GAIA!!

Dropped Gaia off at the CARE Vet Centre in South Calgary at 8:00AM.  I sat in the parking lot until 9:44.  I wasn't texting.  I wasn't reading.  I was thinking.  I was worried.  My precious, sweet girl was not eager to be handed off to a stranger and taken into the building.  In some ways it felt like I was betraying her.  Of course, with stupid COVID, everything has changed and I couldn't take her in myself.  My heart broke, just a little.  I wondered if that was going to be the last time she ever saw me and I wondered if she was going to think I abandoned her.  And yes, there were a few tears.

First thing on the list was a CT scan so they could figure out the best way to remove the broken piece of bone.  After the CT, surgery was scheduled and an overnight stay.  They were going to call after the CT and let me know what they found.  

Normally, when I have to go to Calgary, I try and make it worthwhile.  After all, it was almost 2 hours to get to the clinic, so what should I do now that I was in Calgary?  I couldn't think of a thing.  All I could think about was Gaia and the look on her face as she turned to look at me just before going through the door.  I decided I would just drive home and count the hours until I could  pick her up the next day.  I climbed into the back of my Jeep with Rommel and Cruz, told them what was happening and why I was leaving her behind, and off we went.  Homeward bound.

I turned on some podcasts to listen to as I drove, to take my mind off things.  An hour and a half later, the phone rang.  It was the CARE Centre phoning to let me know the results of the CT.  It just so happened I had arrived in Olds so I pulled off onto a side street to take the call.  It went something like this:

Hello, Mary Ann?  Yes.  This is Dr Little from the CARE Centre.  I have good news.  Well that's nice to hear!  Gaia doesn't need surgery!  WHAT?!  She has panosteitis.  OMG!!  That's fantastic news!!  I did a scan of both elbows and both shoulders and her joints are "pristine"!  OMG!  I can't believe this!  You will still be able to use her in your breeding program. This is such good news!  Absolutely unbelievable!  So I can pick her up then?  Let's give her a couple of hours to come out of the anesthetic and then you can pick her up.  Well I'm almost 2 hours away now so I'll just grab a sandwich and head back down there.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Panosteitis, sometimes shortened to pano among breeders,^[1] is an occasionally seen long bone condition in large breed dogs. It manifests with sudden, unexplained pain and lameness that may shift from leg to leg, usually between 5 and 14 months of age, earning the nickname "growing pains. "^[2] Signs such as fever, weight loss, anorexia, and lethargy can also be seen. The cause is unknown, but genetics, stress, infection, metabolism, or an autoimmune component may be factors.^[3]It has also been suggested that rapid growth and high-protein food are involved in the pathogenesis.^[4] Whole blood analysis may show an elevated white blood cell count; this finding lends support to the theory that panosteitis is due to an infection.^[5]

The above is wikipedia's definition of Panosteitis.  To prevent Pano from occurring, I have always changed my puppy's food from puppy to adult at 9-10 months of age.  This helps to prevent rapid growth and decreases the amount of protein in their diet.  This is the very first time that one of my  dogs has developed Pano.  When discussing my diet change with Dr. Little, she stated that she wished everyone would do the same.  She also commented on the incredible temperament and correct structure of Gaia.  She said it had been a very, very long time since she had seen such a good representation of the German Shepherd breed.  I told her I had two more just like her in my Jeep!  And when she was returned to me, the vet tech commented on how sweet Gaia was.  At which point I rolled down the back window and out popped Rommel and Cruz's heads!  She was delighted to see how friendly and beautiful they were!

So we have had a WONDERFUL day here at Guardian Angel Shepherds!  A day that started with worry and dread, turned into a miracle.  I asked the vet tech how often a scheduled surgery didn't actually get performed.  She just looked at me and laughed.  

I want to thank everyone for all the prayers, kind thoughts and wishes, offers of financial help, texts and emails I have been receiving.  The Guardian Angel Family is second to none!  There are days that I wonder why I spend 3 days without sleep after the whelping of a litter.  I ask again when I've spent 2 weeks feeding and caring for a newborn pup 24/7 only to have it die in my hands.  And again on the days I have to euthanize a beloved 4 legged family member.  But days like this, make it all worthwhile.  (And many, many others!))  I am so proud to call you all family!  I can't thank you enough.  And a special thank you to Julie who took the time to do a draft Go Fund Me page for Gaia.  Not to mention all the work she does keeping my Facebook page up to date and fielding a ton of questions for me.  Thank you Julie!

The picture is of Gaia and her Grandparents after she was returned to me from the clinic.  I think that "stink eye" look I got from Gaia says it all!

Mary Ann