So yesterday I told you about the Dents family; about them being all growling and upset, and that their dogs were sick too. Mrs. Dents had agreed to allow Freddie to stay in my clinic to get filled up with fluid, while Frannie got the fluid under her skin because she wasn’t as sick. Mother spoke to their parents every night about doing more tests to find out why the dogs’ kidneys had stopped working. When something like this happens to two unrelated dogs living in the same house, “It’s either something they ate, or something trying to eat them,” mother tried to explain. “I’m waiting for a call back from my veterinarian in Texas” Mrs. Dents declared, “He’s going to tell me what I should do. He’s the only one I trust”. Unfazed, mother tried to explain that the dogs might not have time to wait. The blank expression on the Dents family’s faces gave mother her answer. So it went on like this for the next two days. On the end of the second day, mother retested some of Freddie’s red syrup, “His values have barely improved.” mother reported “I’m worried that we’re losing valuable time waiting to hear back from your veterinarian.” Of course, Vonnie had wondered on more than one occasion why the trusted veterinarian had not yet returned the Dents’ phone calls.


In the end, mother was allowed to run one test while Mrs. Dents took Freddie home to wait for the results. “I just can’t watch him be tortured anymore. I can’t believe that he’s been here for two whole days and he’s not any better.” she said, clearly unhappy. But in the end mother’s suspicions were confirmed. “It’s Leptospirosis!” mother reported. “Those antibiotics I sent home with you should do the trick. Just make sure you don’t miss any doses. Also continue being careful around their urine, that’s how it’s spread. Wild animals like raccoons and possums carry the bacteria, and spread it by urinating in standing water. The bacteria can enter through breaks in the skin but also membrane surfaces like eyes and gums.” When mother was finished, she hung up the phone, with a smile but also a look of disbelief. “Mrs. Dents didn’t start any of the antibiotics I prescribed, she said that she thought we were just out to hurt Freddie with the medication. I only hope that I convinced her, especially since they could get infected from the dogs.” mother announced as she gave an update to the whole clinic.

I don’t know what’s worse for Freddie and Frannie, the lepto or their parents. I think either could prove deadly. At least we can get vaccinated for the leptospirosis.