Ansel's Battle With HGE

THE LAST PHOTO OF ANSEL YOUNG (JUNE 27th 2009)

ONE YEAR BEFORE (AUGUST 1st 2008)

On Saturday morning, the 11th of July 2009, my wife came into our room and told me Ansel had diarrhea. This was not uncommon for her. In fact, I can't remember a week where she didn't have some sort of loose stool, or diarrhea. So I brushed it off and took no more notice. At 2pm I took Ansel for another walk down the street. She had diarrhea and this time it shot out in a very clear, watery consistency. I thought I saw a very thin layer of blood in it, but when I went to check it out, there didn't seem to be anything except a half eaten carrot. Again, nothing new. Later in the evening my wife and I left the house leaving her with my mom, who was visiting for the weekend. We came home about 11:30pm and Mom told me Ansel had been throwing up but that she had no more diarrhea. It's clearing up, we thought.

My wife and I decided to spend the night in the basement with Ansel so we could monitor her and take her outside if she needed to go to the bathroom, or throw up anymore. During the night she threw up on the floor a few times and each time there was undigested food in it. Again, we thought it was clearing up and she just needed to get it out of her system. She was wagging her tail and showing no signs of distress. We took her out at 2:30am and again at 4am and each time she seemed to be doing well. She was throwing up a little bit, but there wasn't anything else to be concerned about.

This is where it gets hard and I'm struggling to continue. At 6:30am my wife woke up and walked over to Ansel. She said, "Honey, Ansel isn't doing very well and there's blood on the floor". I could see her concern. I looked up and there was blood everywhere. On the rug, on the sliding doors and all over the floor. Ansel was very uncomfortable, moving and wiggling her body like there was something in her that was putting pressure on here body. She wasn't blinking and was making no noise. She was simply laying there, her head on her paws. Mom rushed downstairs and said she'd called the vet and they were expecting us.

I wrapped Ansel in a sheet and lifted her up. She was like dead weight and I started to panic. I put her in the car and her body was motionless, except for her breathing. She was still breathing. If she's still breathing, there's still a chance, I thought. I drove as fast as I could to the vet and my mother was telling me how strong her breathing was... this was good. I wrapped her up in my arms with the sheet and walked into the vets office. The vet looked at me, then looked at Ansel and said, "Oh that's not good." My heart sank. I put her down on the table and moved aside so the vet could look at her.

"I think she's gone." The vet said.

There's no words to describe how I felt when the vet said this to me.

"Her eyes are unresponsive. Her eyelids aren't closing. She's gone."

My mother jumped through the door and said, "Honey, tell her you love her, quick."

And I did just that. Streams of tears falling from my eyes. I saw her dried, dead eyes and nothing went through my mind except, "I can't believe this is happening."

They put Ansel onto a table and wheeled her away, telling me they would do what they could. A few minutes later the vet returned and said she was gone.

My first words were, "How the F is that possible? She was alive and doing great this morning and even a few hours ago. How is this possible?" In 24 hours she had gone from nearly perfect health, to being wheeled away from me forever. Dead.

The vet had no explanation except to tell me sometimes these things happen. Not to me. And not to my girl. We had saved her from going blind numerous times. In fact she did go blind when she was 1 1/2, her retinas detached and we were so quick to get her to a specialist that she regained her sight and had been in very good health for 7 years. We had removed benign growths, healed urinary infections, had a very successful cataract surgery a month ago and various other ailments. She'd always been fine in the end. What made this day different?

Well, for some reason on that Saturday morning Ansel had caught HGE. Had we taken her straight into the vet for an immediate IV of fluids and antibiotics she may have lived. For 24 hours I have beaten myself up, I have cried, I have told myself I would never forgive myself for not taking her in sooner. But the truth is, until yesterday, I had no idea HGE even existed. To me, she seemed like she had a stomach bug and she needed to get it out, like I have done so many times. When it's out, it's out and the bug is gone.

I cannot express to you how much I miss my Ansel. She was the sweetest, most affectionate dog on the planet. Akitas are not known for these traits, but with Ansel it was different. She didn't have a negative bone in her body. When I would come home from work, she would always be there to greet me. This is not just my loss, but the loss of many. She will be missed beyond belief. I just hope that her death opens the eyes of all the dog owners who read this. If you see blood in your dogs excrement, or in their vomit, go straight to the vet. Do not second guess yourself, or think you're being over protective. I wish I had taken that advice 48 hours ago. Dear God, I wish I had taken that advice.

Here's to you Ansel. I will love you for the rest of my life. You were the best. Get a stronger body next lifetime my darling. You deserve it.