My pet was a Boston Terrier. He was 12 years old. I moved into Las Vegas NV. As my husband’s job was their. We lived in an apartment on the ground floor. Between the Apt. next & our Apt. there was a lawn, where we could sit, and it was shady. Maba our pet was always with us. He enjoyed the lawn and would lay down or roll around in the grass. After about 6 months I noticed him scooting across the floor. I took him out side and looked at his rear. To my surprise there was about 12 ticks. I know about ticks, to remove them you must get the whole tick head mainly, as it embeds itself into the body and sucks blood as it does, it blows up. I immediately took my pet to the Vet. and left him for the day as he had to be dipped. After being dipped he cannot be dried, so the chemical from the dip must stay on the pet and kill any ticks that are on their plus any eggs that might have been layed.
Maba, seemed to be doing ok for awhile. Then I noticed he was not too peppy, and his hind legs would sort of buckle. I took him back to the Vet and was give a prescription, no diagnoses was given, other then Maba was old. The pills were for Arthritis. As days and time went on Mayba, front legs started to cave in also. Eventually he could not stand, but all the Vet said was more stronger pills and it was Arthritis.
In no time at all Maba was like a Rag doll. He could not hold his head up, he was just weak. I would pick him up boldly and carry him outside to do his business. Hold his head up and cradle him just like a rag doll. I hand fed him holding his head up and trying to get him to eat the food from my hand. I cried a great deal as it hurt me to see
my beautiful pet the way he was.
After a month I could not take it any more. When my husband walked in the door, I handed him our pet and told him to take him to a Vet I heard about in another part of town. Have him check my pet and if there was nothing he could do for him to put him to sleep. I did not have the heart to go with him. When my husband returned with tears in his eyes, I knew Mayba was gone.
The Vet said there was nothing he could do for Maba, but, he had an idea what it was that Maba had. If we would allow him to do some tests, he would call us and let us know what the results of the tests were. In two days we received a call from the Vet. and he said, Maba had Lyme disease, he had a feeling that is what it was, but wanted to make certain before he said anything to my husband.
Lyme disease is contacted by ticks. If only the Vet I had gone to, had taken blood tests he would have been able to cure my pet. There are tree ticks, grass ticks and sand ticks, that are mainly near the Beach’s. I learned a fatal lesson. I have since moved from Vegas, in my yard now I have no lawn, just dirt. I have 2 Boston Terriers now, they are 8 years old. I swore I would never have a lawn, and I haven’t. The above is to let folks know how bad a tick bite can be. I miss my Maba and will never forget him. He was the apple of my eye. My Baby
Miss You,
| Jo McCann |