Jetta was a much-loved member of our family.

In 2000, our little dog pack consisted of Yukon, a White German Shepherd Dog and Raisin, a black Labrador we had rescued a year earlier. Greg had been exchanging emails with Brian Foran, the director of German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley (GSRSV) and when he learned of Brian’s latest rescue, a young, coal-black female German Shepherd, his interest was piqued. She had been dumped in an “overnight” metal box at the Sacramento County shelter. We lived about 75 miles from GSRSV and Brain offered to bring Jetta over for a “let’s check each other out” meeting. It was to turn out to be Jetta’s first day with her forever family.

Jetta’s issues were typical of many rescued dogs. It was obvious to us she had not had the attention and care that is essential for dogs to develop confident relationships. She had a resigned air for a two-year old and seemed to be anticipating yet another disappointment in finding her true home. However, within a short time, good nutrition and lots of love and attention, together with Yukon and Raisin’s insistence she love them, as they loved her, brought out the confident, loving, and playful, Jetta. Jetta was a much-loved member of our family.

We lost our beloved Jetta in August 2003 to Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) just one week after she received Proheart 6, Lyme, and DHP-P vaccinations. She was only 4 1/2 and otherwise in radiant health. Our vet had assured us there were no issues associated with any of the vaccines and Jetta had previously received the Lyme and DHP-P individually with no ill effects. We were to learn after she began presenting with symptoms just how common adverse reactions were.

As Jetta was fighting for her life in an acute care hospital, we researched everything we could about this disease. Despite taking every measure the vets could conceive of, Jetta never came home again. She died five days after diagnosis and nine days after being vaccinated. We have 3 other dogs we have turned into hypochondriacs after this devastating event and would like to prevent anyone else from suffering needlessly.

We would not have vaccinated our dogs without question if we had been better informed about potential adverse reactions and alternatives. Many teaching hospitals are no longer mindlessly advocating the vaccination schedule the pharmaceutical companies recommend.

In our opinion, this is the area of greatest need for both vets and guardians to become better educated.

Tracy

"That Buddy is a handsome Boy!"

Buddy Boy -aka: Buddy O Boy, Fuddy D, Fuddy D Duddy, Sweet Lips, Playboy Buddy Rodgers, Stinky Buddy Booty Butt.

Buddy was a half shepard/ half lab and tan with white on his chest - a black muzzle, black circles around his eyes, big tall ears and light brown eyes.

Handsome, laid back, 98lbs, 8 years old - good with animals, adults and kids. He would never run away - even if given the opportunity. He loved to lay on the grass when my husband worked in the yard. He loved early morning walks, joy rides, and playing with black lab girlfriend Blackie. (she was fixed, Buddy was neutered).

Buddy followed a neighbors son home after the St. Patricks Day Parade as a pup. They had a beagle and could not keep the dog. Nobody claimed the dog. My daughter had been wanting a dog for some time (she was 6 years old at the time). The kids went over after the parade to play with the pup and brought him here. He was going to be a big dog I could tell. However, he was such a laid back pup! My daughters friend said his name should be Buddy because he wants to be everybodys buddy. The name stuck.

On Aug. 24th 2004 I took Buddy to the vet for his check up. The clerk behind the counter asked me if I wanted the heartworm pills or shot. "I didnt know they made a shot" I said - the clerk said it was good for 6 months. I said "well my dog stays in most of the time" the clerk told me "well it only takes one mosquito" (I knew that) "how much is it?" I asked. Same price as the pills. "Well, I said maybe it would be ok since I am not all that good about giving Buddy his pills on time." "Any side effects?" I asked. "None reported" the clerk said. OK - I guess he can have it . (my daughter who is now 14 was with me) With that the vet gave Buddy all his shots and told me maybe I should get his teeth cleaned sometime in the next year. With that said & done, we went home.

Now my dog Buddy was a big dog but he sure was not a big eater. He always chewed his food. Only liked meat, cheese, and eggs for extra treats (you know special things). If you put a bowl of beef stew in front of hime he would eat all the meat and lick the gravy off every potato pea & carrot in his bowl. Never cared for a veggie at all. If you gave him a hot dog - he would gingerly take it from your hand - take it off and chew it up. He only liked soft treats like snausages and never cared for hard dog biscuts. He never cared for rawhide bones either. We got a kick out of Buddy eating part of his food and "saving the rest for later" We commented on how Buddy took good care of himself.

"That Buddy is a handsome Boy!"

Now August is a hot and humid month around here and Buddy (who stays in the AC) always ate less around those hot months. About a week after his vet visit he threw up 2 or 3 times in the house. I thought "darn, I should have dumped his food (he got fed inside), it sat out too long and made him sick". The following days he didnt eat that much.... but still ate. A few days after the vomiting episode - my husband came home from work and noticed a big wet spot on the rug. Since there wasn't an odor he thought one of the kids dumped a glass of water on the rug and were not fessing up to it. I said well you know Buddy didnt want to go out this morning. I didn't think anything of it because my daughter would let him out before school. (I have to be at work at 7 am) then i said I bet he didn't go out at all and this happened. Again oh well - I will make sure he goes out tomorrow morn.

The next morning........ rain. Buddy didn't want to go out. I put him out anyway. He stood right at the back door just staring. OK Buddy come on in - He peed in the same spot while I was getting ready for work. Now I'm mad. Buddy you mean you are getting so lazy you cant pee outside anymore? Whats wrong with you? Right after that episode he stopped eating treats and all - I noticed he was drinking alot of water and losing weight. I told my husband - I better take Buddy to the vet. I made the appointment the next day. I took Buddy in that afternoon. I had my mom sit with him during the day because "Buddy didnt feel well".

The vet detected a heart murmur and wanted chest x rays and blood work. She said he may be having a reaction to his heartworm shot - she sent him home with steroids and a couple of cans of special food. She said she would get in touch with the manufacturer of the shot Ft Dodge. This is when I found out that his injection was Pro Heart 6 - before that I thought it was just a liquid form of HeartGuard - the meds he was on before. She said Ft Dodge would probably pay for his tests and would probably want additional tests. Could I have him back at 9:00 am. "Sure I said"

I took Buddy back to the vet the next morning. The poor guy did not want to get out of the car at all. If I opened one door he went over to the other side. Never had he done this before. I dropped him off and when I picked him up later I was advised that his red blood cell count was dropping and he should spend the weekend in the ER vet. because he would probably need a transfusion. and oh yes Ft. Dodge reimbursed me the 200 plus dollars I had paid the day before and the vet did not charge me for his testing that day. (I was warned that I would have to pay for the ER vet) OK, I have my charge card.

They faxed Buddy's paperwork and I carried his xrays to the ER vet. When I got him there the vet told me about the Auto Immune disease and if his blood count drops to 15% they would like to do a transfusion. I agreed and paid almost 500.00 (this was good for the weekend and up to 3 transfusions).As soon as I got in my car and headed down the street my cell phone rang. It was the ER vet. Buddy's blood count had dropped to 15% and they would like to do the transfusion. I agreed.

Now all this time I am thinking - Buddy will get his transfusion - his meds - and go home - more frail ..... but home.

I called that night, Buddy was doing ok... running a bit of a fever and sleeping. The next day I went to see him took him outside to pee and brought him back in. I had to get a prescription filled at a drugstore for Buddy. I took it to Eckards. The clerk behind the counter asked if I had been there before - I said no. She then asked me if I had an insurance card. I said I wish... it's for my dog. So I took his $53.00 prescription back to the ER vet and went home. That evening the vet called and said Buddy needed another transfusion I gave them the OK That night I called to see how he was - he was sleeping and they were going to draw blood at 1:00 - 1:30 AM. I get a call that Buddy's fever is higher than it had been since he had been there and his abdomen was in pain. They were giving him some pain meds and an internest would be in there the next morning and he would do an ultrasound of Buddy's abdomen.

I was distraught - I thought Buddy would die that night. I didn't go to bed till 4:30 and I had to get up at 5:30. I got permission to carry my cell phone at work. I visited Buddy that afternoon. His temp was normal and I took him outside to pee - the internest found a spot on Buddys liver, but did not feel it was an effect of his condition. I called that night - Buddy was sleeping. I called the next morn and visited that afternoon.

That day Buddy looked perky - he perked up when he heard the car keys jingle and "Buddy want to go for a walk?". The next day I visited Buddy and he didn't look so good. The next day - the vet called me in the afternoon. He said I need to think about making a decision. The only thing they could do for Buddy was to give him an Oxyglobin transfusion (fake blood) and that this is not a cure, just a way to put oxygen in his body while they still try to help him. However, he had a reaction to the last transfusion and didn't know how Buddy would do. His blood count is down to 14% and has been dropping about 2 points a day.

In tears....... I asked if this would work. The vet said it didn't look good for him because he had been on an IV for so long - his other organs were starting to feel the effects of this. On the other hand, this may be what he needs. However I was faced with having him have a bad reaction and not making it at all. He told me to talk it over with my family and call back if Iwanted the treatment. I asked him if I didn't treat him at all..... would he be around the next day. He told me his blood count was dropping slow so he probably would be here tomorrow, but of course no guarantee.

I knew at that point what had to be done. I told the vet I can't beleive this is happening. "Can I bring him home to die?" He did not recommened it. He said with this disease - the body is robbed of oxygen and you suffocate to death. Kind of like asthema - euthanazia would be the more humane way for Buddy.

In tears....... I told my family what had to be done and it had to be done that night - that I had put Buddy through all he could handle and he just couldn't take anymore.

I called the ER vet and told them of my decision and we were on our way. They asked what I wanted to do with the body - I told them I wanted him creamated. "Privately?" Yes privatetly. OK. we work through so and so and can add that charge to your bill. "Are they a reputible company?" Yes they work out of so and so funeral home.

We got to the ER vet and they laid a blanket on the floor - they then brought in Buddy he could still walk and he laid right down. The clerk told us to let us know when we were ready. We petted, hugged and wept on Buddy. I could tell his breathing was becoming labored. I knew it was right to let him go. After about 20 min to half an hour ( I took a couple of last photos) I sent for the vet. Buddy already had an IV cath. in his hind leg. The vet explained the proceedue. Buddys head was on my daughters lap. We were all petting him and I was telling him what a good sweet boy he was.

"You're a sweet boy - yes, you are, you're my sweet Buddy Boy - yes you are. I love you sweet lips".

My daughter was sobbing, I asked if they wanted to stay in the room - yes they did. The vet administered the first injection, the one that puts him to sleep. Buddy lifted his head and looked around. My daughter later commented on that and I told her I know I saw - like Buddy was saying " hey whats going on? I'm not suppose to feel like this my family is here!".

Then he laid his head down the second shot was given and with that Buddys 8 joyous years on this earth came to an end.

We closed his eyes .... I was still telling him how much I loved him and with that I paid my bill (all total over 2800.00) and went home........ a zombie.

Physically, emotionally and financially drained.

I picked up Buddy's ashes yesterday and he will have a prominent place on the mantel. His picture will be posted in the newspaper under pet obits. I sent a thank you card to the ER vet with a picture of Buddy when he was in all his splendor - 98 lb handsome boy, so they could see what he really looked like - not the sick, frail and thin boy that they tried to save.

Oh, how I wish I had been given one percaution - I would still have my Buddy Boy today - my sweet handsome boy.