more clyde

this is not a happy post.

i took clyde into the vet today and it was an utter and complete disaster. i got him into the crate ok and he managed the beginning of the exam, petrified into stillness in my arms. i made a major mistake when i switched the restraining of him over to the vet tech for his bloodwork. i had already muzzled him and we decided she would hold and i would be up by his head and hold him there so he would still know i was there.

he sat still for a minute and then he exploded. the muzzle was off, he was loose in the exam room, spewing urine and feces. he was protecting himself and trying to bite everyone including me. i finally noosed him, but the tech couldn't restrain him with the towel when the vet finally said, stop. he was out of control and in danger of a coronary. then it became decision making time. the only way to get phenobarb blood levels was to sedate him which would further reduce his seizure threshold. not worth the risk so i said no, we just go ahead and up the meds as we need to. clyde is a dead dog walking, there is no point in terrorizing him and making it worse. we discussed the med option further, i will up his phenobarb dose to 67.5 mg, add valium for 2 days and then trial melatonin. i managed to get him back in the crate and got him home again.

i thought he was ok cuz he crawled up on my lap and laid there for a good 20 minutes. but i knew he was messed up from the vet visit. before i went out to the barn, all was well, but while i was out there visitors arrived without me hearing them and came straight into the house. it sent the dogs into a frenzy. by the time i got back to the house the kitchen was covered in feces, i could tell by the way that it was smeared everywhere that someone was in big trouble. i went looking for clyde and i found him in squirts crate, standing in the entrance silent and still. squirt is ok, just covered in shit and not coming out of his crate. i don't blame him.
but this tells me where clyde is at right now and it is not good.
anyway, the bottom line is...i am instituting some major changes at saints. the front gate will be padlocked when i am not in the house and all visits will only be by prior arrangement. the dogs are too stressed by the constant coming and goings of friends and strangers and it is time to start limiting their stress. volunteers and staff will have free access from 9 am til 1 pm but after that time everyone needs to check with me first.
the major offenders right now are clyde and phoebe who lose their minds by too much stimulation and they set everyone else off too. until i get those two under control i am limiting access to saints.

sorry.