It all started when daughter Monica was hospitalized for 3 days. We left the house in a rush without saying good-bye. When we got home on the fourth day, Mucci was so happy to see me back. Then, her birthday on 6 December—I could not resist giving her a piece of her chocolate birthday cake.
A few days later, Mucci was showing signs of malaise, didn’t want to eat anything, was lethargic, and was not behaving the way a dog should be. No matter how we coaxed her, she would not even eat her favorite food. She had this Pikachu stuffed toy that she would carry around in her mouth, while crying. Mucci would guard Pikachu tightly, and no one could take it away from her. Early one morning, she threw up, and I rushed her to the vet in the middle of the rain. She was almost dehydrated that the vet gave her 2 shots, one for appetite and the other to prevent her from throwing up again.
No findings as yet, not Parvo’s, not distemper, perhaps chocolate poisoning. She was given a bottle of electrolytes. Vet advised us to return the next day if Mucci still would not eat—for IV and further tests. Could be depression caused by separation anxiety or could she have been scolded? I could not believe it—depression for humans, yes, but for dogs?
It broke my heart to see Mucci, the baby of the family (all my kids are grown up now, the youngest is 12) almost lifeless. We had to force feed her, everyone took turns giving her electrolytes, we talked to her, caressed her, we even prayed for her—that she would get out of her illness soon. After the evening prayers, the kids would bless her with holy water. Anything—just to keep her alive.
There were follow up calls to the vet giving progress of Mucci, improving by the day. It’s depression, vet says, though one of these days, she has to take her medical tests. She will get through it, the vet assured us.
She would eat, yes, force feeding her in the beginning (vet said to feed her with the food she likes), then she would eat only by my hand. Table food if she didn’t like dog food, dog food if she didn’t like table food. Until now, she would eat only when I feed her, by my hand. Yes, by my hand, sometimes I would scold her—she has to get out of this, or I would start calling her EMO! She listens in between. She still brings Pikachu around, whimpering.
Vince and I would bring her around the village at 5 am while BA and I would bring her more often to Quezon Memorial Circle for a walk. If I go out, I bring her with me, as much as possible. We stopped calling her fat, she might not really like it. She is again practically my shadow, she moves about wherever I go in the house. When I go to the toilet, she’ll be there by the door waiting. Sometimes she sleeps by my side, sometimes with the kids.
It was depression, indeed. A severe case of depression that she almost died of dehydration and not wanting to eat. For what dog would be romping happily one moment with a lovely gait, the next head bent, listless, lethargic. When she sees her leash, meaning she would be brought out for a walk, she would wag her tail excitedly, and once leashed, pull mightily I would almost fall. Is this blackmail, I am apt to ask her. She still has mood swings, but has improved much.
Now, she is up and about. She is out of depression now—well, almost.
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11 responses so far ↓
pauline // Dec 29, 2008 at 4:01 am
wow. i didn’t know dogs could undergo that severe a depression. i hope she recovers soon!
i can’t believe you give your dog chocolate cake! there was a time i was in my cousin’s house, and i saw their poodle licking the remains of chocolate milk on a glass at the living room. it scared the hell out of me, i still haven’t told my cousin about it!
eRLyN // Dec 29, 2008 at 8:33 am
its a good thing that she’s coming out of it. im sure that it will be totally over with the help of everyone in ur family.
happy holidays tita dine!
ghee // Dec 29, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Mucci and the pikachu pic is so cute!!
Im having a second thought pa rin kung ibibili namin si ally ng puppy,coz i know,the responsibilities will be on me.
Belated Merry Christmas to you,too,Dine and to your family!I wish you all the best this 2009!!
hugs,
ghee
an2nette // Dec 29, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Hi Ms. D, thanks for the visit and happy new year to your family. Get well soon to mucci, so dogs pala also got depressed kung kulang sa pansin, take care and God bless. an2nette
manilenya // Dec 30, 2008 at 12:46 am
They are so lucky to have u as family Ate Dine…naalala ko tuloy si Rocky, nung nagkasakit di rin ako mapakali.. I don’t like dogs but when I realized how sweet and loving these dogs are..I want to get my own too.
Kyels // Dec 30, 2008 at 3:04 am
I am glad to hear she is coming out of her depression mode. I’d be so sad if Shay ( my Silky Terrier ) went emote.
):
Tina of MyGoodFinds // Dec 30, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Oh my gosh, chocolate is toxic to canine. I’m glad Mucci is feeling much better now.
http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/nutritiondogs/a/chocolatetoxici.htm
Rach (Heart of Rachel) // Jan 2, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Hi Dine. I’m so glad that Mucci got through her depression. I believe dogs get lonely and depressed too. I hope that she will continue to do better.
jan // Jan 5, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Aww, parang member of the family na rin si Mucci. Nice, heartwarming story. I wonder what’s getting her down. Maybe the economic downturn depresses her? Or is it the dismal performance of theArroyo government? I wouldn’t put it past her. Dogs are not only genial companions.They are quite intelligent too.
corn // Jan 9, 2009 at 1:52 pm
im glad mucci is okay now. teary eyed ako when reading ur story. i have 4 dogs at home and i almost lost one when accidentally she ate a piece of chocolate. Maybe the chocolate and separation anxiety took its toll on Mucci that he became lethargic and ill. Eto im cuddling my pup while posting here. Great family Ms D! Blessings for 2009!
Maree Tee // Jan 11, 2009 at 5:03 pm
i’m not a dog lover but upon reading your article i became cautious now about the behaviour of our dog ghio. she might want something which she has no means of telling us.
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