There is nothing worse than when your dog is sick. Time is filled with worries, and I always think that I should have done more and discovered the disease sooner. Last time it was Vilde, our young dog, who unfortunately was affected. But how difficult it can be to detect. Read our experiences here:
Our spring and early summer were marked by the fact that Vilde started to act a little strange in the spring, and we wondered what was wrong. She didn't seem really sick. Just a little "untimely" and unwell. So the thoughts and considerations started: Is it because of her period? - Is she a teenager and in a special phase?
And a lot of other speculations. I honestly tore my hair out a lot that she was like that, and I tried a lot of good ideas to fix the problem. But it only helped a little, and I was a bit frustrated. I think I must have done something completely wrong with her training and socialization and didn't really know what to do.
After a few weeks, however, her behavior changed again: Now it suddenly became more clear that it was probably a definite illness and not "just" small behavioral changes. She became lethargic and also lost her appetite. We rushed to the vet, and they only found minor things and were inclined to believe that it must be due to hormones due to the heat and then the subsequent false pregnancy.
But we still had her examined more closely, and in the end the diagnosis came: heartworm! Something she has actually been regularly tested for and given prevention for. And yet that was exactly what she had wrong. A truly insidious disease that can manifest itself in many different ways - and this time with truly non-specific symptoms.
Poor Wild. It's a disease that can kill them if it's not detected in time - and the heart/lungs can be permanently damaged. She was immediately treated, and we had to change a lot of plans and get extra help with care, as she was supposed to be at rest for weeks. I felt SO bad, and the guilty conscience was rumbling. Could I have discovered it sooner? - Why hadn't we had her tested in the spring - and many other thoughts. My reason knew how difficult it can be to discover when they are sick. But how hard it is not to feel guilty. Our dogs are so good at hiding when they are sick - and can't tell where they are hurting. So maybe that's why you feel extra obligated to make an extra effort to take care of them.
Vilde received two treatments and a month of rest. And now she seems to be happily on her way back to her old self. But what a shock - and now even the smallest things are being kept under double scrutiny. Yes, sometimes it seems to be "poached" a fair amount. But that's better than her getting sick again. And we also pay a little extra for the heartworm tests. Here in North Zealand where we live, it is unfortunately a very widespread disease.
It's been a tough time for all of us here at home - and the next guilty conscience can hit when you feel that the healthy dog is being neglected while you take care of the sick one. So now we cross our fingers and paws for happy and healthy dogs for the next many years.
Photos: No. 1 and 3: Private photos. No. 2: Tails by Ragno
About the blogger:
Karoline lives in Birkerød with her boyfriend and their two golden retrievers, Frida and Vilde. Karoline is a trained veterinarian and dog trainer and is co-founder of the dog running club Dirty Paws, where she is also a trainer/rope keeper in the local club in North Zealand. Frida and Line love running canicross together and have participated in many competitions at home and abroad, including the European Championships and the World Championships. Their most important motto, however, is "Better together" - that the trips are about teamwork and understanding for each other. And that everyone can join in. In addition to canicross, they also participate in K9 biathlons (obstacle races with dogs) and do dog fitness. And hiking both in Denmark and around Europe is also a hit.
Frida is a super fast runner when it comes to it. And can hike for hours in the Alps. But she also just loves to be petted on the stomach and sleep for a long time. She can be stubborn as a donkey if there is something she doesn't like. On evening walks, for example, she is the one who decides the route. And she "talks" a lot by purring, including when she thinks she has earned an extra treat.
Vilde is from the spring of 2023 - and in many ways Frida's opposite. She is full of mischief and always happy and cheeky. She can howl like a wolf or jump like a kangaroo when she gets impatient - and otherwise she is a smart and brave girl who loves wild play and training. She will do pretty much anything for a treat.
Frida, Vilde and Karoline can be found on Instagram with the profile @teamgoldenpower
When the dog is sick: Do you know that guilty conscience?
There is nothing worse than when your dog is sick. Time is filled with worries, and I always think that I should have done more and discovered the disease sooner. Last time it was Vilde, our young dog, who unfortunately was affected. But how difficult it can be to detect. Read our experiences here:
Our spring and early summer were marked by the fact that Vilde started to act a little strange in the spring, and we wondered what was wrong. She didn't seem really sick. Just a little "untimely" and unwell. So the thoughts and considerations started: Is it because of her period? - Is she a teenager and in a special phase?
And a lot of other speculations. I honestly tore my hair out a lot that she was like that, and I tried a lot of good ideas to fix the problem. But it only helped a little, and I was a bit frustrated. I think I must have done something completely wrong with her training and socialization and didn't really know what to do.
After a few weeks, however, her behavior changed again: Now it suddenly became more clear that it was probably a definite illness and not "just" small behavioral changes. She became lethargic and also lost her appetite. We rushed to the vet, and they only found minor things and were inclined to believe that it must be due to hormones due to the heat and then the subsequent false pregnancy.
But we still had her examined more closely, and in the end the diagnosis came: heartworm! Something she has actually been regularly tested for and given prevention for. And yet that was exactly what she had wrong. A truly insidious disease that can manifest itself in many different ways - and this time with truly non-specific symptoms.
Poor Wild. It's a disease that can kill them if it's not detected in time - and the heart/lungs can be permanently damaged. She was immediately treated, and we had to change a lot of plans and get extra help with care, as she was supposed to be at rest for weeks. I felt SO bad, and the guilty conscience was rumbling. Could I have discovered it sooner? - Why hadn't we had her tested in the spring - and many other thoughts. My reason knew how difficult it can be to discover when they are sick. But how hard it is not to feel guilty. Our dogs are so good at hiding when they are sick - and can't tell where they are hurting. So maybe that's why you feel extra obligated to make an extra effort to take care of them.
Vilde received two treatments and a month of rest. And now she seems to be happily on her way back to her old self. But what a shock - and now even the smallest things are being kept under double scrutiny. Yes, sometimes it seems to be "poached" a fair amount. But that's better than her getting sick again. And we also pay a little extra for the heartworm tests. Here in North Zealand where we live, it is unfortunately a very widespread disease.
It's been a tough time for all of us here at home - and the next guilty conscience can hit when you feel that the healthy dog is being neglected while you take care of the sick one. So now we cross our fingers and paws for happy and healthy dogs for the next many years.
Photos: No. 1 and 3: Private photos. No. 2: Tails by Ragno
About the blogger:
Karoline lives in Birkerød with her boyfriend and their two golden retrievers, Frida and Vilde. Karoline is a trained veterinarian and dog trainer and is co-founder of the dog running club Dirty Paws, where she is also a trainer/rope keeper in the local club in North Zealand. Frida and Line love running canicross together and have participated in many competitions at home and abroad, including the European Championships and the World Championships. Their most important motto, however, is "Better together" - that the trips are about teamwork and understanding for each other. And that everyone can join in. In addition to canicross, they also participate in K9 biathlons (obstacle races with dogs) and do dog fitness. And hiking both in Denmark and around Europe is also a hit.
Frida is a super fast runner when it comes to it. And can hike for hours in the Alps. But she also just loves to be petted on the stomach and sleep for a long time. She can be stubborn as a donkey if there is something she doesn't like. On evening walks, for example, she is the one who decides the route. And she "talks" a lot by purring, including when she thinks she has earned an extra treat.
Vilde is from the spring of 2023 - and in many ways Frida's opposite. She is full of mischief and always happy and cheeky. She can howl like a wolf or jump like a kangaroo when she gets impatient - and otherwise she is a smart and brave girl who loves wild play and training. She will do pretty much anything for a treat.
Frida, Vilde and Karoline can be found on Instagram with the profile @teamgoldenpower