Beating The Odds: A Story About My Miniature Schnauzer, Milo Pt 1 of 2

Taking a slight detour from any photography and music themed blogs to tell a story of my amazing miniature Schnauzer, Milo and his bout with a life threatening condition called HGE (Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis) or AHDS (Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome) which it has been renamed. It’s a life threatening intestinal condition that can effect all healthy dogs, but is common in smaller breeds, such as Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers.

Milo and his sister (Esme) don’t like thunderstorms.

July 30th the day before Milo had been stricken with HGE/AHDS he was active just like any other dog": Playing. eating, very alert and attentive. He showed no signs that he was feeling bad. The following day started out as any other day. I let Milo out to do his business, he would come in and he would get his morning Greenie dental treat, this time it was different: He refused the treat, so I got his food ready for him as I did every morning, and he sniffed it and walked away, nor did he get a drink of water, which he would do as I would get his food ready. My initial thought was the thunderstorms that were moving into our are that day, maybe he sensed it; Milo was terrified of thunderstorms and often stay close to us when one rolled through.

I stayed home with him that day, he would follow me from room to room as he always would do, but somehow I felt as if he was being a bit too clingy than he normally was, I noticed his stool was a bit runny, again my thoughts on his behavior steered right to the pending thunderstorms that day.

As morning became afternoon, Milo still had not touched his food or water, he even refused a treat I offerd him. Still I kept thinking this was just his fear taking a hold on him. By this time the sound of thunder was very distinct in the distance.

By early late afternoon/evening Milo began to vomit,; it was very foamy like with a thick clear mucus, I noticed what looked like blood in the vomit, I called Fairlea Animal Hospital right away and made an appointment for him, they scheduled him at 10 am the following day.

By 5 pm Milo’s started to become lethargic, like he was some where else. He clearly showing signs of something much more than a fear of storms or a upset stomach, His fur started to feel like straw, His vomit became more dense with mucus and clingy off his mouth. By 6:09 pm Milo wasn’t answering to his name at all, his vomiting was more frequent and much more foam and mucus in texture. Then by 7:39 pm His stool was pure blood, it started out with him releasing small bouts of this, within minutes, it was puddles, Milo got to the point where he barely could make it outside before each episode.

All I could do was to insure him I was not leaving his side, make him comfortable, let him know he was loved and cared for: deep inside I believe he has always known this. By 11:37 pm, the bloody diarrhea was still nothing but blood, it had a raspberry look about it with pieces of clotted blood, it was getting worse. By now I was already awake over 24 hours with him, never leaving his side, if he breathed differently than normal I was there, if he got up from his bed I kept mt my eye on him; by 3:47 am Milo was straining, his poor gut to pass a stool, his stomach was tight and pushed in, with every strain, he groaned and grunted. This was breaking my heart. Milo did try to drink some water, and he lapped up as much as he could, maybe he was out of the darkness; no sooner than Milo drank the water, he vomited every bit of it along with a clear slimy mixture, with bits of white looking partials I believed was food he had eaten the day before.The darkness was only beginning.