Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 9:38 AM
From: "Howard W. Knoebel"
Subject: [i-barc]: Molly critical
Hi:
Molly, Popcorn and Bridget go out for a rabbit run every morning.
This morning Molly crept in, head down, tail low after the others were already here. She went right to the crate but didn't take the food my wife offered.
I came in. She was very lethargic. She wagged the tip of her tail to acknowledge my presence. She jumped up on a chair. I first saw an injury to her skull. Then I noticed a large bloody area on her chest. Oh oh! Road burn! Hit by a car, I thought. I immediately called the vet and got an emergency appointment. I wondered where she could encounter traffic. Seeing the extensive injuries on her chest and knowing that she walked OK, I picked her up by the brisket and the rump to put her on the truck seat. I see now that I got plenty of blood on my shirt and on the truck seat.
Molly wagged the tip of her tail when I got in beside her to begin the 20 mile trip to town. After a while she got down on the floor but that was uncomfortable too and she climbed back on the seat. When we arrived, she didn't even get up. The vet came to the truck and examined her there.
He said we will need x-rays and while they are being developed he would do some other tests. He carried her in to the operating room and told me to return in about an hour.
When I returned he said that she also wagged the tip of her tail for the surgical team but she was in shock. He showed me the picture where a broken rib was endangering the heart. Then he showed me the rib which he had removed from her chest. He said she was not "out of the woods" yet. Shock, infection, and a collapsed lung were all concerns.
He then went on to say that this was not an automobile trauma. There were puncture wounds all over her body. Either a Coyote or a big dog had attacked Molly. What I thought was a "road burn" was a blood encrusted chewed up area. He has seen many dogs attacked by Coyotes lately. They are especially hungry at this time of year because it is their whelping season. I have not heard any Coyotes in our woods for over two years.
Pray for Molly.
I now see the blood spots near both doors of the house where she came to be let in but no one heard her. Poor Molly. She was the prettiest beagle in the pack. At 3:00 PM, I will contact the vet to see what the prognosis is.
Howard, 5 beagles, 2 rottweilers and a dalmatian
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 3:42 PM
From: "Howard W. Knoebel"
Subject: [i-barc]: Molly still critical
Hi:
I want to thank all the people who sent condolences after Molly received broken ribs and a collapsed lung from being attacked by a Coyote or large dog while out running rabbits.
This afternoon the vet said that Molly is beginning to wake up from the chest surgery (removal of a broken rib) but she is still in shock and her temperature is low. She is on a breathing tube and a chest suction tube. He or she (a member of the surgical team) will contact me when things change. The shock and possible infection are both cause for worry.
When taken in, Molly wagged the tip of her tail for the surgical team (See tail on her homepage). I wonder if she will acknowledge them again when she wakes up.
Howard, 5 beagles, 2 rottweilers and a dalmatian
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 5:46 PM
From: "Howard W. Knoebel"
Subject: [i-barc]: Molly stabilized
Hi:
I just got the evening report on Molly from Dr. Barber.
She is snoring some. This could be due to swelling from extensive trauma around her neck. Dr. Barber is giving her pain reliever. She had cried a little.
There is blood in her tracheal tube, probably due to one of the neck punctures. There could be throat swelling because there are a lot of punctures around the neck area which I didn't see initially. Also there is a puncture from her cheek into her ear canal.
At this time she is breathing well. She even thumped her tail a little bit for the doctor. Dr. Barber will check on her at various times during the night. There will not be a continuous care-giver.
There was a discussion on i-barc about the advisability of taking the patient home. Dr. Barber advised against this because the owners fall asleep too and the hospital is a better place to take action if needed. The doctor will call me during the night if anything gets worse.
Howard, 5 beagles, 2 rottweilers and a dalmatian
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 1997 4:36 PM
From: "Howard W. Knoebel"
Subject: [i-barc]: Molly hurting
Hi:
This afternoon I went to see Molly who was chewed up by probably a coyote and lost a rib. She has a suction tube in her chest and an IV tube in her leg. Her throat is so swelled up that she cannot eat or drink. She is able to walk a little. Her chewed up throat looks awful and it is weeping blood. She is on pain killer.
She recognized me and wagged her tail a bit. She expected me to make her feel better but I couldn't do much except pet her on the muzzle. Everywhere else is too sore to pet. She smelled me and paid particular attention to the blood spot still on my overalls.
It makes me very sad that I can't help her feel better because I know she trusts me to take care of her. Her face (only two punctures) is pretty much herself but everything else is fairly mangled. Her injuries look much worse today than when I took her in yesterday.
She will be in the hospital for perhaps two more days. They do not worry about her not eating but they do about fluids. We hope that infection does not come to her extensive bite wounds.
Howard, 5 beagles, 2 rottweilers and a dalmatian
Date: Thur, 31 Jul 1997 7:18 PM
From: "Howard W. Knoebel"
Subject: [i-barc]: Molly healing
Hi:
I talked to the veterinary nurse today and she said Molly is better. The chest suction tube is removed and the body bandage is off. The IV will be removed soon and Molly can probably go home tomorrow. She is eating and drinking now. When they were cleaning her wounds today she got up and walked right out to a run. They are not aware of any infections. The danger of shock is over. I am thankful that her sweet face is not mutilated. I look forward to Molly's little warm body under the covers again.
We are thankful for all the prayers and good thoughts from those on i-barc. There were 24 private messages of condolence and 40 i-barc messages, mostly condolence. I had hoped to answer each individually but now, with so many, please excuse me if I miss.
Howard, 5 beagles, 2 rottweilers and a dalmatian
Date: Sat, 02 Aug 1997 12:01 AM
From: "Howard W. Knoebel"
Subject: [i-barc]: Molly Home
Hi:
Molly came home today (really yesterday because it's after midnight). Dr. Barber felt that her improvement is remarkable. "She was such a good patient". He said she never growled or snapped although they did painful things to her.
She drank, ate and wet at home but has not had a BM since the surgery. Hospital food is low bulk. Injuries may make it painful when she goes. She is not to climb or jump although she already got up onto a favorite chair (red leather) and is sound asleep. I will have to lift her off. Lifting also must be done carefully.
She is on antibiotics and pain killer. I have yet to figure out how she will sleep tonight because my bed is too high for her safety at least until her stitches are out. My writing was just interrupted because she climbed the stairs and jumped on the bed. I lifted her down and confined her. She is such a trooper! I may have to reduce the pain medicine sooner than expected.
Popcorn and Bridget are unhappy because they haven't been out loose since the mishap. I want to find out what the hazard is before they get to go out again. They've been deprived before when I had neighbors causing traffic.
The dogs in the dog yard have been barking a lot today but I haven't seen any people in the vicinity (usually the cause). I had the impression that the coyotes left after the neighboring woods were cut but maybe not.
I have now read the unfortunate flaming which resulted from Molly's mishap. I am reminded of Dale in the far North and the flaming about him and his beagle although I think he was just honestly seeking information.
My address (with directions) can be found on my amateur radio homepage. To my knowledge, there is no animal control in Cumberland County. You have to contact the Sheriff. I do not believe that my beagles make a habit of leaving our 103 acres. My springers never did and I never had a fenced dog yard until I got beagles. Incidently, I have not seen a male dog visit here because of my bitches in season. There just aren't many dogs around.
I had considered putting a kennel (and vandal) fence around the entire property but the many hills and deep gullies make such fence building difficult.
Howard, 5 beagles, 2 rottweilers and a dalmatian