Carr Peak with Zeke and Minnie

The original plan was to hike up Miller Peak with Beth yesterday, but she cancelled out and drove home to Phoenix for some family matters. Instead of hiking it anyway, I slept in and worked on both school work and class work yesterday and only went outside to walk Sara and Sammy around the neighborhood.

Today was my last chance to bag a peak for August. It was also my first peak bagged since Zeke and Sadie got sick last month. I didn't even leave the house until 12:15pm because I was busy in the morning working on my students' grades. I had promised them all they'd be online by Sunday afternoon or early evening. When I went outside to see the peaks, though, they were shrouded in dark clouds. But this time that did not defer me.

I should have hiked the peak first thing this morning. When I left the house after noon it looked dark over the peaks. Forty-five minutes later and higher on the mountain, the trailhead was sunny, as if those clouds I saw an hour earlier had dissipated. I took the chance of getting hit with rain and I lucked out. Although there were some clouds over Carr as I hiked up to the peak, the clouds provided the dogs a cool breeze and they seemed energized after the more warm ascent from the lower trailhead.

I left Sadie at home because she didn't seem herself these last two days, appearing tired and a bit off-kilter. This coming Friday she goes back to the vet and I will see then if Sadie is healthy enough to start hiking again. I'll start slow and short with her, hiking the lower canyons on the weekends starting next month. I don't want her to have a seizure while high in the mountains, but I also don't want her languishing at home when I know she loves hiking the peaks with me. Hiking with two young dogs other than Sadie still doesn't feel right; I miss Sadie's presence when I'm in the mountains.

I gassed up Essie at the Jumpin' Jack near Hereford Road ($3.49/gallon and rising again!) and drove up Carr Canyon Road with two excited dogs. Minnie's learned to enjoy driving with me. Perhaps Zeke's showed her there's nothing to be afraid of in the car. The mountains were busy today. Besides the many people picnicing near the creek, there was also much USBP action. One USBP vehicle was parked in the lower parking lot. The driver had his binoculars facing the upper Falls. Later on the hike I met two more agents hiking back down, who both tolerated Minnie and Zeke barking at them. A USBP helicopter hovered near Carr Peak around 4:30pm and later a second helicopter, a non-USBP type, flew up there as well.

And even though both dogs barked at the agents and later at an elderly woman hiking uphill at 5pm by herself, they did well today. They stayed close and stayed together, sniffing things along the trail and staying mostly on the trail. The only time they took off was on the descent when they caught movement behind manzanitas. I saw that movement too and am not sure if they were chasing a bear or a black-clad Mexican hiding off the trail. Whatever it was both dogs were determined to get it.

All that aside, it was a much-needed hike. The first mile felt straining to me since I hadn't hiked elevation since May, but I soon caught my rhythm. Even the dogs did well, especially Minnie who was much slower the first time she bagged Carr Peak with me last May. I think she did better today because there was water at the upper falls, and the clouds provided a cool layer we didn't have in May. There were storm clouds in all directions but the storms stayed away.

There was so much green up in the mountains that it was hard to see the burned areas from last summer. Grass over four feet tall was crowding the trail near the aspen groves. Both dogs would disappear in the grass as they walked ahead of me. There were lots of yellow flowers out today, from Columbines near the aspens to Black-eyed Susans, Golden Rods and sunflowers; butterflies and a few birds. I saw grasses there I hadn't noticed before. Although the manzanitas are dead and won't regrow, the oaks and junipers that were burned are coming back.

Wildlife consisted mostly of various orange butterflies. I saw and heard a hawk on my way down. In another month the flowers will turn to seed and the grasses will die off. Then hawk migration will begin.

We had the peak to ourselves. There was rain falling to our north over Huachuca City. Smaller showers fell over eastern Hereford. And more rain was coming down in northern Sonora. We drank some water, enjoyed the view and then turned around to hike back down. We stayed dry and not once did we even come close to getting rained on. We lucked out. Although I took a risk leaving so late in the day, I will try to start my hikes earlier to avoid the heat. One sees more wildlife earlier in the day, too. I fed the dogs extra chicken when we got home. Both were tired the rest of the day.

Hunter Canyon

Since I didn't hike up Carr Peak and sat around all day, I opted to take four dogs with me around Hunter canyon during the late afternoon when the sun was behind the mountains. I took Zeke, Minnie, Sara and Sammy and all four were excited to go back into the mountains; they had been so anxiously awaiting a return to the trails. Even Minnie jumped into the truck this time! (She had been too scared to hop in with the rest of the pack before).

I left Sadie at home to rest with Kevin, although she, too, is now finally running and fetching her ball again these last three days. I hadn't taken the dogs here since before Zeke came down with parvo; it was nice to be back. Sammy was so excited he kept blocking my view of the road as I was driving. He likes to ride shotgun and lean forward toward the windshield as he pants hot air toward me. The dogs certainly remembered this playground of theirs. Both Sara and Minnie hopped out with excitement as well.

I noticed right away how badly parts of the main road into the canyon has become. The rains this past month have really done a job here, with parts of the road covered in flashflood boulders. Both sides of the road are now badly rutted. A sedan with low clearance would need to be careful here, and a speeding truck may get caught in the ruts at night, especially one evading the USBP. Even the campsite looked overwhelmed with fresh run-off.

It was very peaceful for most of my walk. There were no other shooters blasting away, or other cars parked along the road. One lone USBP drove out of the canyon as we were heading in, and a car of two men drove up toward the end to target shoot. No one bothered us so all four dogs got to enjoy an offleash run around the loop.

And all four remembered the route! I walked the loop with them as they sniffed the grasses and scat along the way. I stopped to photograph some of the seeding grasses and the dogs never strayed far. I was mostly concerned with Minnie darting off, but she, too, stayed close by.

Storm clouds briefly billowed over the peaks but rain didn't fall until much later. Grasses glistened in the waning sun and I enjoyed the serenity. I need to make Hunter Canyon my daily walk again, but with my fulltime job this semester and now college courses starting back up again, I may not have much time. One burned oak has now become a new target for the shooters; someone painted a bullseye ring on the charred tree in green paint.

I finished the two-mile walk at the old spring, where Sara lay in the mud and Zeke and Minnie cooled off their paws in the wet stuff. Only Sammy stayed dry and clean. I had four panting dogs in the rear of the truck all the way home.

Sadie stricken with epilepsy

No sooner than Zeke had recovered from parvo early this month, then Sadie suffers from her first bout of epilepsy early Wednesday morning. Kevin witnessed it. "Sadie had a seizure this morning at 4am" said Kevin, and I immediately went online to read up about it.

No sooner when I found an engrossing website when she had her second seizure by my feet at 6:20am, as I was at the computer. It was a classic grand mal, with her first looking dazed and her eyes flipped back, then she curled into a ball and convulsed, with her legs then getting rigid. My office is small and crowded, and she was banging her legs against the computer table. I held her head to protect her brain, all the time trying not to panic. She had a third seizure at 7:50am and without calling the vet beforehand, I drove straight to Bisbee to see Dr. Snyder.

The office wasn't too busy and I was seen at 8:30am, speaking with Dr. Snyder and Elizabeth, the Swedish vet tech who looked at Sadie so lovingly the entire time. Then she had another seizure in the exam room at 9:20am. The doctor and vet tech left the room and I was alone with Sadie. She was immediately given a sedative (diazepan, a "doggie valium") that almost immediately calmed her down.

Sadie was alert enough in the afternoon to play fetch with Minnie and Zeke, but late at night the seizures came back with a vengeance, first at 9:48pm, then 10:12pm and pretty much non-stop most of the night. Needless to say I got little sleep and was stressed out. Every seizure was a grand mal, and she often didn't even relax between them as she panted heavily. Kevin heard her seize at 2am and said she was going non-stop.

She had been sleeping next to me on the couch but got herself to the bathroom on her own. Kevin could hear her head hitting the bathroom wall. That was the time I actually slept a bit, but when I was up she seized some more, by now looking completely exhausted.

It was unfortunate that that Thursday was my first day back to work at the high school and I had to get ready. Sadie would be alone for a few hours until Eric would wake up. I didn't know what to expect. I had been reading about epilepsy in dogs all night. Some were promising, others were not. (What if Sadie has a brain tumor? Or a brain infection?)

When I left to go to work on Thursday, I hugged a very tired Sadie and said good-bye to her, thanking her for the great years together. Seeing her so ill was unbelievable to me. As healthy and active as she always had been, I was not ready to see her go. Yet reality would bring me back to a very sick and weak dog on the floor, barely alert. She lay on the cool tile floor in the dining area, but hardly had the strength to lift her head up. She took her medication but then soon lay her head down again.

I kept busy at work, but on my way home remembered Sadie's condition. Would she still be alive? She wasn't on the tile floor when I got home. She had once again moved herself bath into the bathroom. Maybe she chose the bathroom because she was separated from the other dogs, and there was water nearby? Eric said she had been seizing. The vet office had called me while I was at work (I can't get cell phone reception at the high school and got a "missed call" message on my phone instead.)

"Bring her here immediately" said the vet tech when I finally returned the call when I got home. Then Dr. Snyder talked to me. "This doesn't sound good" she said. "Dogs that have cluster seizures often die from the trauma" she added, being honest with her diagnosis. At 3:40pm I drove Sadie back to the vet with Eric to help me carry her via a sheet. Dr. Snyder upped her medication and agreed to take Sadie for overnight care, something she does only for certain patients as her clinic has no overnight treatment facility. The vet crew takes animals to their private homes for observation.

Dr Snyder's prognosis was sounding better now that she had seen Sadie, as the sedative calmed her down again and Sadie was alert enough to look around, even though I was an emotional mess. I wasn't ready to see my hiking dog, Superdog Sadie, fade away. She had always been a healthy and active dog. German Shepherd Dogs, I learned, are prone to epilepsy.

Having Sadie under medical care Thursday night gave me time to sleep, and I slept soundly from 9:30pm until I had to get up Friday morning. I called the clinic at 9am and the prognosis was also good, with Sadie having one small seizure overnight but who was now resting quietly under the sedative.

Friday after work I drove straight to the clinic to pick up Sadie. She was still heavily sedated but alert. The diazepam made her legs very wobbly, but she seemed to be able to see and hear. "I was afraid I was going to lose Sadie" I confided. "We may still lose her" Dr. Snyder replied. "Sadie is still in danger." Dr Snyder does not sugarcoat anything and I respect that.

Last weekend I spent the entire weekend watching over her, afraid to leave the house. I didn't hike, didn't walk the other dogs, and spent little time away from her. We kept her in the bedroom with the blinds closed, away from the other dogs and other stimulation. Even Kevin was concerned about giving her extra care.

Isolating her was good for her. The bedroom was kept padded with clothes along the dressers to protect her. I even placed pee pads on the carpet, but she missed all the pee pads and her poops were extra-large every day.

By last Tuesday we could no longer keep cleaning up after her and allowed her outside with the other dogs once her walk was strong enough. She was given a prescription for 80mg phenobarbital and potassium bromide, both to be taken every 12 hours. The antibiotic Baytril was for five days, a pill ever 24 hours. It's now been ten days since that horrific first seizure. She hasn't had any more seizures since being back home, and I make sure she gets her meds on time. I'm watching for any long-term damage but can say that Sadie is getting stronger every day. The first five days she showed weakness in her hind legs, but as of yesterday even Kevin said she's walking stronger, more straight and is faster in her motion. She also barked for the first time two days ago at two passers-by in the alley, and darted outside when she saw me handle the carpet cleaner. She prances to the side gate when Kevin comes home from work so that she can welcome him home with the other dogs.

The biggest change is that she hasn't shown an interest in her beloved tennis balls. We are not trying to get her back into her obsession as she was pre-epilepsy, as her desire to play fetch was often around the clock. She continues to have a healthy appetite (with healthy poops!) and now even wakes me up at 3am every day for her early breakfast. I hope I can take her hiking again. I haven' hit the peaks since before Zeke came down with parvo. I know that Sadie will be on medication for the rest of her life, but as long as she enjoys a high quality of life, she will remain my beloved hiking dog.

Zeke gets the parvo virus

This is embarrassing to admit, but I didn't get Zeke vaccinated against parvo when he was neutered in March, only because the vet's office was 30 miles o/w and I would have needed to take off from work for the subsequent booster shots.

"I'll get that done this summer when I have time" I told myself. Well, summer vacation came and went and I never got it done.

I noticed something wasn't quite right with Zeke Saturday morning during my usual spoon-feeding of canned food I share five ways. Zeke normally lines up with the other four dogs in the kitchen and jumps up for his treat when it's his turn, but this time he didn't jump up. He sniffed the spoon and walked away. Later he vomitted and had smelly, black diarrhea on the carpet. These symptoms then continued all weekend.

He reclused himself from the pack over the weekend and sat alone under the backyard's shrubs. He drank lots of water but vomitted it up shortly thereafter. If he had a fever he had it Saturday afternoon, as he lay in the sun watching the neighbor's Dalmation pups. I thought he was just hot from the sun since his fur was hot; his ears felt cooler later that day. But he wasn't chasing Minnie and he even left the cats alone.

It was his total lack of appetite, though, that had me concerned. He hadn't eaten anything since Friday's serving of Purina Beneful, a sample bag I got to try. I thought it was this awful dog food that gave Zeke food poisoning, since the first 20 ingredients are corn, fillers and preservatives, ingredients I tend to shy away from.

One thing that kept me calm was Zeke's alertness. Whenever Zeke lay alone he kept his head up. He never looked depressed and always responded to his name. He was even walking around Sunday afternoon, albeit slowly.

Monday morning I took him to the vet for an exam. He was quickly diagnosed with the parvo virus, given anti-vomitting medication, amoxicillin and pain killers. Dr Snyder said the worst was over for him since he was showing more alertness by then and didn't feel the need to have him hospitalized. The bill for the home treatment was under $300.

By Monday afternoon he was eating again and by Tuesday he was back to fetching balls with his packmates and even stole a hamburger patty from the kitchen counter. That's when I knew he was fully recovered and back to his sneaky self. He's a lucky dog and I learned a valuable lesson: get all dogs vaccinated against all contagious diseases! It's cheaper and safer than waiting for the dog to come down with something painful and potentially deadly.