Most know that March 20th, 2020, we purchased a yorkie from a lady, Cari Milligan, on Drummond Island. Through seeing the vet the same day we got Dixie, to the vet saying she had bilateral unilateral hernias, and then Cari saying she was on the boat back to Drummond Island. I had no idea that everything would shut down March 23rd. Nobody did. I tried to get a second opinion but even that was through video and without truly seeing and doing a hands on physical, it’s speculation. You can’t guarantee anything.
For two weeks, Dixie played, ate, grew, loved her new family, greeted us one by one as we got up in the morning. She only was outside twice and that was the week prior to getting sick. Looking back I thought she was just growing and gaining healthy weight and didn’t think much of it. I followed weight amounts for giving her food. She seemed ok.
That Sunday night before Mother’s Day, it all changed. She threw up, and then it was diarrhea. I immediately got with the local vet on Mackinac Island through video. I showed him her gums, hernias, all the symptoms she was experiencing...whatever we needed to try to help Dixie, I was dropper feeding her in between the drinks she was taking trying to keep her hydrated. Dr suggested nausea meds and IV fluids. Nausea meds helped. Then Wednesday when my husband got home, we got the IV meds set up. I’ll be honest...that was one of the hardest moments I’ve had in a long time. I held her while he initiated it. Being in the army, he had it down how to do it plus a little YouTube help. That night she actually walked around checking for everybody. Not a lot but I was hopeful. Next morning, was not good. I hurried around, caught the first boat and headed to Cheboygan. He gave me no hope, said there was hospitalization options which were extensive and were talking thousands while asking if I wanted to euthanize her. I couldn’t. I said I’d take her home and get her on an IV. Only she didn’t make it.
After a little over a year, trying to work with our breeder I’d almost given up hope. I had all the documents and I’m sure I gave them to her. Through analyzing the documents and getting a second look at it, I realized what she really passed of. It was heart wrenching and hard to deal with.
Dixie was diagnosed with bacterial enteritis. It looks like her hernias caused the bacterial enteritis. The food she was eating wasn’t digesting and exiting her system. Food was being trapped inside her causing her to become toxic within her own body. Which... was why she looked bloated when she gained weight. It wasn’t able to pass through her bowels like normal. Something was stuck in her bowels. It stopped the natural process for the bowels to work properly. In turn it caused toxicity and shock. And then death.
So, I’m excited that this July 2021, we should be able to pick out a new puppy. More litters coming and we should be closer to getting on new fur baby. We’ve worked it out, finally. Some things are worth fighting for and I’m glad I did. Thankful for those that encouraged me through it because honestly it was hard. There were nights when I relived everything I went through that week and feeling like what could’ve I done but in reality there wasn’t. I don’t think Dixie would’ve wanted me to just give up. Now we can start the healing process again.
Definitely learned a lot but one thing I know is regardless if I had her or Cari, she would have faced this regardless. Most hernias you can wait till they are a little bigger and do surgery. Not the case here. Though her spunky personality will always be in our memories, she had a defect when she was born. I’m just thankful she was surrounded by love and captured our hearts. It’s a little piece of her we’ll always have with us. ~Rest In Peace Sweet Dixie
Stay tuned for an update on how things go! It’s been such a hard time losing someone so young and captures your heart quickly. Thank you Cari for honoring your health guarantee.
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