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Close Encounter With A Killer, by Chris Benton
Ask people what they think a killer looks like and mostly they
will
describe a sinister, evil looking being that they would immediately
recognize as bad. Ask people who have actually unknowingly had
acquaintance with a killer and you will often hear quotes like "he
like such a nice person" or "I am totally shocked, I never would have
known." Killers-they come in all shapes and sizes, they are not
always easily recognized.
The killer that I recently had an encounter with is one that I have
known about for many years. I had heard the stories of unsuspecting
dog owners who went off to work kissing their happy seemly healthy
canine companion goodbye, only to come home to a silent house and a
very dead dog. In fact two of my best friends lost their beloved
companions to this often unrecognized killer this past year. Both
dogs were German Shepherds. One was only fourteen months old. Young
and full of life one day, Otto was very much dead the next. The other
was seven year old German Shepherd who was in the prime of life and
very loved by adoring owners. His fate was sealed also because his
owners did not recognize a killer when it came knocking at their
door.
My friend's tragedy may have saved my Shiloh, Tanner's life. When
this killer came knocking I recognized him for who he was. Who is
this killer? He goes by the street name of BLOAT. A very benign name
for a very ruthless killer.
I was not expecting to have a life and death situation last Thursday,
as I loaded up Tanner to take him to the vet for an ear infection.
Tanner is nine and half years old and as far as I was concerned in
very good health. He recently had pasted his yearly checkup with
flying colors. He stills runs with me everyday and in fact has been
training with us for a half marathon. We did a fourteen miler the
previous Saturday and by Sunday morning he was ready to go for a
short five miler. Yep, there is nothing wrong with Tanner. Oh how
fate can humble you.
I stopped to pick up Tanner from the vet after work. He had been
there all day, not his favorite thing for sure. The vet explained
what I needed to do to treat the infection. I was anxious to get
home. There was an artic front coming in and the winds where howling,
temps were dropping fast and the weather forecast was warning that
-
35 to – 50 degree wind chill temperature were likely. I live about 30
miles from Missoula. The drive would most likely be bad with blowing
snow and gusting winds. I just wanted to get home. As Tanner and I
exited the vet's office we were blasted by the frigid wind. My plan
had been to stop and take Tanner for a quick walk but I quickly
changed it, reasoning with my self that we could make it home and
Tanner would be alright. Tanner certainly didn't seem inclined to do
any thing but wanted to get in the car and get as far away from the
dreaded vet as he could. The ride home was uneventful. At home I let
Tanner and my other dogs Jocko and Kola out. They all just hovered
around the door. With the temps now at 20 below without the wind,
they were not inclined to go walk themselves. I decided to feed them
first then bundle up for the required walk. Tanner ate his dinner
with gusto then went and got him self a long drink of water. He was
very thirsty after being at the vet's all day. The stage was set. Now
all I had to do is open the door----
It was cold outside and getting dark. We were kind of sheltered form
the wind but at 20 below, you cannot hide from the cold. I set a
quick pace and the three dogs trotting along with me. I was hoping to
that the dogs would do their business, but they were out to milk the
walk for as long as possible. I noticed the change on the return
trip. Jocko and Kola had finally given in to natures call and did
their potty break. Tanner, though seemed to start to do his business
but then stop and trot off. I thought he might be a little
constipated. Things progressed quickly. I could tell just how Tanner
was walking that something was wrong. He started to vomit but nothing
came up except some foamy liquid. I didn't see the killer yet but he
was there, masking his identity as a typical stomach upset. Dogs get
those a lot and if I rushed my dogs to the vet every time one of them
puked well, lets just say I would be making a log of trips to town.
But----I remembered Otto and Chandler. My friends had waited, and
their dogs had died, what if this was the real thing? Thoughts were
rushing through my head. I decided to call my vet's emergency number.
Their response was bring him in NOW! I think that's when I saw for
sure the killer and he had Tanner in his grip. I told them I would be
there in a half hour; pretty unrealistic considering the driving
conditions. I loaded Tanner into my SUV and sped down our long drive
to the main access road to the highway, only to find the whole road
was blocked by a neighbor who had spun sideways and was fruitlessly
trying to spin himself out of three feet of snow. I panicked. After I
sobbingly told him what was going on he, with the help of other
neighbors managed to get the vehicle out of my way and I rushed past.
By this time Tanner was whining and moaning in the back of my
vehicle. I didn't dare stop or look back, my hands where clamped on
the steering wheel, praying that I would not go off the road. I made
it to the highway. The highway was icy, the wind still howling,
blowing snow across the road. I managed to calm myself and drive with
caution. Finally after what seemed like hours but in fact was only 45
minutes, I drove up to the vet's office. They were waiting for me and
swept Tanner away to do x-rays. As I was waiting for the results of
the x-ray I started having doubts, thinking that I had over reacted.
Those doubts were put to rest when the vet tech came bursting through
the door, shouting its BLOAT, do we have permission to do surgery. I
signed the forms. They told me to go home and they would call. All I
could think of was that I never got to tell Tanner goodbye. As I
drove up to our house I could see my husband had come home. He
greeted me on the deck and quickly saw that Tanner was not with
me. "Where is Tanner?" he asked. I burst into tears. After I gave him
the run down he suggested that we pray. We held hands and prayed for
Tanner. I felt better knowing that it was in God's hands. About five
minutes later the phone rang. Tanner was okay. We had got him there
on time. There was no torsion and all the tissue looked healthy and
pink. He would require some extensive post op care, but he was going
to make a full recovery. I started crying again but these were tears
of joy.
We picked up Tanner on Saturday. What a joyful reunion on both sides.
Jim and I dutifully listen to the vet give us all the instructions
for post op care. Small amounts of bland food fed every two hours, no
running, jumping etc etc. I made the decision right then to take this
week off of work to care for him. After the vet finished, one of the
vet techs came out to talk with us. She was telling how important it
is to get a dog in quickly when suspecting bloat. Ironically as we
were standing there a couple burst in carrying a dog. It looked like
the dog was dead. The lady was crying and the man face was tight with
emotion. It turns out their dog had bloated and died on the way to
the vets. "We didn't know" she cried. "We thought it was just a
simple upset stomach."
This killer is still out there-Be sure you recognize him if he come
knocking! You dogs life depends on it!
--Chris Benton
Bloat: Be Aware, Be Prepared
 Articles
on Bloat, including Quick Reference Guide for GDV Bloat
Bloat
in Dogs, a great resource for FAQs and links about this deadly
event
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More Information: 
Most common
Shiloh Shepherd health concerns
A basic
understanding of Genetics
Why you should
or should not become a breeder
Bringing home your puppy
What is an outcross?
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