We continue our tales of goat herding today, with perhaps the best video footage so far, of our brilliant/sensitive girl showing an inkling of skill and luck with her little herding instinct test flock of goats. She even rounds up a stray or two.
Last Wednesday, with full crate and dog-on-the-go regalia loaded into the Mini, Lilly and I trekked about 1 hour and 15 minutes east to Cathy Balliu’s Valdemar Farm in Fort Lupton, Colorado. That’s where Lilly’s history-making herding instinct test took place.
We have big plans, kids. Big plans for 2011. As first days after a holiday break go, Monday long Monday it has been. So, we’ll be brief and simply say that we’ll be talking herding all week. Goat herding that is … Stay tuned for videos, insights, and a few laughs.
Yesterday, I gave you the lowdown on how exactly Lilly found the opportunity to eat about 130 paintballs and end up quite poisoned. Today, I’ll try to explain how we and the local veterinary emergency team had triage, treatment, and luck on our side … to save Lilly’s life.
All of us remain exhausted, so I’ll try to tackle one main question at a time about Lilly’s severe paintball poisoning this week. The big thing everyone wants to know is how on earth Lilly had the opportunity to eat 130 (or so) paintballs. Here is that tale.
I’m sorry I didn’t have time to post until now. I tried desperately to get some work done so that I can take care of Lilly when she comes home, which is right about NOW. Tom is picking her up as I write this. Lilly’s sodium and other electrolyte levels stayed in the safe range…
Managed to sleep from 11 pm to 3 am, despite worry. Just called to check on Lilly. She is tolerating treatment pretty well, poor baby. Not a single seizure yet. Her latest electrolyte check shows that her sodium dropped from 157 to 154 (very much in normal range), which is good.
Yes, that’s the headline. Paintball poisons dog. I’m too tired and worried to explain everything, but Lilly is at the ER/ICU animal hospital getting treatment for paintball poisoning. She got into a bag of paintballs in the basement. We’re still trying to figure out how many she ate, but it was a LOT. Much vomiting ensued. Natural and induced.
Thanks to Facebook, I’ve become friends with the Aunt of Lilly’s (former) best, best friend (Katie, the borzoi). It seems love of the “Bozos,” as they are affectionately called, runs in the family. With Thanksgiving on the horizon, Dana and her crew are headed to Colorado. We’re having dinner at Katie’s old house next Monday….
Sunday night while snuggling with Lilly, I found a big scab on her forehead, near the temple. Monday after our walk and again later in the day, Lilly reached up to kiss me, and when I hugged her back, she squealed in pain. Lilly never cries unless it really hurts. So, I worried.
