Friday 28 September 2012

Caoimhe Remembered

Message from Leigh: Sorry to all Magic's blog followers and friends that we have not been keeping up with your posts recently...or posting here either. It is because we have been through a very traumatic week since last weekend and I have been unable to pull myself together until now to do this post about our dear Caoimhe. 

As some of you may know Caoimhe came to us as a happy loving pup and all was just as would be expected until not long after her puppy vaccinations when she changed from a laid back curious fun-loving pup to being fearful, hyperactive, screaming rather than barking and at times quite aggressive. We spent a year trying every behavioural modification techniques and products to no avail having being initially advised by everyone we spoke to that Caoimhe's problems were simply a training/behaviour issue. After a frightening incident some months back when Caoimhe attacked our cats - on 2 separate occasions very aggressively - someone suggested that she might have suffered encephalitis as a result of vaccination and her behaviour could be a result of this. As our regular vets would not or could not help us with regard to any exploration of the vaccination reaction idea, we travelled to a homeopathic vet who confirmed after a 2 hour observation and consultation with Caoimhe  that the most likely explanation for her behaviour was encephalitis brought on as a reaction to vaccination . 

We were given a homeopathic remedy which initially showed very good results in that Caoimhe stopped the screaming, calmed down considerably from the hyperactivity and seemed somewhat less fearful on walks and in the house. However 3 months in and, despite times of calm and periods when we thought we were managing the situation, Caoimhe's aggression increased. We had kept the cats well away from her but she suddenly for no apparent reason attacked our affenpinscher Aoife. The screaming was terrible, the other dogs were in pandemonium, I managed to prise Aoife from Caoimhe's jaws whereupon she turned and bit me all over my hands. Aoife was cut, bruised and had lost some of her fur but although not seriously injured physically was badly traumatised. This was not the first time that she had attacked Aoife or bitten me and things seemed to be getting worse.  I could not get an appointment quickly to see the homeopathic vet again so we went to our regular vet who advised that (whatever the cause) with Caoimhe's mental state being so unstable - he likened it to human paranoid schizophrenia - she would only get worse, that there was no medication to treat this kind of mental illness in dogs and that for the safety of our own animals, ourselves and others, the kindest and safest course was euthanasia before serious injury was done.

The shock and devastation we have been through this week have been indescribable - I was so sure we would be able to help her even though looking back it was clear that things were very wrong with Caoimhe mentally and that our other animals were all suffering stress as a result of her behaviour and she was having a bad effect in many ways upon young Trilby. I will leave here a few pictures in memory of a sweet loving puppy that had a few  months of happiness before the illness took over and hope I have captured some of those other moments when she felt something of joy and not the mental anguish I think she must have been in for much of the time.


The day she came to live with us


A beautiful girl


Seeing snow for the first time


Running down the garden with Trilby in pursuit

A rare moment of peace this last week

Run free dear Caoimhe - you will never be forgotten and I hope that you are truly at peace now with no  pain, fear or anger to disturb your mind. 


When it is time for me to go 

And join her there, this much I know 

I shall not fear the transient dark 

For she will greet me with a bark. 


Author Unknown 

27 comments:

  1. OMG! I am so, so sorry to hear of poor Caoimhe! My heart goes out to you at this terrible time. I'm glad that neither you or Aoife were seriously injured. I know that you did everything possible for her but your family's safety must come first. Run forever pain free sweet Caoimhe.

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  2. I'm incredibly upset for you all, such a sad sad tragedy.

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  3. My heart goes out to you and the brave decision you've made.

    Sweet dreams Caoimhe, run free at the Bridge.

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  4. I thought this little poem may be a comfort to you:

    Don't grieve too long for now I'm free
    I'm following the path God set for me
    I ran to Him when I heard His call
    I wagged my tail and left it all.

    I could not stay another day
    To bark, to love, to romp or play
    Games left unplayed must stay that way
    I found such peace it made my day.

    My parting has left you with a void
    So fill it with your remembered joy
    A friendship shared, your laugh, a kiss
    Oh, yes, these things I too shall miss.

    Be not burdened with times of sorrow
    I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow
    My life's been full, you've given so much
    Your time, your love and gentle touch.

    Perhaps my time seemed all to brief
    Don't lengthen it now with undue grief
    Lift up your heart and share with me
    God wanted me now, He set me free.

    Author unknown

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    1. Thank you Eileen - that was a kind thought. I really appreciate your messages - Leigh x

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  5. oh my goodness, i am so sorry, and honestly very shocked. i can't imagine the pain you're going through having had to make this decision after working so hard to try and help her. i had no idea she had problems this severe! i didn't even know a dog could get encephalitis from their vaccinations??? i thought that was just a virus...i'm wondering how often this occurs in other dogs and no one ever finds out? i hope everyone is okay physically, i know emotionally you're not. poor girl, i am sure her mind is finally at peace.

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    1. Thank you for your kind message. We are totally devastated by what has happened. It is something that is rare but can happen that a dog reacts severely to a vaccination (usually live vaccine especially for rabies). We have always vaccinated our dogs before and never had anything bad happen but since this we have heard from other people whose dogs have also suffered either encephalitis or other reaction from vaccination that has led to euthanasia. I think vets and vaccine companies won't admit there can be a problem for some dogs in case of law suits against them and it is difficult to prove.

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  6. Oh I just can't say how very very sorry I am, this had me in tears, I cannot imagine what pain you must be in. It's very worrying that this sort of thing can happen and I'm so sorry it happened to your beautiful family. Thank goodness she had you for her short life, you are such a wonderful, loving owner xxxxx

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  7. Oh no, I'm so sorry for both of you. You did all you could. Run free dear Caoimhe.
    We wish we could be with you to gave you a hug, as the pain you feel must be so bad.
    We are thinking of you, Love Jan, Howard, George and Tess xxx

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  8. That is so sad....there are tears way off here in Australia for the girl and hugs for you. What a horrible thing to happen. We've never heard of it before. But, as sad as it is, we know you did the right thing and she knew she was loved.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  9. We have shed some more Australian tears here Judith and Leigh. I feel that you tried everything to help.... but this problem became too scary and too serious..... how dreadful - I'm really really sorry - you must have been through hell this last week. I cannot imagine.

    You had no choice - there's no pain over the bridge.

    xxxxxxxx Rubies mum xxxxxxx (and Rubie)

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  10. Just don't know what to say, tear filled eyes for all you have gone through. Such a terrible loss but you must remember that you did try everything possible to help her cope with her health problems. My thoughts are with you and all your family. xxxxxx Jana's dad.

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  11. I'm so sorry that you've had to go through this ordeal. Another blogger, championofmyheart.com has documented her struggles with an adverse vaccine reaction in her dog. It might help you feel less alone with all of this.

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    1. Thank you for your kind message and the link - it is appreciated - Leigh x

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  12. Oh, no, we are so very sorry about your loss.

    Hugs & love,
    Oskar & Pam

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  13. She was such a beautiful girl...i'm so sorry, it's so sad.

    Best wishes,

    André Moreiras
    Passos Caninos

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  14. We came to paw our sympathy. Softest husky woooooos,

    RA, Isis & Nanük

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  15. You don't know us, but we read about your tragedy on Haopee's blog. We are so very sorry for your loss and for all the agony. You did the right thing no matter how difficult it was. We hope your hearts will heal with time.

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

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    1. Thank you for your message - it is much appreciated. Leigh xx

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  16. Oh my. We are so very sorry. Our Brando suffered after his puppy shots. He had a huge bloody lump on his throat. He's also very fearful. Vaccines are the reason our 5 year old son has epilepsy. Our hearts go out to you.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind thoughts. I am sad to hear about Brando and your son too. It is so hard when we try to do our best for our little ones and they end up hurt - Leigh xx

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  17. We also read about your story on Haopees blog. You don't know us either but we wanted to tell you how sorry we were for all of you. For the truama you all went through and for the passing of Coimhe. It is so hard when things happen that we have not control over. Please accept our condolences and our respect for you all.

    Bert and My Vickie

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  18. Leah and family, we are SO sorry we haven't been here for this, we truly are. I hope your little one is running free and having a great time free from stress and worries at the bridge. You did the right thing, no matter how hard it feels and she knows it too.

    Slobbers Emily , Dante, Daisy Boo and Sampson xxxxxxxxx

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  19. Leah and family, we are SO sorry we haven't been here for this, we truly are. I hope your little one is running free and having a great time free from stress and worries at the bridge. You did the right thing, no matter how hard it feels and she knows it too.

    Slobbers Emily , Dante, Daisy Boo and Sampson xxxxxxxxx

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  20. Just swa this at the RAinbow bridge blgo- our hearts are breaking for you and you are in our prayers

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    1. Thank you for your kind message. It is greatly appreciated - Leigh x

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