time for a visit to the veterinarian. Who asks where he’s been, what he’s eaten, has anything changed, etc. And the answers, every time Tango is ill, are the same: nowhere, nothing, nope. About once every year or so, he gets sick.
And a sick dog disrupts everything.
Primary caregiver
Some dogs are “family” dogs. They have a strong and special relationship with every member of the family. If one person isn’t home, they’re content with whoever is there. Tango, like most Brussels Griffons, isn’t one of those. If Fran’s not home, he waits. He doesn’t settle for second best. He’s usually not annoying, he’s just not around. He’s waiting for Fran.
When she is home, he’s close to her. For example – in the 12 years Fran’s had Tango, she’s never had to look for him. Ever. He’s right there. She’s never counted the times she’s almost/nearly/actually stepped on him, but it has to be in the hundreds. Because he’s always right there.
When he’s sick, it magnifies. And she’s the only one he allows to take care of him. Hope can supervise his outings (stand there and watch him decide on the perfect spot), but only Fran’s allowed to do the paperwork.
Broken schedule
That means that all the things that are supposed to get done, don’t. And there’s an added layer of stress because the things that should be getting done, aren’t. Errands and chores don’t jibe with caring for a sick dog.
There’s no question that Fran loves Tango deeply. And the fact that he’s sick is even more troubling since he’s an older dog. But when you’re sleepless and worried, adding a mounting pile of stuff not getting done is enough to cause anyone stress. Fran said it best herself: “I feel like a prisoner.”
And in a sense, she is. When a loved one is in the throes of a messy illness, you’re trapped. So you can start to resent the one who’s sick, even though you still love them. The other dogs aren’t helping. There’s nothing dogs adore more than routine, and that’s been thrown by the wayside, for now.
Everything’s going to be alright
When you know a situation is only temporary, you tell yourself you can deal with it for now. It’s almost more difficult than a permanent change. If your circumstances are changed for the long haul, you change along with it to make it work.
So the chaos and mayhem that’s a normal part of our life is a bit messier for the moment. We’re hoping by the time you read this that calm has been restored, as well as Tango’s health. We’ll keep you updated.
Update (Saturday): Tango is fully recovered and back to himself. The rest of us are still trying to catch up on our sleep. One reason Tango bounced back so quickly, according to our vet, is because he’s in great shape. See the training tip on our sister site: 2-Minute-Trainer.com.
