My sweet friend, dear Pax,
I last wrote a letter to my dog nearly eight years ago. I was flying on the plane to say goodbye to my first dog, your “brother” Sky. At the time, I thought I would never feel the same connection as another dog. It took me two years to re-emphasize.
I had one condition: I didn’t want to choose a dog from the garbage. How can you choose, not others? impossible!
We first looked for a Collie puppy on the rescue border to do the “right thing.” It was in the spring of 2019, just before Covid’s madness. Despite scanning the rescue page every day, no puppies were found available. We then found something thousands of miles away in Oregon, but the rescue didn’t hold the puppy for us. I hope your puppy has a good life.
Our second attempt led us to a home with two puppies, but the mother seemed gross and felt the situation was wrong. After that, we learned about you through our Facebook page. It’s a small farmhouse near Prague and is waiting just 15 minutes’ walk away. Your two sisters have already been adopted, leaving you alone. Even if I feel safe, there was no need to choose.
Your human mom, Nella, did an amazing job raising you. When we met you, you already knew how to explore the field without getting lost. You are mischievous, sweet, cute – that hasn’t changed.
When we met you, I couldn’t hold back my tears. We named you Pax and I still think it suits you very well. It means peace and “kissed by all.” From that moment on, you became a traveler and never stopped. You may be one of the most traveled dogs in the world!
Your first trip took us to Germany and Austria. People couldn’t resist stopping us because of your cuteness! We drove all day and had to unexpectedly return to Prague due to my mother’s hospitalization. You acted perfectly in the hotel as if you had been with us for years – no accidents or whining.
You grew up so fast! One day, you were a puppy. Next up is the teenager. And soon, an adult dog. Your first meal was raw meat and vegetables – so exciting! For dessert, there was blueberries. This remains my favorite.
You are always sociable, happy butterfly and stubborn! I wanted to go right during our first walk while you insisted on going left! Finally, I discovered your trick: 3 putts on your head move you – it still works!
Border Collie loves to work. Yours has kept me safe from sleepwalking. This is a skill that requires rigorous training, but is invaluable given my past injuries through glass.
Your intelligent and opinionated nature has always stood out. It’s precious to see people’s faces brighten when they run on the beach or on the park.
Your service dog status brings travel perks and my remote work allows us to spend the winter in Maui. You can come with me.
We have discovered your love for the waves. Perhaps you are a reborn otter or dolphin? But whenever I swim, you bare and circle me, kicking me out of what you consider dangerous.
It’s nice to see someone care ;-).
Unlike Skai, you have become my teacher and have been able to help more dogs as a veterinarian. As an official support dog, you had to be castrated. Within six months, you began to limp.
We first noticed when Aunt Karen Becker and Uncle Rodney visited us in Prague. Despite your feet gradually getting worse and everything was trying, Fiji therapy, acupuncture, and rehabilitation made no difference. We were devastated and I felt like a failure.
You grew up very strong and healthy, and then suddenly this happened. It evoked the trauma I experienced as a child when I saw the horse limp and unable to help. That experience has inspired me to become a veterinarian, and now, over 40 years later, I am facing a similar situation. I should have known how to help you, but nothing seems to have gone well.
But you know me – I will never give up. It took me two years to discover the research by Dr. Michel Kutzler. The study showed that castration and castration could lead to severe luteinizing hormone (LH). Elevated LH levels can lead to inflammatory changes, organ disease, allergies, behavioral changes, and incurable injuries. Her research showed that only a few dogs were treated at the time, making it a difficult decision to get hormone replacement therapy. However, there was nothing else left to try.
It’s been nine months since I started hormone replacement therapy, but you’ve returned to your old self. After limping for two years There is You can’t run on the beach or swim in the ocean, so you’ll finally get back to doing everything you love. I wasn’t proud As your dog father.
Except just a week ago, you must have thought I was ready for another lesson. One morning I noticed something strange. You were lying somewhere else than usual. You were limp and weak when I tried to lift you up onto the bed as I did from time to time.
At first, I thought I might have consumed human shit from someone who was drunk during our walk. You were so sleepy that you could barely leave your eyes open. But when we purchased and ran a comprehensive drug test in your urine, it has returned to the negative.
As the day progressed, you didn’t improve, you were tired and asleep – screaming every time we moved your neck. I’m not licensed in Maui, so this was the first time I’ve found myself as a veterinary clinic client rather than a veterinarian. Luckily I met a young vet. This was originally a 2023 US graduate from Ukraine.
We did a blood test on you and despite your obvious symptoms it has returned to normal completely. It doesn’t make any sense. If you’re addicted, your neck won’t hurt. If it’s just neck pain, you wouldn’t be so badly lethargic.
Then it hit me! We recently visited Aunt Gabriella, on the east side of Maui, an area endemic to rat lung dysmorphia (Angiostrongylus cantonensis). Gabriella herself was diagnosed with this dangerous parasite after ingesting contaminated greens or small slugs carrying them. Parasites travel to the mammal’s spinal canal or brain, and can cause neurological symptoms such as paralysis, meningitis, blindness, and even death.
I remember you munching on grass as usual during a month’s previous visit within the parasite incubation period. Did you take an infected slug? Rat lungworm testing is not readily available for dogs in Maui or Hawaii;. At the same time, humans can test relatively quickly for confirmation. Dogs can’t – not fast enough for certaintyanyway.
Being your vet and dog dad was suffering at once. Your health was in my hands perfectly. During this time, you became even more persistent, as if you were asking me for help. And I trusted my instincts and knew that despite the risks involved, I had to treat you because of lung malformation in rats. In some cases, treatment with antiparacic drugs such as fenbendazole can worsen as the parasite disappears.
Despite these risks, I chose the “no regret route.” We mixed the medicine into your food, but it was grateful that your appetite remained strong and immediately started the treatment.
I made it too It’s very solid The decision not to give prednisone suggested by conventional treatment protocols. Your immune system needs to be healthy, and based on my experience, I have added a double dose of omega with feel as an anti-inflammatory, cell repair, and neurorepair supplement.
I gave it to you too Joint powder For your neck pain River Tun For detox, just certainly.
The next day brought some minor improvements. You’re getting better again by the second day! I can Finally Breathe deeply after 6 days and know you are back to yourself. Today, on the beach, you swam and ran happily as if nothing had happened. You had an amazing visit with your friend Lucy – and yes – you tried to smack her! How embarrassing! But honestly? It made me happy because it meant you were really okay.
My sweet friend pax – I hope you have spared us this lesson, but I am grateful too For that. One of the reasons you recovered so well is how healthy and strong you are. This gives you a solid foundation for healing by feeding your essential supplements well and ensuring regular exercise.
We have not yet received a conclusive diagnosis, but we may not be able to get confirmation of the rat lungs, but we have zero regrets about treating you with fenbendazole based on distinctive symptoms. Neck pain and central nervous system problems. Travel history to infected areas. And most importantly, your positive response to treatment.
Some people think I am totally against drugs, but that’s not true. My goal as a veterinarian is to keep them minimal whenever they are used, while ensuring that they are employed when necessary, if not left.
Thank you for teaching me even if I had this lesson, strict. You humble me repeatedly. Through these experiences with you, I have become a better vet who can help more dogs.
The last one: 8 years ago, when Skai passed away, I thought I would never love another dog again, but Pax – I love you. ❤❤️🐶
