My 15 year old male Shar Pei, JJ has been receiving Laser for a partially torn Cruciate Ligament for a couple months now and also to his back with spondylosis. He has exceeded my expectations for healing. He has multiple problems for which I am doing homeopathy and also supplements. HIs issues are irregular heartbeat (normal size heart and lungs), kidney issues, higher liver enzymes and some cognitive slowness. I am already working with many professionals locally and by phone. Here is the present conundrum that befuddles me. On monday he got his laser therapy which he has gotten for a couple months, at first twice a week and now once a week. On monday he came out of the clinic and I put him in the car and he was panting hard and fast, with dilated pupils and also vocalizing as if a short bark or like he was going to vomit. He was licking his car blanket very hard like I have never seen before which is why I thought he had upset stomach but he never vomited...I did not leave the clinic until I was certain he was ok. He did not vomit. I asked the clinic if he was given a treat or if there was anything sprayed by the landscapers outside recently and they said no to both questions. So this went on for a half hour with JJ until they said the doctor could take a look at him. She said that his temp was normal and his pupils were dilated and he had a fast heartbeat. She suggested it may be his heart and encouraged me to follow up with the rest of the cardiac eval that I decided to decline (that would involve echocardiogram and who knows what else). I felt that JJ was doing well and holding his own as I have attempted to keep him happy and lower his stress level, including fewer vet appointment. I do not think the sudden change was his heart. The vet tech who took him was a gentleman. This tech is rather robotic, stiff and makes no attempt to be mooshy with the dogs. He has a frownie face as if he does not like what he is doing. But those were my impressions. This tech took JJ one other time and I made a mental note last time that JJ panted in the car on the way home but not nearly as severe as this time.
So: other things that crossed my mind was that when JJ was brought outside there were landscapers blowing out a pothole and the smell of fumes from the blower were bad. I did not like them myself and I shuttled him in the car quickly. The clinic also seems to use plug in air fresheners which are enough to choke a horse and I have said nothing but i do wait outside for JJ (why would a vet clinic use these????!!!) I was going to request that one of the female techs work on JJ but not accuse the male of anything. JJ is doing so well and want his experience to be stress free as before. I discussed this with my homeopath and she thought that it was a fear reaction/anxiety. But WHY? Again, the male tech, even before any of this seemed problematic to me with his outside presentation and the "vibes " I was picking up. I do not want the vet when I talk to her to blame JJ's heart problem I just want to be scheduled with someone else. But it concerns me as to what JJ experienced to cause such fear or anxiety. As an aside they do not provide glasses as they said that since they are lasering his back and leg he isn't looking---is that safe or should I insist. He has had so many treatments already and he already has failing vision---. Should I mention the air fresheners? Should I ask to go in with JJ for his treatment? I don't want to be labeled a "problem" which is what I suppose can happen when we advocate for our dogs. I am REALLY trying hard to focus on the happiness and keeping stress at bay for JJ. He has made amazing progress (including not really getting worse). And BTW, I commend Dr. Jeff for probably the one suggestion to sit in the car back seat with JJ (JJ loves the car and lays in the car for hours every day), We do a lot of bonding during that time and he just loves loves loves me up close with him, talking, singing, petting him and healing him with intention. I always tell him how good he is doing.
So: other things that crossed my mind was that when JJ was brought outside there were landscapers blowing out a pothole and the smell of fumes from the blower were bad. I did not like them myself and I shuttled him in the car quickly. The clinic also seems to use plug in air fresheners which are enough to choke a horse and I have said nothing but i do wait outside for JJ (why would a vet clinic use these????!!!) I was going to request that one of the female techs work on JJ but not accuse the male of anything. JJ is doing so well and want his experience to be stress free as before. I discussed this with my homeopath and she thought that it was a fear reaction/anxiety. But WHY? Again, the male tech, even before any of this seemed problematic to me with his outside presentation and the "vibes " I was picking up. I do not want the vet when I talk to her to blame JJ's heart problem I just want to be scheduled with someone else. But it concerns me as to what JJ experienced to cause such fear or anxiety. As an aside they do not provide glasses as they said that since they are lasering his back and leg he isn't looking---is that safe or should I insist. He has had so many treatments already and he already has failing vision---. Should I mention the air fresheners? Should I ask to go in with JJ for his treatment? I don't want to be labeled a "problem" which is what I suppose can happen when we advocate for our dogs. I am REALLY trying hard to focus on the happiness and keeping stress at bay for JJ. He has made amazing progress (including not really getting worse). And BTW, I commend Dr. Jeff for probably the one suggestion to sit in the car back seat with JJ (JJ loves the car and lays in the car for hours every day), We do a lot of bonding during that time and he just loves loves loves me up close with him, talking, singing, petting him and healing him with intention. I always tell him how good he is doing.