We don’t know what set it off, but Tzipporah was sick for a week. One afternoon she had a loose poop, and the next poop was even more liquidy, and the next was all liquid, and then she was vomiting, in her bed. Right away, I was having flashbacks to the last few months of Cricket’s life, when she was suffering from kidney disease and we had to spread wee wee pads everywhere. But I tried to stay calm, and when I gave Tzipporah her first bath-at-home, and she hated it, the energy with which she fought off the washcloth and the water made me hopeful. And then we gave her some Pepto Bismol, enrobed in peanut butter, to see if we could stop the flow in its tracks, and she ate the newly crunchy peanut butter gleefully, and then threw it all up. The next morning, she didn’t eat her breakfast at all, so we called the animal shelter’s clinic and they gave us an emergency appointment. Tzipporah needed to have her butt washed one more time before her appointment, which she hated, again, and then we wrapped her in a towel and brought her to the car.
She sat shaking in my arms in the waiting room at the clinic, leaning her head under my chin to hide. When we were called into the examination room, she let me place her on the exam table, but she stayed as close to me as possible, and then, when the vet came in to examine her, she tried to climb me like a tree. But she survived, and even let me hand her off to the vet tech, who took her away for blood tests and an x-ray, and then brought her out to us in the waiting room wrapped in a wee wee pad, because she’d had another accident during the x-ray.
I held her close and whispered to her and scratched her ears, and she started to relax. And I realized that somewhere along the way Tzipporah has decided that I am her Mommy. There was no one moment that clinched it for her, as far as I could tell, it was just a gradual realization that I can be trusted to feed her, and wash her, and comb her hair, and to comfort her when things go wrong.
When we were called back into the exam room, the vet told us that there was nothing in the blood tests to worry about, except some small elevations caused by stress, but the x-ray showed that Tzipporah’s large intestine was swollen, which could be a sign of a blockage, or not. The vet wanted us to come back the next day for a follow up x-ray, hopefully to find that the swelling had reduced, but if not, she said, we might need to think about surgery. She sent us home with a few medications (all in liquid form, in case Tzipporah still wasn’t up to eating solid food), and a lot of anxiety.
When we got home, I gave Tzipporah yet another bath while Mom cooked up her newly prescribed bland diet (boiled chicken and rice), and then we gave her the prescribed appetite stimulant and she gobbled up her lunch and even let me give her the rest of her meds, sort of. And then she and Mom rested while I went out to teach.
Tzipporah happily ate her dinner later that night, and there was no more vomiting, but she did continue to have diarrhea overnight. The next morning, we were only allowed to give her a little bit of food to go with her meds, because the doctor wanted the second x-ray to be as clear as possible. And then I gave her yet another half-bath and we were off to the vet again.
These visits to the animal shelter clinic, the same one where we used to take Butterfly (our first puppy mill mama), were bringing up a lot of grief and fear, and it was hard to remember that this was probably just a blip, not an illness, yet, and not fatal. When Butterfly came to us, she was eight years old and had significant health issues, so we spent a lot of time in and out of that clinic, especially towards the end of her life, almost five years later. That clinic was a god-send, honestly, and helped us keep Butterfly for much longer than we’d ever have expected, but the grief has never really faded. And watching Tzipporah, another puppy mill mama, going into those same exam rooms, was a lot.
Tzipporah’s second x-ray was better than the first one, with signs that the inflammation was passing, but the vet said to keep an eye out and if she vomited again, we should take her to the emergency vet for an ultra-sound, all of which sounded terrifying and expensive. Thank God, Mom had thought ahead and bought health insurance for Tzipporah the day we adopted her, which, after a deductible, would give us 80% of the cost back.
Before we left the clinic for the day, two vet techs gave Tzipporah subcutaneous fluids and a B12 shot (which also reminded me way too much of Cricket’s final months), and the doctor prescribed another medication to add to her cocktail, and we went home.
I spent the rest of that day doing laundry (both dog beds, a whole pile of towels and blankets and toys, and all of the clothes I’d worn to the vet and while giving Tzipporah her many baths), and Tzipporah spent the rest of the day eating and sleeping.
By the next day, there were no more signs of diarrhea or vomiting. It still took her a few more days for her to get back to normal (AKA running down the hall to beg Grandma for chicken treats), and even longer for us to stop watching her anxiously, but we eventually began to add some kibble back into her diet, and she had the energy and presence of mind to toss the kibble out of the bowl and focus in on the chicken and rice.
The whole experience was overwhelming, especially because of the memories it brought up, but something good came out of it too: when Tzipporah was sick and needed help, I had to help her, whether she liked it or not. I’d been so careful with her through her first few months with us, because I didn’t want to re-traumatize her, and I wanted to give her time to acclimate to life with people, and because I was afraid of making mistakes. But when she was sick, I stopped worrying about all of that and gave her the care she needed, and she responded by leaning on me, and asking to be picked up, and looking to me for reassurance. She’s still suspicious of me, of course, but she seems to understand that I can be trusted. I’m also realizing that I was probably too careful, worried that she would reject me or worried that I would love her and lose her too soon. Cricket and Ellie’s deaths last year, within months of each other, left a deep mark on me, and I think some part of me was holding Tzipporah at arm’s length, just like she was holding me at paw’s length for her own reasons.
But she looks at me now, and communicates in her own unique way, and even recognizes me as a particular person, who she might even like. We still don’t know what set all of this in motion, maybe a stray piece of chocolate or a dropped pill or something else she managed to find on the floor during her nightly wanderings. But whatever it was, it passed, and she seems more confident in the aftermath. And I think we’re more confident too, and willing to be more proactive with her, even when she looks at us with suspicion. It’s still a work in progress, and we still have a long way to go, but we’re finally getting somewhere, and she even seems to be a little bit happy to be here. Sometimes.
If you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out my novel, Yeshiva Girl, on Amazon. And if you feel called to write a review of the book, on Amazon, or anywhere else, I’d be honored.
Yeshiva Girl is about a Jewish teenager on Long Island, named Isabel, though her father calls her Jezebel. Her father has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with one of his students, which he denies, but Izzy implicitly believes it’s true. As a result of his problems, her father sends her to a co-ed Orthodox yeshiva for tenth grade, out of the blue, and Izzy and her mother can’t figure out how to prevent it. At Yeshiva, though, Izzy finds that religious people are much more complicated than she had expected. Some, like her father, may use religion as a place to hide, but others search for and find comfort, and community, and even enlightenment. The question is, what will Izzy find?
rachelmankowitz 
Get well soon, Tzipporah
Thank you!
Pleasure Rachel
Hopefully I will stop crying. So happy for Tzipporah- and for you and your mom. Blessings.
Thank you!
So glad she is better
Jennifer Website and blog: https://www.jenniferbarraclough.com
Thank you!
I must have missed the post where you adopted Tzipporah. Congratulations! So glad this was just a blip and that you are starting to bond with each other.
For my rescue dogs, who all seem to come to me with sensitive stomachs, I always add a tablespoon of canned pumpkin puree to their kibble, along with shredded boiled chicken. That pumpkin seems to keep their stool regular. Lately, I’ve been boiling a sweet potato and some carrots in the chicken water after I’ve boiled their chicken. I puree that and add it to their food as well. My little one refuses to eat his kibble dry
It’s amazing how specific their tastes are. Cricket used to love pumpkin and sweet potato, but Ellie didn’t, and so far Tzipporah doesn’t. She’d prefer to eat only chicken, ever.
Yes, just like people…they are each unique. We just discovered tonight that our Cooper likes green beans!
*whew*
hurdles.
she’s so adorable.
Thank you!
So happy to hear it seemed tone just a blip for Tzipporah. There have been too many scary times with pets lately. But such wonderful news that she seems to have adopted you! It’s a wonderful thing with a pet bonds with her human. Good luck you all. Stay well.
Thank you!
New relationships take time. This big health scare was an important bonding time for you both. I’m glad Tzipporah is good to go again.
Me too! Thank you!
Poor doggo! Feel better!
Thank you!
I hope the girls gonna be alright ❤️💙
Thank you!
✌️
Gaining Tzipporah’s trust to the point where she decided that you are her Mommy seemed far from easy but you’ve earned it (heck yeah Rachel!), and this feels like a breakthrough for you and her. Proud of both of you, I’m hopeful for more progress in the relationship between her and you and her Grandma also.
Fingers and paws crossed!
Glad she seems to be
I’m so glad Tzipporah is doing better now! I can imagine how terrifying for you the period of her illness was.
Thank you! It’s such a relief that she’s better now.
So scary! But good outcome…bless your hearts.
Thank you!
So glad she’s doing better. That was scary.
Thank you! It really was!
I’m glad to hear that she’s feeling better!
Thank you!
Congratulations on the recent bonding! Geordie and made our biggest strides when he got ill. You hate to see it happen, but the bad days do come with a positive side. ❤️
Murphy had vomiting and diarrhea last week. I suspect something is going around the doggy community.
I thought of that when I read your recent post. But, how are they passing it around? Tzipporah rarely leaves the house so it would have to be coming through the computer somehow. Can you imagine?!!!!!
I thought maybe it was being passed by other animals. But a computer virus does sound like a possibility…..😂
What a harrowing experience. I hope all is well now.
She’s doing much better. Thank you!
Poor little thing. I’m so glad she’s feeling better. It’s so upsetting when our pets are sick. The vet bills are worth every cent.
It’s such a relief when the doctors know how to help.
Sure is!
Poor Tzipporah. Oh, boy, I so understand your memories and anxiety. Been there too much, way too much. I’m happy the bonding is coming along. Hope you two share a long and joyous life togther. Cheers, M
Thank you so much!
So glad to know Tzipporah is getting better.😍
Thank you!
a relief that positive change has come out of that worrying episode.
Definitely!
I’m glad she’s feeling better. I hope it stays that way. She’s such a cutie pie!!! God bless.
Thank you!!!!
I sure do understand that whole mix of emotions. And if that episode had to happen, I’m glad it strengthened your bond. In case you might want to try something else to feed her, Ollie’s has wonderful, healthy, slow-cooked food. I get the frozen packets. You get 60% off your first order. And if you do want to try it and let me know (with your email address) I can get you 70% off the first order. You can always just check out their website and see what you think.
I’ll definitely look into it. Thank you!
I’m happy your pup is better. I understand the emotional tug of carrying memories of pets that left us, and going back to the exam room where they left us. I lost my baby in October and he was only 4. I still grieve that loss. Best wishes for the continued healing of your dog.
Thank you, and I’m so sorry for your loss.
I am sorry Tzipporah is sick and glad that she is feeling better. The silver lining is her increased trust and connection with you – XO
Fingers crossed the good part will continue long after the bad part is forgotten.
So glad Tzipporah is feeling better. Sending healing vibes your way. 🐶
Thank you!
Good to read that she’s now feeling much better but surely the best outcome is that she knows who to trust and who loves her.
She’s staring at me right now, from her bed. I wish I knew what she was thinking.
It’s so scary when our dogs are ill, Lyra had a nasty bout a couple of years ago and had to have IV fluids. Diarrhoea and vomiting is horrible for anyone, human or animal. I’m so glad Tzipporah is better and it’s strengthened your bond.
Thank you! Here’s hoping we can stay away from the vet for a while.
It’s always scary when our beloved fur babies get sick. So glad Tzipporah recovered and now you feel more confident in your relationship with her. Give her a hug from me!
I will try! She’s still not sure about hugs.
So glad Tzipporah is on the mend! ❤
Thank you!
So glad she’s OK and I can well understand your anxiety.
Bonding with our pets takes time and when they are pups it’s easier. Great that Tzipporah trusts you now to see you as her new Mummy. I hope she gets over whatever it was soonest and the closeness grows.
Maya was 13 weeks old when we got her. She bonded with Hubby first, and only seemed to tolerate me, but when she had a nightmare, a REAL nightmare, I was there immediately to hold her and reassure her, talking to her softly and stroking her, yet holding her firmly. She loves us both, just as Maggie did, and very much OUR dog.
I remember when Dina would sit behind my head during storms, and drool on me. She weighed forty five pounds and I didn’t love the drool, but it was validating to know that I was her safe place when she was frightened.
If Maggie was unwell, she’d come to me, but if she was feeling insecure, she’d go to Hubby. Maya goes to whoever will play with her!!
Seriously though, storms can be awful for dogs and I lost one to it many years ago. It broke my heart but she would have been forever on tranquillisers, gradually increasing the dose ‘just in case’ as it was the year we were having thunderstorms nearly every day and the then husband and I were both working full time. Barney hated them and would hide in the bath. Maya’s not too bothered.
I’ve never had a dog who voluntarily went into a bathtub, even to hide.
WHEW! I am so glad she is better. I was worried there for a moment. I had to scroll down to the end first.
I kept wanting to do that in real life; just press fast forward to see the outcome, so I could calm down.
I understand that feeling!!
I am so glad that your Mom got the insurance plan, that Tzipporah is bonding with you, and that she is on the road to recovery. Happy Purim!
Thank you!
It’s so hard when they’re sick! I’m glad your mom got the insurance. I was reading this and wondering about that because I thought you had insurance. I have it too and and it’s definitely a good idea. One upside of Tzipporah being sick is that it allowed her the opportunity to learn she could count on you when she needed support. And the laundry, so much laundry! I’ve been there.
As vet prices have gone up, health insurance for pets has become more affordable/necessary. I wish we’d had it in the past, to be honest.
So glad she is doing better.
Thank you!
I’m glad she is doing better. They become like children to us, don’t they? I discovered the boiled chicken and rice dinner when Miss Emma had a similar problem a few years ago. Worked like a charm and she loved it! To this day I can’t eat rice (and I eat a lot of it) without putting a scoop in Emma’s bowl 🙂
Tzipporah would love to eat chicken at every meal, rice not so much.
Be well Tzippy.
Thank you!
Glad she’s better! We never had such a scare with our dog Benji, but several times with our poor FIV+ kitty Gryphon. It was stressful, but appreciate the healthy days that much more!
Thank you! It’s such a relief now that she’s better!
I hope you and Tzipporah have many wonderful years together.
Thank you so much!
💖
I hope she is better!!
She’s doing great! Thank you!