My Sweetest Spice

Went to the Rainbow Bridge 10-31-07

Spice came to DDRI from a fellow rescuer in KY.  She was left behind by her family and locked up in their family home.  Spice, being the tough cookie that she was, dug her way out of the house and was running around the neighborhood.  The KY rescuer spent a lot of time trying to catch Spice and finally she was successful.  She took Spice back to her home and that is where Spice stayed until she was transported to PA.

When I first saw Spice I knew she was very sick.  We already knew she tested positive for heartworms, but the snap test showed 'light positive'.  We immediately took her to our vet who checked her blood.  Her blood revealed 'heavy, heavy positive' - a devastating blow - but she was not displaying any outward symptoms such as coughing or a heart murmur so there seemed to be a chance.

The plan was to treat her with Doxy for a month and attempt to get her in better condition so she could survive the treatment.

A week or so after we made that decision, she began to dehydrate.  We decided we needed to do the treatment ASAP because at this point the heartworms were killing her while we trying to get her healthier.

We administered the injections and she miraculously survived - a sign she was going to make it... or so we thought.  She came home about four days later and seemed ok except for severe back pain from the injections and she did not want to eat or drink much.  She was only home for a few days and needed to return to the vet hospital for IV liquids.  She spent another week or so in ICU and then finally took a turn for the worse when she threw up food she ate the day before.

She was deteriorating and it was obvious there was nothing else we could other than end her suffering.

On October 31, 2007, we held Spice to the bridge after many tears, hugs and kisses.

Spice is truly one of the sweetest Dober-girls I have ever met. She wanted nothing more than her nose rubbed and kissed - that's it - nothing more.

It breaks my heart that I could not save her.  I was so hopeful - I stayed positive and looked forward to giving Spice her 'happily ever after'...

I know she is in a better place, but selfishly I miss her deeply.  I still can't talk about her or write about her without crying.  She didn't deserve this.  She didn't deserve to die at the hands of those nasty heart worms - if only her owners had given her one little pill a month - it would have saved her life.

We would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and donations on behalf of Spice.

If you are currently not using HW preventative please have a test done and start today.  And, please educate those around you.  No dog or cat deserves this!

Please visit the American Heartworm Association's web site for more information.

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