Following a break to rest and drink, Lilly entered the round pen for the third and final time in her 1-hour herding instinct test. The task of working livestock is one of the most mentally taxing things a dog can do. Lilly showed tremendous stamina of body and brain. Still, she went a little wild on her third try.
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.
Various family demands mean more time off the mountain than usual, of late. That, along with the fact that I’m STILL coughing a full three weeks after getting sick, have resulted in a very boring time for Lilly. She adjusts to fetch-only or cuddle-only days, but clearly Lilly needs more.
